Minister Fu and MP Perera clash over whether Singapore should claim or contribute to climate disaster fund.
SINGAPORE: The debate over Singapore’s role in the Loss and Damage Fund, created at the COP27 climate summit to assist poor countries affected by climate disasters, was reignited in Parliament on Friday (April 21), as Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and MP Leon Perera (WP-Aljunied) exchanged views on the matter.
Mr. Perera raised the question of why Singapore, a highly developed nation, should potentially claim funds from the Loss and Damage Fund, especially when many of the fund’s intended beneficiaries have much lower GDP per capita and income levels. He expressed concern over the disparity between Singapore’s wealth and the financial needs of poorer nations that face the brunt of climate change.
In response, Ms. Fu reiterated her earlier statement from February, explaining that Singapore, as a small island state, is particularly vulnerable to climate change, notably rising sea levels, which threaten to submerge the island by the end of the century if not mitigated. As a member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), along with other developing nations, Singapore has long advocated for the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund to help vulnerable countries cope with climate-related loss.
Ms. Fu also emphasized that the fund is still under discussion, with a transitional committee set to make recommendations by COP28. Singapore’s position on whether to claim or contribute to the fund remains open, and the country will engage in international discussions to determine its role, she explained. She pointed out that developed nations, which are most responsible for climate change, have an obligation under the Paris Agreement to provide financial support to developing countries.
Mr. Perera then suggested that Singapore, as a developed country, might consider contributing to the fund instead of claiming from it. He did not provide a specific figure but proposed that Singapore use similar-sized developed economies as benchmarks to determine a fair contribution. He also suggested that the funds be distributed proportionally to the needs of developing nations.
Ms. Fu pressed Mr. Perera for clarification, asking whether his suggestion implied that Singapore should move away from the Paris Agreement’s classification of developed and developing nations. Mr. Perera clarified that he did not propose such a shift, but he did ask Ms. Fu to explain why contributing to the fund would contradict the Paris Agreement.
Ms. Fu responded by reaffirming Singapore’s position within the framework of the Paris Agreement, stating that Singapore does not belong to the category of developed countries under the agreement, and therefore, contributions to the fund must be considered in that context.
The debate highlighted the complexities of Singapore’s position in the international climate finance conversation, balancing its role as a developed nation with its vulnerability to climate impacts. As discussions on the Loss and Damage Fund continue, the question remains whether Singapore will contribute to or claim from the fund designed to aid poorer nations grappling with climate change.
