News: The Straits Times -  18 December 2009


S'pore backs push for climate agreement
By Clarissa Oon


(Picture: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Copenhagen on 17 December 2009 to attend the United Nations climate talks. In a four-minute speech at the summit, he announced that Singapore would cut its carbon emissions growth by 16 per cent below business-as-usual levels by 2020. - ST Photo)


COPENHAGEN: Singapore yesterday pledged support for negotiations to reach a legally-binding global agreement to address climate change, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announcing to the conference that Singapore would cut its carbon emissions growth by 16 per cent below business-as-usual levels by 2020.

Addressing leaders and officials at the United Nations climate talks, he said Singapore's approach to reducing emissions growth would be 'practical and sensible, while being mindful of the very real costs and trade-offs'.

In a four-minute speech at the 193-nation summit, he also outlined what Singapore has done to slow its emissions growth.

While the 12-day summit has thrown the spotlight on various countries' emissions reduction targets, translating these numbers into action would require 'careful planning, strong leadership and political resolve', he said.

A total of 183 government leaders stated their countries' respective positions on climate change.

The marathon series of speeches began on Wednesday at noon and wrapped up in the wee hours of this morning, ahead of the closing session of the conference.

As a small, low-lying island and the second most densely populated nation in the world, Singapore has taken the environment seriously since it became independent 44 years ago, Mr Lee said.

Measures such as increasing green cover, limiting the number of cars and switching to natural gas for electricity have brought down carbon intensity, which is the amount of carbon emitted per unit of energy consumed. In 2006, carbon intensity was 30 per cent below 1990 levels.

But Singapore's small land area means a dearth of alternative energy options. Despite this, Singapore recently set a voluntary and domestically funded target to reduce emissions growth by 16 per cent from 'business-as-usual' levels by 2020.

He described this as 'a substantial commitment which will entail significant economic and social costs'.

In announcing such targets ahead of the summit, Singapore and a number of fellow developing countries hope to contribute to a strong deal at Copenhagen, he said.

Mr Lee called on developed countries to 'respond in the same spirit with significant cuts in emissions which take account of their historical responsibility and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities'.

He also appealed for understanding on one point: that the ability of countries to reduce their emissions will vary.

'For some, limited access to alternative energy severely limits their domestic mitigation potential. Others have already taken early actions to promote energy efficiency or to maximise the use of their alternative energy resources, and have limited scope for further savings.'

Such limitations and constraints must be acknowledged in a meaningful way by climate negotiators, he said.

- end of ST article