VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHGP #0116 0280717
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280717Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7750
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000116
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE MOVING TOWARD ASSOCIATION OF COPENHAGEN
REF: STATE 3080
1. Emboffs met January 25 with Nitya Menon of the National Climate
Change Secretariat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and delivered
reftel points encouraging support for the Copenhagen Accord. Ms.
Menon said the GoS is committed to meeting the January 31 deadline
to associate with the Accord, but is still working through their
interagency process. Menon said that the official deadline was now
being called a "soft deadline" and wondered whether there would be a
delay in approval of the Accord.
2. Menon said that Singapore would maintain its goal of a 12 percent
reduction in emissions if the Copenhagen Accord were not approved,
and a 16 percent reduction if it is approved. Singapore completed a
blueprint for emissions reductions in 2009 entitled Sustainable
Singapore that laid out plans to reduce emissions by 7-11 percent.
If Singapore holds to its 16 percent target Menon said the country
would build on this blueprint but would need to develop additional
programs to further reduce emissions.
SHIELDS