20 Jul 2011
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR VANU GOPALA MENON, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE,SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 20 JULY 2011.
Thank you, Mr President, for giving me the floor. My delegation commends Germany on today's initiative. It is timely and hopefully, it can complement the initiative by the United Kingdom in 2007.
2 Then, Singapore had been among the voices that had argued for the link between the effects of climate change, in particular the obvious competition for scarce resources, and the implications for international peace and security. As I said in 2007, "Intuitively, there may be a nexus between environmental degradation from climate change, and increased conflict over limited resources made even scarcer. Land, water, food and minerals have often been variables in that complex equation leading to conflict. People have been studying conflicts for centuries without reaching any perfect formula as to how to predict them. But while we should recognize the complexity, we should not lose sight of the simple idea that people often fight over tangible things." The link is now accepted and a consensus exists that only concerted efforts by all Member States, working with relevant non-state actors, can tackle the biggest challenge of this age.
3 Climate change is a global problem, which requires sustainable global solutions in the context of a rules-based and inclusive multilateral framework. Without the buy-in from all the different stakeholders, any response to climate change would be limited and ineffective. The UN therefore plays an important role in formulating a multilateral response to climate change that is global, multifaceted and yet coordinated and integrated. This is clearly not an easy task.
4 We must recognise that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is and will remain the primary forum for climate change negotiations. In this context, I support the statements delivered by Argentina, on behalf of the G77 and China, and by Egypt on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. The aim of the debate today is not to prejudge the ongoing negotiations in the UNFCCC. Nevertheless, we do see the need for the UNFCCC to work closely with other UN agencies, funds and programmes, especially with regards to adaptation and capacity building. Ultimately, the challenge posed by climate change is closely linked to the larger issue of sustainable development. In this regard, a key challenge for the UN system is coherence and coordination in the activities of agencies and programmes in the field of sustainable development. This is an area where the UN General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development can make a useful contribution.
5 With this clear understanding that decision-making authority lies within the UNFCCC track, the Security Council can also make an important contribution to the climate change discussion in two ways. First, it can help to build greater awareness of the catastrophic long-term consequences of climate change, including the possible security consequences. Second, the Security Council can help to reinforce ongoing efforts to inject political momentum into the UNFCCC negotiating process for a successful outcome to be adopted at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP) and 7th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) in Durban, South Africa later this year. In this regard, members of the Security Council, in particular the permanent members, must show leadership in the climate change negotiating process.
6 The successful outcome in Cancun last year has restored faith in the multilateral climate change negotiating process. The leadership played by Mexico was instrumental in achieving success in Cancun and we commend Mexico for its efforts. This year, we are pleased that South Africa is also showing leadership and initiative. However, the success of multilateral negotiations cannot be the sole responsibility of the country holding the Presidency. It must be a collective effort. It is clear that the developed countries have a clear historical responsibility for addressing climate change. But it is equally clear that we cannot solve this problem without the participation of all countries, both developed and developing. We must also act with a sense of urgency, not only because we must respond to the call for action from our fellow Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), but because we are custodians of the sustainability, security and quality of life of generations to come.
7 Let me close with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, who once said - "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say". I hope the debate today will not become a substitute for action but will be a prelude to action.