United Nations Climate Ambition Summit: Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech

PM Lee Hsien Loong delivered a video message at the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on 12 December 2020.

Excellencies,

Climate change is an existential threat for all of us, but especially for a small island state like Singapore. This global challenge like this requires a global response. Singapore will do our part, together with other countries, to address climate change.

We will meet our commitments under the Paris Agreement. We have submitted an enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution, and despite our alternative energy constraints, we are taking bold steps to achieve our Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy. This includes quadrupling solar energy production by 2025, phasing out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040, actively investing in low-carbon solutions, and promoting green financing, for instance, through a US$2 billion Green Investments Programme. These will help Singapore transition to a low carbon economy.

But ultimately, Singapore will not be able to stop climate change on our own. All countries, big and small, must join hands and do our shares. Not only to fulfil what we have agreed to under the Paris Agreement, but to continue to push the envelope on climate ambition so that we minimise the risk of a climate catastrophe destroying our children’s world.

Thank you.

To watch the video of the speech, please click here.