The National Environment Agency (NEA) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral cooperation on environmental management and protection.
Fu visited the US for the presentation of Singapore’s second voluntary national review of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the UN high-level political forum in New York city.
Both sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation on a range of environmental issues, including solid waste management, circular economy, air quality management and the management of chemical, biological and radiological incidents. EPA and NEA will also explore technical exchanges, information sharing and joint projects between the two agencies.
EPA administrator Michael Regan said, “The relationship the EPA with Singapore is a model to be emulated. We look forward to continued cooperation to include a focus on environmental justice in this MoU.” Minister Fu added, “This MoU will add opportunities for such cooperation, by formalising institutional ties between our countries’ environmental authorities.”
The MoU widens environmental cooperation between Singapore and the US, which currently takes place under the ambit of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) and its memorandum of intent (MoI) on cooperation in environmental matters, and the 2021 US-Singapore climate partnership. Through the MoI, NEA has had working-level exchanges on technical issues related to air quality management including indoor air quality management strategies, and environmental site assessment and remediation framework, with the EPA.
