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  Today Online 13 Dec 05
S'pore closer to signing Kyoto Protocol

SINGAPORE may be closer to signing the Kyoto Protocol after a government delegation attended last week's Conference on Climate Change in Montreal.

The Kyoto Protocol is a pact which 156 nations have ratified to reduce greenhouse gases that developed countries emit by a fixed amount, by the year 2012.

Explaining why Singapore had not joined the group earlier, Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said: "I think the Singapore Government does not want to sign a convention just for the sake of signing it. We want to sign it in order to play our part. We've understood the dynamics better--so hopefully, together we'll be able to arrive at a conclusion."

Speaking at the sidelines of the launch of new environmentally-friendly taxis in Singapore, Dr Yaacob said there had been strong consensus among conference participants last week of the significance of the Kyoto Protocol and global warming issues.

With the agreement to begin discussions beyond 2012, he said the Montreal discussion had come to a very good end.

"Obviously between the developed and the developing countries, there would be some differences, so we met with the British, the Canadians and with other countries and they feel strongly that we need to at least start the discussion," he said.

Dr Yaacob said discussions would prepare the global community with a system for the longer term.

"Nobody's talking about commitments yet but I think it's important to have that platform to discuss what kinds of things we want to do beyond 2012," he said. "It's important because by the time we arrive at the end of first tier of the Kyoto Protocol, we will be able to have a system ready for the second period. I think that will show progress on the part of the global community to deal with this challenge." 938Live

Channel NewsAsia 12 Dec 05
A matter of time before Singapore signs Kyoto Protocol on climate change: Dr Yaacob
By Yvonne Cheong, Channel NewsAsia

Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim says it's a matter of time before Singapore signs the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

The minister, who last week led a delegation to the Montreal conference on climate change, said Singapore now understands better the process of ascension and is studying the timing.

He said: "The Montreal discussion has come to a very good end where they have agreed to start discussions beyond 2012. I think that's important. I think there's a strong consensus among the people present there that Kyoto is important, global warming is important, and we have to do something. But I think there is also strong recognition that we have to start discussion to understand the different circumstances for the different countries." - CNA/ir
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