S’pore and ASEAN committed to green growth, development: Ministers [5th SDSWR]

Two years since the Paris Agreement, many ASEAN countries are placing increasing emphasis on combating climate change and its adverse impacts. Governments have started to invest in improving air and water quality, low-carbon transport, and better use of resources to shift towards green growth. We held our 5th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources on 18 May 2018 at the Grand Hyatt Singapore. Here’s some highlights from the media coverage of the day’s discussions.

Pak Bambang answering questions in an ‘In Conversation’ session with SIIA Chairman Simon Tay (Photo Credit: SIIA)

Asean’s dilemma: must economic growth cost the earth

By Alaine Johnson

A week after a UN report revealed Southeast Asia’s slow progress on the SDGs, government and business leaders came together at the 5th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources to discuss how Asean can achieve green growth.

Indonesia is targeting economic growth of 5.6 per cent next year, but how can Southeast Asia’s largest economy grow so quickly without sacrificing the life-sustaining ecosystems on which much of the world depends?

The sustainable development balancing act was at the centre of discussions at the 5th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources on Friday—the week after a report by the United Nations revealed that the region is failing to achieve two thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals, with the severe degradation Southeast Asia’s carbon-locking forests among the key concerns.

“It cannot be denied that Indonesian development is already on track [for 5.6 per cent growth by 2019],” Dr Bambang Brodjonegoro, the country’s Minister of National Development Planning said in his speech at the event titled Climate Action: Seeding Green Growth and Resilience in Asean. “But economic growth cannot be sustainable if we fail to maintain natural resources and environmental quality. We need to maintain the balance between economic growth, social stability, and good quality of environment and natural resources,” he said.

Full Article: Asean’s dilemma: must economic growth cost the earth [Eco-Business, 25 May 2018]

Indonesia committed to green development

Indonesia and other ASEAN member-states are ready to strengthen their commitment to green development based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

Under the Paris Agreement within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Indonesia has committed unconditionally to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 29 per cent in 2030.

The target could be increased to 41 per cent if the country receives international support.

During the 5th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources on Friday, the National Development Planning Minister, Bambang Brodjonegoro, said that Indonesia [is continuing] to set some aggressive targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Full Article: Indonesia committed to green development [Antara News, 19 May 2018]

Minister Masagos Zulkifli delivering his keynote address (Photo Credit: SIIA)

Singapore reaping fruits of early investment in green growth: Masagos

by Audrey Tan

Developing an economy is no more “grow now, clean up later”.

Instead, countries are now prioritising both growth and environmental concerns, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli. Singapore had always integrated sustainability in its long-term economic growth, and was now reaping the fruits of that foresight, he added.

He was speaking at [the 5th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources] at the Grand Hyatt Singapore hotel yesterday.

“Singapore today enjoys the dividends of our early investment in green growth and environmental resilience,” said Mr Masagos.

Full Article: Singapore reaping fruits of early investment in green growth: Masagos [The Straits Times, 25 May 2018]

Minister Masagos meeting with speakers and participants at the 5th SDSWR (Photo Credit: SIIA)

Other Media Coverage

Green growth integral to Singapore’s economic development, says Masagos Zulkifli [The Straits Times, 18 May 2018]

Negara-negara Asean perkuat komitment untuk pertumbuhan hijau [Antara News, 19 May 2018]

Dialog sumber daya tahan [Antara News, 19 May 2018]

Negara-negara Asean fokuskan pertumbuhan kelanjutan [Kompas, 18 May 2018]