Climate change has weighty political, economic and social effects, in particular for ASEAN Member States, including Singapore. This is because Southeast Asia remains one of the regions most vulnerable to the adverse consequences of climate change, due to deforestation, forest degradation/illegal logging and land conversions, all of which contribute a large source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the region.
Beyond the potential human costs, climate change will vastly affect economic development, profitability, government costs, revenue streams and investment flows. Other economic impacts will include the collapse of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, growing water and food shortage, and increase healthcare costs.
Such challenges are further exacerbated by the lack of a legally binding agreement at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. The key question remains, “What now after Copenhagen?”. For a small city-state like Singapore, one which is heavily export-driven, would there be any change in its economy development strategies? What role can the government and business community play in our efforts to tackle global warming? How can Singapore produce more with less, to generate potential savings for business and governments? What can be done to maintain economic growth and development while reducing GHG emissions and preserving a habitable environment?
Five presenters and respondents will share their insights into these issues. They will provide overviews on the impacts of and the responses to the climate change crisis, as well as discuss the relevant lessons Singapore can learned from the recent Copenhagen Conference through the different perspectives.
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