Singapore and UAE to deepen collaboration on climate change

Other areas include green economy, low-carbon energy, food security, education, digital technologies and trade

- Shabana Begum

 Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have committed to ensuring the most ambitious outcomes in the areas of reducing carbon emissions, adapting to climate change, and financially supporting vulnerable nations at the upcoming United Nations climate change summit.

The countries said this in a joint statement on climate cooperation, released after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

“Both leaders reiterated their concern at the scale of impacts associated with the adverse effects of climate change that are already resulting in economic and non-economic losses and damage, and are being witnessed globally, especially by the most vulnerable,” said the statement.

The two nations also agreed to strengthen collaboration in the green economy, low-carbon energy and food security realms, in aims to advance their climate goals and create green jobs.

On Sunday, PM Lee and Sheikh Mohamed witnessed the exchange of one agreement and seven memorandums of understanding (MOUs), of which six are related to climate and digital technologies. The other two pacts are on education and strengthening trade in halal products.

PM Lee’s visit to the UAE comes just before it hosts the COP28 climate summit in Dubai from late November.

Both leaders reaffirmed that delivering on commitments in finance is key to restoring trust and faith within the multilateral process on climate change.