Singapore
Singapore Statement at 2nd Intersessional Meeting for UNCSD, New York,
15-16 Dec 2011
Mr Chairman,
Singapore would like to align itself with the statements made by
Argentina this morning on behalf of the G77 and China.
It is perhaps timely that Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment was
established in 1972, the same year as the conference in Stockholm when the
concept of sustainable development first arose. Since then, we have been
actively pursuing sustainable development, most recently through the
formulation of the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, which sets out our
strategies and initiatives to achieve both economic growth and a good living
environment for the next two decades. We have also sought to share with,
and learn from others, by hosting international platforms such as our annual
Singapore International Water Week, the CleanEnviro Summit of Singapore,
and the World Cities Summit.
2 In Singapore’s context, sustainable development has never been
anything less than a necessity. As an alternative-energy disadvantaged (AED)
nation with few natural resources, limited land and high population density,
resource efficiency has been necessary for us to make the most of what little
we have. This requires Singapore to adopt a flexible, long-term, integrated
approach to policy planning, and implementation in a pragmatic and costeffective
manner. Some specific measures include pricing energy
appropriately, dissemination of information for decision-making, improvement
of water efficiency, focusing on land use planning, boosting of energy
efficiency industry designs, processes and technologies, and the promotion of
resource efficient buildings and public transport.
Mr Chairman
3 Rio + 20 is an unique opportunity to change the way we live, not just in
theory but in practice. It is therefore important that we adopt a 10 Year-
Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and
Production, as called for by the Johannesburg Plan of Action and based on
the text negotiated at the 19th Session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development. The 10YFP on SCP could assist countries in their efforts to
increase resource efficiency and reduce waste. It would also help corporations
to develop more sustainable development friendly business models, while
encouraging consumers to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
4 We also believe that it is timely for Rio + 20 to address the issue of
sustainable cities, defined by UN-Habitat as being “environmentally
sustainable, socially responsible and economically productive”. According to
UN-Habitat, 60 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas
by 2015. This provides tremendous challenges to and opportunities for the
sustainable development agenda. There is broad consensus on the growing
importance of sustainable cities for both developing and developed countries.
Many UN agencies and countries are already doing good work on sustainable
cities. It would be useful for Rio + 20 to bring all the elements together within
the context of sustainable cities, taking into account the inter-linkages such as
energy, water and sanitation, waste management, disaster risk reduction,
governance and implementation.
Mr Chairman,
5 This summit only comes by once every 10 years. Let us not lose this
opportunity to take concrete steps towards safeguarding the environment for
future generations through sustainable development.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
15-16 Dec 2011
Mr Chairman,
Singapore would like to align itself with the statements made by
Argentina this morning on behalf of the G77 and China.
It is perhaps timely that Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment was
established in 1972, the same year as the conference in Stockholm when the
concept of sustainable development first arose. Since then, we have been
actively pursuing sustainable development, most recently through the
formulation of the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, which sets out our
strategies and initiatives to achieve both economic growth and a good living
environment for the next two decades. We have also sought to share with,
and learn from others, by hosting international platforms such as our annual
Singapore International Water Week, the CleanEnviro Summit of Singapore,
and the World Cities Summit.
2 In Singapore’s context, sustainable development has never been
anything less than a necessity. As an alternative-energy disadvantaged (AED)
nation with few natural resources, limited land and high population density,
resource efficiency has been necessary for us to make the most of what little
we have. This requires Singapore to adopt a flexible, long-term, integrated
approach to policy planning, and implementation in a pragmatic and costeffective
manner. Some specific measures include pricing energy
appropriately, dissemination of information for decision-making, improvement
of water efficiency, focusing on land use planning, boosting of energy
efficiency industry designs, processes and technologies, and the promotion of
resource efficient buildings and public transport.
Mr Chairman
3 Rio + 20 is an unique opportunity to change the way we live, not just in
theory but in practice. It is therefore important that we adopt a 10 Year-
Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and
Production, as called for by the Johannesburg Plan of Action and based on
the text negotiated at the 19th Session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development. The 10YFP on SCP could assist countries in their efforts to
increase resource efficiency and reduce waste. It would also help corporations
to develop more sustainable development friendly business models, while
encouraging consumers to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
4 We also believe that it is timely for Rio + 20 to address the issue of
sustainable cities, defined by UN-Habitat as being “environmentally
sustainable, socially responsible and economically productive”. According to
UN-Habitat, 60 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas
by 2015. This provides tremendous challenges to and opportunities for the
sustainable development agenda. There is broad consensus on the growing
importance of sustainable cities for both developing and developed countries.
Many UN agencies and countries are already doing good work on sustainable
cities. It would be useful for Rio + 20 to bring all the elements together within
the context of sustainable cities, taking into account the inter-linkages such as
energy, water and sanitation, waste management, disaster risk reduction,
governance and implementation.
Mr Chairman,
5 This summit only comes by once every 10 years. Let us not lose this
opportunity to take concrete steps towards safeguarding the environment for
future generations through sustainable development.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
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