On March 27, 2023, the Centre on Asia and Globalisation (CAG) hosted a roundtable on the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement (GEA) featuring Mr. Leslie Williams, Director of the Green Economy Branch within the International Economics and Green Economy Division of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The roundtable was moderated by Dr. Denis Hew, a Senior Research Fellow at CAG, LKYSPP. Mr. Williams provided background information about the GEA and shared valuable insights on how the agreement was negotiated by Singapore and Australian trade officials leading up to the signing of the agreement on 18 October 2022 in Canberra, Australia.
The GEA is a first-of-its kind, economy-wide agreement that combines trade, economic, investment and climate change objectives to drive green growth in both countries. The agreement builds on the strong and wide-ranging bilateral relationship and serves as a model for green economy cooperation. Practical activities conducted under the GEA seek to promote jobs in green sectors and facilitate both countries’ transition to net-zero emissions economies. The agreement includes initiatives to establish platforms, collaborative arrangements and partnerships to support business in their transition and development of innovative green products and services. Government-led collaborative work under the GEA aims to also influence rules and regulations that govern regional clean energy trade.