Press Release - Singapore raised global concerns on Transboundary Air Pollution at the High-Level Segment of the 2nd Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2)

            Singapore raised global concerns on the issue of transboundary air pollution at the High-Level Segment of the UNEA-2 from 26-27 May 2016, in Nairobi, Kenya. Convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNEA-2 was attended by over 120 environment ministers.

2          Dr Amy Khor highlighted the nexus between air quality and health and emphasised that transboundary air pollution was an environmental concern that required bilateral, regional and international cooperation to overcome. Dr Khor cited UNEP’s recently launched global thematic report on the nexus of environmental quality and health entitled “Healthy Environment, Healthy People”, which identified peatlands burning as an environmental concern contributing to air pollution. She shared about Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to underscore Singapore’s zero tolerance towards irresponsible companies whose unsustainable business practices harmed human health and the environment for short-term profits. Dr Khor also pointed out that governments, civil society, businesses, as well as international organisations such as UNEP, played an important role in fostering an informed consumer movement and strengthening support for sustainably-sourced products, such as by sharing information.

3          The impact of peatland fires was also highlighted in the recently launched 6th Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) regional report of the Asia Pacific, which presented the trends, state and outlooks of the environment and was UNEP’s flagship environmental publication. The GEO-6 regional report further highlighted that transboundary smoke haze was a pressing regional air quality challenge. It also underlined the urgency of multilateral solutions and regional cooperation to address transboundary haze pollution.  

4          Dr Khor met key partners to maintain and reaffirm relations, including Denmark, the European Commission, Japan, Maldives, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and the United States of America. They shared the view that air pollution was a pressing environmental concern and more could be done to address the issue of transboundary air pollution. They recognised the importance of encouraging the private sector to adopt practices that would promote sustainable consumption. They also expressed interest to explore collaborations of mutual interest to address transboundary air pollution.

5          Dr Khor also met outgoing Executive Director of UNEP Achim Steiner and incoming Executive Director of UNEP Erik Solheim. Both agreed that transboundary pollution was a serious environmental concern in Southeast Asia with global impact. In that connection, there was scope for both UNEP and Singapore to further exchanges on areas such as sustainable financing in recognition of the important role played by the financial sector in promoting responsible and sustainable business practices and investment. Dr Khor also met WWF and the World Resources Institute, which both agreed that transboundary haze pollution required transparency and access to information to enable appropriate consumer decisions, as well as a multi-stakeholder approach involving governments, the private sector and civil society.

6          UNEA-2 passed a raft of resolutions, including those on sustainable consumption and production, the world’s natural capital, and on land degradation and desertification.  UNEA-2 also adopted documents that aimed at guiding UNEP’s future work, including UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2018-2021. Singapore contributed actively to these discussions.

7          Dr Khor was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the National Environment Agency.

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES

28 MAY 2016

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National Statement for the High Level Segment of the 2nd session of the united nations environment Assembly, Ministerial Dialogue “Delivering on the Environmental Dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”

President of the United Nations Environment Assembly,

Excellencies,

Introduction and Singapore’s Efforts

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was a landmark agreement adopted by world leaders in September 2015.  It reflects our collective will to achieve long-term global sustainable development.  Every country must do its part in the collective effort to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

2          As a small island developing state with no natural resources, Singapore has pursued sustainable development and addressed environmental challenges through proactive planning and innovation.  This has allowed us to achieve economic progress while preserving a liveable environment.  As part of our efforts to sustain this, we have come up with the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015, which sets out our national vision and plans on sustainable development until 2030.

Air Pollution

3          In our quest for sustainable development, a key environmental challenge which is also faced by many countries is air pollution.  It stunts economic development and has adverse impacts on human health.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that 7 million deaths occur every year from air pollution exposure.  The WHO also reported that as urban air quality declines, the risk of health diseases increases. 

4          Like many environmental problems, air pollution has a transboundary dimension.  The burning of peatlands and forests in Southeast Asia has resulted in transboundary haze pollution and is linked to severe impacts on health and the environment.  Overcoming haze pollution is also relevant to achieving the 2030 Agenda, specifically in promoting sustainable forest management and well-being for all. In this regard, both domestic actions and greater international cooperation are essential to address transboundary air pollution. 

Singapore’s Efforts in Addressing Haze

5          Transboundary air pollution has plagued Southeast Asia for decades.  Singapore thus works actively with other countries in the region to mitigate it.  Regionally, Singapore is a Party to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.  It requires Parties to develop and implement measures to prevent and control haze.  Singapore also collaborates with our ASEAN neighbours on fire prevention and mitigation and capacity building projects to keep the haze at bay.  We believe that a timely and coordinated response will be more effective in the region’s effort to mitigate land and forest fires. 

6          Domestically, we have also taken steps to address haze.  For instance, we enacted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in 2014 to penalise errant companies and individuals whose actions cause haze pollution in Singapore.  Singapore will not tolerate any actions of entities that harm the environment and put at risk the people’s health. 

7          Civil societies and businesses also play an important role in combatting haze.  Civil societies are key enablers to foster an informed consumer movement and strengthen support for sustainably-sourced products.  Further, businesses need to enhance the transparency and accountability of their supply chains. International platforms, such as UNEA, can thus enhance these efforts by supporting and promoting sustainable consumption and production.

Conclusion

8          To conclude, regional and international cooperation and action are essential to make progress on the 2030 Agenda.   Singapore is ready to devote our efforts to ensure that we have an effective and productive session at UNEA-2.  Thank you.  

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UNEA-2 MINISTERIAL POLICY REIVEW – HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, HEALTHY PEOPLE

27 May 2016

Excellencies and distinguished delegates

Introduction

First let me congratulate UNEP for producing the “Healthy Environment, Healthy People” report at UNEA-2.

Air Pollution

2          A key environmental challenge in the “Healthy Environment, Healthy People” report is air pollution.

Transboundary Air Pollution

3          Specifically, we would like to highlight air pollution due to transboundary haze, and our efforts to address this, and what UNEA can do to support these efforts.

4          The burning of peatlands in Southeast Asia in 2015 is linked to a significant increase of global greenhouse gas emissions. One report estimated that the emissions of these peatland fires in 2015 are more than the total annual carbon dioxide emissions of Germany. This is also comparable to the emissions of Japan.

Singapore’s Efforts

5          To address this transboundary environmental problem, Singapore adopts an integrated approach.

6          At the multilateral front, Singapore collaborates with our ASEAN neighbours on fire prevention and mitigation and capacity building projects to keep the haze at bay.

7          At the local level, as part of efforts to penalise errant companies that causes major forest and peat fires due to irresponsible land-clearing techniques, Singapore enacted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in 2014 to prosecute such errant companies and individuals whose actions cause haze pollution in South East Asia, Singapore in particular.

8          Singapore is also nudging companies and consumers towards a more sustainable and transparent supply chain for agroforestry commodity products, such as oil palm and paper.

9          For instance, given that consumers play an important role in shaping industry practices, the Singapore government takes the lead through its procurement policies to procure printing paper products that carry the Singapore Green Label.

10        The private sector plays a major part too. On this note, we would like to commend Unilever for discontinuing its contract with a compact that engages in environmentally unsustainable practices.

11        We hope to see more companies take action to encourage responsible corporate practices.

12        Thank you.

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About the United Nations Environment Programme

The UNEP was created in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly to coordinate environmental matters within the UN system and set the global environmental agenda.

The UNEP has been instrumental in establishing multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer, the Basel Convention on hazardous wastes, and the recently concluded Minamata Convention on mercury management. The UNEP also spearheaded the establishment of other Conventions, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The UNEP, in partnership with the World Meteorological Organisation, also established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global body on climate science.

In 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), the international community agreed to strengthen and upgrade the UNEP. The UNEP’s governing body was renamed the “United Nations Environment Assembly of the UNEP” or UNEA and expanded from just 58 members to universal membership of all UN member states. While all UN member states can participate in the UNEA, only accredited members can become part of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, the key body that shapes the agenda and decisions of the UNEA.

Singapore was accredited to the UNEP on 15 February 2016. The Government appointed Mr Hazri Hassan, Director of International Policy at the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, as Singapore’s first Non-Resident Permanent Representative to the UNEP.