SINGAPORE’S STATEMENT FOR CLUSTER 4 (28 August 2019):

Delivered by Ms. Wendy Yap Hwee Min, National Parks Board, Singapore at the First Meeting of the Open Ended Working Group 1,on 28 August 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Singapore as a city-state underlines the importance and value of urban biodiversity which has been elaborated in the 2012 SCBD’s Cities and Biodiversity Outlook publication; and the importance of engaging cities, local and subnational authorities in the post-2020 framework.

First, we need to review Decision X/22 on the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity endorsed at COP 10 for the period 2011-2020. Cities, local and subnational authorities have been encouraged to develop Local Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and apply the City Biodiversity Index, a tool developed to evaluate the biodiversity conservation efforts of the cities. We need to consolidate the other achievements to-date and develop a more ambitious plan which would enable Parties to support efforts and recognise the contribution of cities, local and subnational authorities to the post-2020 framework.
In this context we are supportive of ICLEI’s draft 10 point framework as contribution to the post-2020 discussions on the role and contribution of cities, local and subnational authorities to the post-2020 framework.
On another note, Singapore would like to support Philippines’ intervention yesterday on behalf of ASEAN Member States on ASEAN’s Initial Inputs to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Relevant to this cluster, ASEAN has called for accelerated actions corresponding to the challenges to mainstreaming biodiversity considerations into relevant national plans and sectors; and emphasise the importance of partnerships in delivering the post-2020 framework.