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SINGAPORE: Singapore's National Climate Change Secretariat is to be strengthened. It will now come under the Prime Minister's Office and be headed by a Permanent Secretary, said Senior Minister S Jayakumar.
Professor Jayakumar, who oversees climate change policy issues, told Parliament that Singapore has also been invited to serve in a high level advisory group on financing aspects of climate change, formed by the UN Secretary General.
Singapore's representatives will be Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Second Minister for Finance, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua.
For a small, low-lying, densely populated island state like Singapore, climate change is a crucial issue. And as the issue cuts across various policy areas, the country set up the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change in 2007.
Professor Jayakumar said: "The IMCCC, which I chair, is supported by an Executive Committee comprising the Permanent Secretaries of those Ministries and headed by the Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
"We also have an inter-agency team led by a Chief Negotiator to handle the international negotiations. These bodies are serviced by a dedicated National Climate Change Secretariat, which is currently located in MFA.
"The IMCCC has largely focussed on formulating Singapore's positions and strategy for the international negotiations. Domestically, our mitigation measures under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint were coordinated by MND and MEWR, co-chairs of the Sustainable Development Policy Group (SPDG)."
But now the country's entering a new phase.
Professor Jayakumar added: "As we get closer to a global agreement on climate change, the focus will shift towards what we need to do domestically to fulfil our obligations.
"Singapore will have to introduce measures that go beyond the 7-11 per cent below "Business as Usual" (BAU) under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint.
"We must formulate climate change policies that strike the right balance between regulatory, fiscal and other measures, and at the same time enable us to sustain economic growth. Developing these policies and implementing these measures will need close coordination among the various agencies."
Hence, there is a need to gear up to deliver on the domestic commitments and to tighten coordination between international negotiations and Singapore's domestic policies.
So the government has decided that it is best to have a single body oversee the climate change policies and coordinate the roles of two work groups - one which deals with international negotiations strategy and the other on domestic matters.
Professor Jayakumar said: "There are some other issues which are not directly related to climate change, but are still very important aspects of sustainable development - such as water security, air quality, waste minimisation, biodiversity, and sky rise greenery. These areas continue to be overseen by MEWR and MND, as the lead agencies for sustainable development."
On the current state of affairs of the climate change negotiations, Professor Jayakumar noted that immediately after the climate change conference in Copenhagen, things were slow at restarting. And he feels there needs to be a bridging of differences, especially among the major economies.
Professor Jayakumar said: "It is well and good for countries to announce various targets and emissions. But one vexing issue is ultimately what will be the method of verifying compliance with each country's announced measures. Another vexing issue is that of financing."
Professor Jayakumar said he is a bit more encouraged now as there seems to be a sense of urgency and negotiators are due to meet again in Bonn next month.
- CNA/sc
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