Global momentum on climate action is slowing amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, warned on Thursday as preparations intensify for the COP30 climate summit scheduled for November 10–21 in Belem, Brazil.
Fu said that while the need for drastic climate action remains urgent, political and economic headwinds are hindering progress.
“Geopolitical tensions, higher energy and food prices have created political headwinds that make it harder for countries to take the drastic actions required,” she told reporters during a group interview.
She also noted that the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement had a significant impact on global climate cooperation, adding that “there are a lot of political considerations” complicating multilateral efforts.
The upcoming COP30 summit, which marks three decades of global climate negotiations, is expected to draw around 50,000 delegates from 190 countries to the Amazonian city of Belem.
However, the choice of venue has presented logistical difficulties, including soaring hotel prices and limited accommodation, prompting Singapore to halve its delegation compared to last year’s COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where it sent 262 delegates.
Fu said the smaller team reflects Singapore’s efforts to reduce costs and minimize strain on Belem’s public infrastructure, such as transportation and accommodation capacity.
Despite the challenges, Singapore continues to pursue partnerships to advance carbon market cooperation. Fu revealed that Singapore is negotiating “a dozen or so” implementation agreements under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to facilitate carbon credit trading.
The country recently signed its 10th such agreement with Mongolia in October, establishing a legally binding framework for generating and transferring carbon credits from emission reduction projects.
“We hope that a lot more can be done to harmonise the regulations, the disclosure standards, and to build breadth and depth in the market,” Fu said, urging countries to find like-minded partners to sustain global climate efforts.
As COP30 approaches, Fu’s remarks underscore the mounting challenges facing international climate diplomacy, and the pressing need for renewed political will to keep global climate goals within reach.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
