Opening Remarks for COP30 Singapore Pavilion Adaptation and Resilience Day - Ms Grace Fu

1. A very warm welcome to everyone this morning. Today, we kickstart important conversations on climate adaptation and resilience, a key priority of COP30.

2. Over the next two days, the Singapore Pavilion will host a series of Adaptation and Resilience Thematic events, with focuses on heat, water, coastal protection, food security, and adaptation finance. Through these sessions, we aim to deepen understanding of the impacts of climate change and the challenges we face, share innovative solutions from around the world, and activate collaborations that help protect our people against current and future challenges.

The Need to Move from Plans to Implementation

3. The COP30 Presidency has highlighted the criticality of climate adaptation and resilience. It is indeed time to focus on adaptation. Not because we have failed in mitigation. Not because we have given up on reducing our emissions. But because adaptation plans form an equally important part of nations’ climate action. A plan to increase reliance on hydropower will have to take into consideration the flow rate of the river, not now but decades into the future. What would be the impact of climate change on rain patterns, on the land’s capacity to absorb rainfall, and the agricultural needs for water downstream and upstream? A good effective mitigation plan needs an equally comprehensive, science-based climate adaption plan that takes into consideration local and national geography and social needs.

4. Adaptation plans are also essential for economic development. Long-term business investment decisions must consider the impact of global warming on supply of power, water, physical protection and business operations. A location that is prone to flood risks, several times a year, will see their attractiveness to investors diminish. A country’s strong ability to adapt is essential in achieving the long-term economic and sustainable development agenda. It is essential for businesses, people and societies. And the adaptation and resilience efforts start with a good, comprehensive, effective set of adaption indices, a complete framework.

5. Many small islands states, like Singapore, face existential threats of sea level rise and more severe storm surges, which could wipe out our people. Coastal protection and flood management infrastructure is of great urgent need.

6. COP30 is a COP of implementation. Singapore will strive to make progress on three key areas on adaptation:

   • Firstly, Singapore will be formulating our first National Adaptation Plan, taking reference from the discussion here at COP30, to address all climatic risks comprehensively.  

   • Secondly, mobilising adaptation finance. Singapore is contributing to activation of adaptation finance in the following ways:

     • To allocate, on a voluntary basis, 5 percent share of proceeds of carbon credits towards adaptation for host countries through the Article 6.2 mechanism.

     • Grow investment opportunities in adaptation and resilience solutions by sharing case studies, and building capabilities in the region. For example, we deliver technical assistance on water security and our water governance model through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, and worked with the World Bank Group to establish the Singapore Water Center to support the water sector in other countries.

     • To explore how carbon markets can finance adaptation where there are co-benefits with mitigation – e.g. planting of trees to increase absorption capacity of land and reduce the risk of mudslides.

   • Thirdly, Singapore will work with parties at COP30 to finalise the framework of adaptation indicators to track progress on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). These indicators will be instrumental in identifying gaps, setting actionable targets, and facilitate the flow of finance and technology.

The Importance of Multilateralism and Collaboration

7. Just as in mitigating global warming, countries’ interests are intertwined with our collective adaptive capability as humanity. No countries can work and survive alone. Flood protection, water security and food security have transboundary implications. A severe flood in one part of the world disrupts the food supply and price stability across the world. The same applies to human health. For example, as rising temperatures expand the range of disease vectors like mosquitoes, the spread of diseases such as dengue across borders is exacerbated. We must help one another adapt. And capital and technology must flow from those who have, to those who require.  The diverse representation here today, from governments to the private sector and research institutions, is important and necessary to address the global adaptation challenge.

8. COP30 Presidency and UNEP are leading collective action with the launch of the Beat the Heat initiative.  Singapore is glad to join Beat the Heat, to be given the opportunity to share our technical capabilities and knowledge to the initiative. We will share more details at the Global Cooling Pledge Ministerial Roundtable happening later today.

9. In Southeast Asia, we work closely in the region on:

   • Climate projections – We share our high-resolution climate change projections for Southeast Asia from our Third National Climate Change Study, or V3, through the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment for the Southeast Asia Region (CORDEX-SEA). This supports the development of localised adaptation measures. Singapore also hosts the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre, which monitors the region’s weather and climate and improves our predictive capability.

   • Food security – We initiated a study on the potential impacts of climate change on ASEAN’s agriculture production, and the response measures that ASEAN countries could implement. The study will be completed by 2026. 

   • Dengue prevention – Singapore leads the UNITEDengue, a multi-country network that seeks to strengthen regional dengue surveillance, control, and capability through cross-border collaboration. We share critical data on dengue cases and virus genetic sequences which enhances our collective understanding of the dengue situation in the region, and conduct training initiatives to build capability, enabling better preparation and response to dengue threats.

10. Over the next two days, programmes at the Singapore Pavilion will showcase how science, innovation, and collaboration can drive real-world adaptation outcomes.

11. Together, these sessions highlight the breadth of adaptation challenges we face — and the collective determination to turn research and partnerships into solutions that strengthen our resilience to a changing climate.

12. Let us seize this opportunity to collectively advance our shared goals and create a sustainable future for all.