ENGAGING SINGAPORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN RUN-UP TO

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 002148 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG ECON ETRD PREL SN SUBJECT: ENGAGING SINGAPORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN RUN-UP TO BALI UN CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 159374 ¶B. SINGAPORE 2092 ¶1. (SBU) Singapore officials have welcomed ref A points and other information we have provided as part of our engagement with Singapore in the run-up to the UN Climate Conference in Bali this month. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Principal Private Secretary (PPS) Lawrence Wong confirmed to the DCM on December 3 that PM Lee will travel to Bali, most likely to deliver a speech outlining Singapore's position on climate change. Ministry of Environment and Water Resources officials separately expressed their appreciation for our "very constructive" information and said they would convey these materials to Singapore's delegation. ¶2. (SBU) GOS officials have also indicated that the ASEAN declaration concerning the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, which ASEAN leaders endorsed during their November summit in Singapore, contains points similar to the USG position (ref B). In particular, both ASEAN and the United States: -- recognize the significance of the Fourth Assessment Report of the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); -- agree that the post-2012 framework should be concluded under the UNFCC; -- agree that the Bali conference presents an excellent opportunity to reach consensus on how to move forward; -- agree that the post-2012 framework must take into account national circumstances and sustainable development; -- recognize the importance of developing and promoting the use of advanced, climate-friendly technologies; and -- agree that climate change must be addressed in national development plans. ¶3. (SBU) Singapore has no plans to take a position in Bali that differs from the declaration. PPS Wong told us that Singapore would support whatever consensus emerges during the conference. Singapore is neither a major energy consumer nor carbon emitter. But as a small island state, it is concerned about the possibility of rising sea levels. Singapore ratified the Kyoto Protocol in April 2006. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm HERBOLD