Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to attend key energy and climate meetings in New York
PUBLISHED ONSeptember 21, 2014 7:19 AM
SINGAPORE - Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will attend the 20th Major Economies Forum (MEF) on Energy and Climate, as well as the United Nations Climate Summit in New York.
He will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Climate Change Secretariat.
The MEF, which will take place from Sept 21 to 22, will be hosted by the United States.
It was initiated in 2009 by the United States, and brings together 17 major economies to discuss matters related to the international climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The MEF will discuss issues related to the new global climate change agreement which is set to be adopted in 2015 in Paris.
The Climate Summit will be hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday. It was initiated by Secretary-General Ban to serve as a platform to engage world leaders at the highest level, to advance and catalyse ambitious action on climate change.
The Summit will focus on promoting climate action and solutions from all sectors, including the public and private sectors as well as civil society.
Dr Balakrishnan will deliver Singapore's national statement at the Summit on Tuesday afternoon (New York time).
ssandrea@sph.com.sg