Update on Efforts to Raise Awareness about Arctic Issues in Singapore

4 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) whether the Ministry could provide an update on the efforts to raise awareness about Arctic issues in Singapore; and (b) whether future campaigns can include the impact of melting polar ice caps on Singapore's maritime sector.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Singapore is committed to raising public awareness on the effects of climate change. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) initiated thematic years - the Year of Climate Action in 2018, the Year Towards Zero Waste in 2019, and the Singapore Food Story in 2020, to raise awareness and encourage collective sustainable action. Earlier this year, MSE launched the campaign "Let’s Game Change Climate Change" and organised Singapore's Climate Action Week in August, where 30 ground-up initiatives from the 3P (People, Private and Public) sectors were organised to raise awareness on climate action and sustainability issues.

Public interest in the Arctic region has also grown since Singapore's admittance to the Arctic Council as an Observer State in 2013. We have hosted various fora and exhibitions in close cooperation with local and Arctic partners to raise awareness on Arctic issues. These include the "Changing Course" multimedia exhibition last year on the climate crisis in the Arctic, and the Arctic Frontier Abroad Forum organised in 2017 and 2019, which brought together key international stakeholders in Singapore to discuss Arctic issues and opportunities. Our youth have taken a greater interest in the Arctic as well. A youth forum on the theme of "A changing Arctic" in August 2018 attracted more than 100 youth participants. A Singaporean university student, Victoria Lim, was sponsored under the National Youth Achievement Award in 2018 to participate in the "Students on Ice" expedition to the Arctic to study climate change. Our local universities also run programmes that explore subjects like remote energy access, Arctic technology and land use in the Arctic. These are positive signs that Singaporeans are becoming more aware of and concerned with the sustainability of the Arctic, and its implications on our region and the rest of the world.

As a low-lying island with almost 30% of land less than five meters above the mean sea level, the future of the Arctic's environmental well-being will impact Singapore on many fronts, especially transport and shipping. With rising temperatures, the opening of new Arctic water channels, especially the Northern Sea Route, could significantly reduce travel time between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal by around 20 to 30%. We must continue to monitor developments on the commercial viability of the Arctic route closely, and be nimble to seize new opportunities. Given that Singapore's maritime industry has developed decades of experience and strong credentials in shipbuilding and repair, offshore engineering, port operation and marine support services, we will work with the industry and other stakeholders to ensure that Singapore remains a premier global hub port and international maritime centre. Notwithstanding challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to anchor Singapore as a critical node in the global supply chain and facilitate the continuous flow of goods.

Singapore's interest in Arctic issues is clear. Our observership in the Arctic Council is an opportunity to learn and play a constructive role. For example, we participate actively in the Arctic Council's Working Groups on Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response (EPPR), the Protection of Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), and the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF). These efforts are valiantly led by our respective agencies such as MPA, NEA, and NParks. We will continue to take a Whole-of Government approach to build up Singapore's capabilities, contribute meaningfully to Arctic issues, and work with local and Arctic partners to promote greater climate awareness and action in Singapore.