National Climate Change Secretariat, Singapore

At the UNFCCC UN Bonn Climate Change Conference, Director-General (Climate Change) Benedict Chia spoke on a panel to present updates on the Article 6 Playbook. The Article 6 Playbook is a tool that NCCS is developing with Gold Standard and Verra, for use by countries that wish to utilise voluntary market carbon credit methodologies and standards in their Article 6 approaches. Further work will be undertaken on the Article 6 Playbook will be undertaken in the coming months.

On 27 May, Paraguay Minister of Industry & Commerce Javier Giménez called on Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean. They discussed the Singapore-Paraguay Implementation Agreement on Carbon Credits Collaboration, negotiations for which were substantively concluded at UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, when Senior Minister Teo met with Paraguay President Santiago Peña. Senior Minister Teo and Minister Giménez agreed that they wished to see the Implementation Agreement signed and operationalised as soon as possible.

Singapore's Ambassador for Climate Action Ravi Menon spoke at the inaugural CDP Global Disclosure Dialogue held at the World Cities Summit 2024. He shared how data, disclosure and transparency are important to help companies accelerate their decarbonisation efforts. Companies should view disclosure not merely as a compliance issue but as a source of competitive advantage that will help unlock new investment opportunities, secure sustainable finance, and thrive in a net zero world. Companies can play a key role in achieving an effective and inclusive energy transition - this includes a managed phase-out of coal, and investments in renewable energy, grid connectivity, and storage capabilities. Check out CDP's livestream at https://lnkd.in/eYGSipqQ

From 12 to 15 March 2024, the National Climate Change Secretariat, Singapore was delighted to welcome 39 government officials from 19 countries to Singapore, for a training workshop on transitioning to the UNFCCC Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR).   The workshop, in its second run after the inaugural edition in 2023, was co-organised with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the NDC Partnership, with the support of the UN Climate Change Secretariat.    Peer learning and exchange of experiences is critical as Parties prepare for the submission of the first BTR. Singapore is committed to working with our partners to facilitate a successful transition to the ETF.

On 14 March, Director-General (Climate Change) Benedict Chia participated in a roundtable discussion on “Delivering High-Integrity Carbon Markets” at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, co-organised by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability - Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the UNDP Global Centre, Singapore. The panel, which included United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator Marcos Neto, discussed the factors necessary to facilitate high-integrity carbon markets - such as capacity building, transparency, and public policy.

At the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat in Bogor, Indonesia, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Community Empowerment in Mangrove Ecosystems with Indonesia Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan. Under the MOU, both governments will set up a bilateral framework to facilitate the participation of NGOs and stakeholders to promote the sustainable use of mangrove resources in local communities, starting with a pilot in Setokok Island in Batam, Indonesia. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/gMEqVBb7 Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information

Officers from the National Climate Change Secretariat, Singapore and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore were in Paris to participate in the OECD - OCDE - International Energy Agency (IEA) Climate Change Expert Group (CCXG) Global Forum on the Environment and Climate Change. The Global Forum promotes dialogue and enhances understanding among countries on key issues relevant to international climate negotiations and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Discussions centred on insights to inform the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and on elements related to the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance.

Officers from the National Climate Change Secretariat visited the Philippines in February 2024 to participate in the 6th Informal Consultations on the Philippines-Singapore Action Plan. The Singapore delegation - comprising officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Enterprise Singapore - was led by Deputy Secretary (Southeast Asia and ASEAN) Foo Chi Hsia. NCCS also held meetings in Manila with government counterparts to discuss climate cooperation, such as the Climate Change Commission, the Department of Energy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Power Corporation.

A delegation of officials from the Republic of Korea (ROK), led by Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change Hyoeun Jenny Kim, visited Singapore from 31st January to 2nd February 2024 to participate in the 9th ROK-Singapore Bilateral Consultations on Climate Change. The Singapore delegation was led by Director-General (Climate Change) Benedict Chia and Chief Negotiator for Climate Change Joseph Teo. The wide-ranging discussions covered cooperation in climate negotiations, sharing of domestic climate change policies, carbon markets cooperation, as well as decarbonisation and low-carbon technologies. The delegations also visited the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre in Singapore, as well as the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Singapore is committed to advancing global climate action, including supporting capacity building efforts for the region and beyond. We are proud to have partnered with the British High Commission and key partners on the Blue Carbon Policy and Finance Workshop last year, in support of the development of high-integrity carbon markets in our region.