NICE, France – Singapore is a small island state, and the oceans and seas are “inextricably tied” to the nation’s survival and well-being, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on June 13.

“That is why we have always sought to play a constructive role in global efforts on oceans-related issues,” he said in an e-mailed statement to The Straits Times on the final day of the United Nations Ocean Conference. The event in Port Lympia in Nice, France, is held from June 9 to 13.

“The oceans enable maritime trade, food and energy security, and support livelihoods,” said Dr Balakrishnan. “These are vital to Singapore as a country with trade about three times our GDP and one which depends on imports for our energy and food resources.”

Maritime transport moves more than 80 per cent of goods traded worldwide. Other than being a source of seafood and recreation, the ocean also generates 50 per cent of the oxygen people need, absorbs 25 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions, and captures 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by these emissions. 

As a small low-lying island with no buffer, Singapore is also highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change on the oceans such as sea-level rise, coastal degradation or marine pollution, he added.

The minister said Singapore has been participating actively at the UN Ocean Conferences. Singapore served as one of the vice-presidents of the conference. Dr Balakrishnan had also chaired a plenary session at the event.

This year’s summit, which gathers representatives from 193 countries, is in its third iteration. Its aim is for countries to adopt an “action-oriented and inter-governmentally agreed declaration”, dubbed the Nice Ocean Action Plan, according to the United Nations.

Various issues were discussed at the conference and its side events, including how to better finance marine conservation, such as through new financing instruments like coral reef bonds, and the importance of developing countries being given assistance to build capabilities to study their marine environments.

Previous editions of the UN Ocean Conferences were held in 2017 and 2022. Korea will host the fourth one in 2028.

Dr Balakrishnan said the summit is an important platform where countries mobilise action for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.

“This includes reaffirming the international community’s commitment to uphold th...