When he spoke at the 6th edition of the Responsible Business Forum for Sustainable Development (RBF) currently being held in Singapore, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, made a decisive call for collaboration across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region on climate change, water resource management, as well as economic growth towards a more sustainable and equitable for all. He called for all stakeholders to accelerate their sustainable development efforts to overcome global challenges.
During his opening address Mr Masagos also cited Singapore’s Climate Change Action Plan and how the government is working with the industry to improve energy efficiency and lower emissions.
“Climate change is a shared global responsibility,” he said. “All countries should see through the implementation of the Paris Agreement.”
He went on to note that, although Singapore only contributes to a small portion of global emissions, it will play its part as a “responsible member of the international community.”
More than 800 business leaders, senior government officials, United Nations (UN) agencies, and NGOs gathered at Marina Bay Sands for what is APAC’s largest gathering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“At the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we believe in tackling the world’s most intractable problems – eradicating poverty, gender equality, protecting our environment. The SDGs provide a pathway to achieve these ambitions, and we can get there faster with technology innovation and collaboration,” Haoliang XU, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, said. “We can only achieve this grand vision with support from the private sector. The RBF connects businesses, governments, and civil society organisations so that we can work together to seek win-win solutions for development priorities, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
