Remarks by Minister for Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, Mr S Iswaran, at The 2nd United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference Ministers' Forum

His Excellency Minister Li Xiaopeng,

Distinguished colleagues

1.     First let me start by thanking the Ministry of Transport of China for organising this important Forum together with the United Nations (UN).

2.     We face two global crises today – (i) COVID-19 and (ii) climate change. To remain sustainable and resilient, our transport systems must adapt.

3.     We need to restore international connectivity safely despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other nations, Singapore cannot keep its borders closed indefinitely; transport connectivity is critical for economic growth.

4.     It is key to restore international connectivity while protecting public health. As a first step, countries will need to put in place risk-based frameworks for border measures. In Singapore, we do so guided by public health assessment, including infection rates and vaccination coverage.

5.     Under this framework, in September 2020, we unilaterally opened to visitors from very low risk countries and regions, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao. To revive air travel, we also need to replace quarantine measures increasingly with testing and vaccinations. Since September 2021, Singapore has launched Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with 11 countries. Enabled by the progress of vaccination in Singapore and other countries, travellers coming to Singapore under the VTL are required to take an on-arrival test in lieu of a quarantine.

6.     So far, more than 2,000 travellers have come under the scheme to Singapore. The experience gained has given us the confidence to progressively extend VTLs to more countries and regions. We hope that our experience can serve as a useful reference as the world seeks to restore air travel links, and spur economic recovery.

7.     Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, we must stay the course to tackle the existential crisis of our generation – climate change. As a small, low-lying city-state, Singapore is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and therefore, our sustainability has always been an important consideration in our policies.

8.     Earlier this year, we launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030 – a whole-of-nation movement to advance our national agenda on sustainable development. A key target is to increase the mode share of mass public transport to 75% by 2030, from 64% as of 2020. We also aim to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2040, and have all vehicles run on cleaner energy, including electric vehicles.

9.     Sustainable transport requires political will and a concerted global effort from all stakeholders. It is crucial that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are given full support of all states and stakeholders, to lead global efforts to mitigate international transport emissions. As an international aviation and maritime transport hub, Singapore is actively contributing to such efforts, for example, by driving the research, test-bedding, and adoption of greener fuels for shipping and aviation. We are also working with partners to transform air traffic management to significantly enhance the efficiency of flights.

10.    To conclude, I think it is important that we all come together to emerge stronger from COVID-19, and do our part for sustainable transport development, ensuring that our efforts are inclusive, with no country left behind.