Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu to participate in the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial and United Nations 2023 Water Conference

Singapore, 20 March 2023 – Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu, will participate in the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial in Denmark, from 20 to 21 March 2023. Minister Fu will then join Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam in New York, United States, at the United Nations (UN) Water Conference from 22 to 24 March 2023.

Copenhagen Climate Ministerial

2 Minister Fu will be participating in the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial at the joint invitation of Egypt COP27 President Sameh Shoukry, UAE COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, and host Denmark Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen. At this first climate ministerial following COP27, participating Ministers and representatives from a group of select countries will discuss ways to accelerate the implementation of commitments made at previous climate conferences, including COP27, and set the course for a successful COP28, which will be held in Dubai, UAE from 30 November to 12 December 2023. At the invitation of the Egypt and UAE COP Presidencies, Minister Fu will co-moderate one of the breakout groups on climate mitigation, which will focus on how countries can work together on developing real-world decarbonisation solutions to keep 1.5°C within reach in this critical decade.

UN Water Conference

3 Minister Fu will join water ministers from around the world at the UN Water Conference held in the UN Headquarters in New York City. The Conference is the first major UN conference on water since 1977. It aims to provide a mid-term comprehensive review of the Water Action Decade (2018-2028), focusing on the sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social, economic and environmental objectives, the implementation and promotion of related programmes and projects, as well as furthering cooperation and partnership on water at all levels. The Conference will also feature interactive dialogues on water and sustainable development.

4 At the Conference, Senior Minister Tharman will co-chair an Interactive Dialogue on the Water Action Decade, and lead the events by the Global Commission for the Economics of Water (GCEW) in his capacity as both the Head of Delegation for Singapore and co-chair of the GCEW. Minister Fu will deliver national statements to share Singapore’s Water Story, participate in Interactive Dialogues and side events, and hold meetings with other leaders and personalities, including US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, India Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and China Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying. Singapore will also host a side event on Water, Technology and Sustainable Development, which will feature opening remarks from Minister Fu. The side event will discuss how countries can leverage technology for sustainable water management.

5 Minister Fu will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, the National Climate Change Secretariat and PUB (Singapore’s National Water Agency).