Sixth Committee

STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE THIRTY-SECOND MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA, ON AGENDA ITEM 9, INFORMATION REPORTED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY, NEW YORK, 13 JUNE 2022

13 Jun 2022

1 My delegation thanks the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr Michael Lodge, for his update on the activities carried out by the Authority.  I would like to make three points.

2 First, Singapore reaffirms its full support for the work of the Authority.  The Authority has been a key pillar of the legal order for the ocean that was established by the Convention.  Its work has been instrumental to the orderly manner in which deep-seabed mineral resource-related activities in the Area are currently being conducted and has prevented the unconstrained exploitation of such resources. 

3 Second, my delegation notes with appreciation the commitment of the Authority to support the timely and effective achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is reflected in the independent report of November 2021 on the contributions of the Authority in this regard.  We welcome the report, which provides insight into how the Authority currently contributes in a meaningful way to the realization of 12 of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

4 Third, we welcome the resumption of discussions by the Council on the regime for the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.  Progress was made at the first part of the 27^th session of the Council on the draft exploitation regulations.  Singapore fully supports the expeditious elaboration of exploitation regulations that balance the need for commercial viability of mining activities with the need to monitor, address and mitigate any environmental impacts that are a consequence of deep-seabed mining activities.

5 To conclude, Singapore has been an active and constructive member of the Authority.  We have engaged in the work of the Council, including in the development of the exploitation regulations.  We would be honoured to have the opportunity to continue contributing to the Council and have submitted our candidature for re-election to the Council, under Group E, at the elections to be held at the upcoming Assembly session.  We would appreciate the valuable support of States Parties to the Convention for our re-election.

6 Thank you very much for your attention.

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