Joint Press Statement for the 15th Brunei-Singapore Annual Exchange of Visits

Singapore, 4 August 2022 – The Fifteenth Brunei-Singapore Annual Exchange of Visits on the Environment (15th BSAEV), instituted under the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Partnership in Environmental Affairs, was held in Singapore on 4 August 2022.

2 Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, led the Singapore delegation comprising Mr Stanley Loh, Permanent Secretary, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, National Environment Agency and PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency.

3 The Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by the Honourable Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Minister of Development, and accompanied by Dayang Dr. Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak, Permanent Secretary (Planning, Landuse and Environment), and senior officials from the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation and the Public Works Department, Ministry of Development, Brunei Darussalam.

4 The Ministers noted the steady progress of existing projects and programmes of the two countries in the areas of solid waste management, air quality management, water resources management, environmental youth programmes and climate change. In this regard, the Ministers endorsed the continued efforts in solid waste management in both countries, notably: Brunei Darussalam's latest initiative on installation of surveillance camera system to monitor illegal dumping hotspots, improvements to the Brunei River clean-up initiative and the nationwide beach clean-up initiative to establish baseline data on marine debris washed onto the coastal areas; and Singapore's Singapore Green Plan 2030, its upcoming TuasOne Waste-to-Energy Plant and Integrated Waste Management Facility. On air quality management, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore exchanged information on monitoring and management measures including Brunei Darussalam's recently launched Electric Vehicle pilot project.

5 The Ministers noted the efforts in youth environmental programmes and activities such as Brunei Darussalam's 'World Environment Day' campaign and Singapore's Youth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) programme. On water resources management, both countries exchanged updates on new measures such as Brunei's implementation of SMART projects for flood management and Singapore's completion of one of the world's largest inland floating solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Tengeh Reservoir.

6 On climate change, Singapore reaffirmed support for Brunei Darussalam's ASEAN initiatives, particularly the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change and the ASEAN Youth on Climate Action (ASEANyouCAN). The inaugural ASEANyouCAN dialogue involving all ASEAN members was conducted in conjunction with the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in October 2021, with ASEANyouCAN youth delegates issuing the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on Youth for Climate Action that highlighted the concerns and recommendations of ASEAN youth to strengthen regional climate action. Both Ministers further reiterated the importance of combatting climate change, and agreed both sides should enhance collaboration through technical exchanges on climate change related topics such as climate science, climate adaptation and coastal protection.

7 Both Ministers agreed to enhance collaboration in water resources management such as integrated water quality management and alert system. This entails water quality policy framework as well as flood control management, including drainage policy and enforcement strategy for climate change adaptation.

8 Both countries reiterated their commitment to cooperate with other ASEAN member states to advance regional environmental interests to achieve sustainable development and provide a healthy and clean-living environment for the people despite the unprecedented situation of COVID-19.

9 In view of the long-standing bilateral relations between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, and strong bilateral cooperation between the Ministries, the Ministers adopted a revised Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Partnership in Environmental Affairs and Climate Change. The MOU underscores the commitment of Brunei Darussalam and Singapore to expand cooperation to include climate change as part of efforts to further progress and deepen cooperation on sustainability and environmental protection.

10 Brunei Darussalam will host the 16th BSAEV in 2023.

Jointly Issued By:

Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore

Ministry of Development, Brunei Darussalam