Scholars: Asian nations, including Singapore, should step into climate leadership vacuum

With U.S. retreat, scholars urge Singapore and other Asian countries to assume climate leadership

By Cai Weiqian

The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30), aimed at charting the global climate agenda for the next decade, faces uncertainty following the Trump administration’s dismissal of the last U.S. climate negotiators. Scholars argue that Asian countries, including Singapore, should step forward to fill the vacuum in climate leadership.

Set to take place this November in Belém, Brazil, COP30 is regarded as a milestone event. Nations are expected to draft a roadmap for global climate action over the next ten years. This becomes an urgent task as climate risks mount and the world seeks a clear direction.

On January 20, the very day Donald Trump returned to the White House as president, he signed an executive order announcing that the United States would once again withdraw from the Paris Agreement, effective January 27 next year.

This marks Washington’s second withdrawal from the core global climate accord: Trump first withdrew from the agreement in June 2017 during his initial term, only for the U.S. to rejoin under President Biden.

In July this year, Trump’s administration hardened its stance further by dismissing the State Department’s remaining climate negotiators. The dismantling of the Office of Global Change could even bar members of Congress from receiving accreditation to attend COP30.

The U.S. had previously advanced cooperation between developed and developing countries through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which was designed to help emerging economies reduce coal use and shift toward clean energy. But Washington has now withdrawn from this initiative as well.

U.S. Withdrawal of Climate Funding Carries Far-reaching Consequences

Associate Professor Jolene Lin, Director of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law at the National University of Singapore, told Lianhe Zaobao:

“America’s withdrawal from environmental agreements sends a negative signal to the international community. But U.S. participation in global climate policy has always been marked by uncertainty.”

She warned that the pullback of U.S. funding for climate science would have far-reaching consequences:

“Climate science research is often a collaborative effort involving multiple countries and institutions, with U.S. institutes and scientists playing critical roles. Now that funding has been withdrawn, society’s understanding of climate impacts and the development of solutions will inevitably be affected.”

Despite mounting obstacles, many researchers have refrained from publicly commenting on the climate challenges brought by the Trump administration, fearing further political pressure.

Bill Hare, CEO of the international climate science and policy institute Climate Analytics, said: “Truth and science are under threat. People must be prepared to defend universal principles, even at the risk of pressure from the Trump administration.”

Hare also flagged Asia’s growing reliance on natural gas, pointing to Japan’s emergence as a major exporter. “The ultimate impact of U.S. withdrawal from the Just Energy Transition Partnership on Asia’s energy transition will depend on whether other countries are willing to step forward and make greater contributions. The U.S. never provided substantial funds to JETP anyway.”

Meeting Climate Goals Requires Major Investment — Singapore Positions Itself as a Climate Finance Hub

Beyond providing scientific, technical, operational and communications support to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II during its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) cycle, Singapore has also launched the Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P) to catalyze private-sector investment in sustainable development.

Bill Hare noted: “Singapore already plays a role in climate leadership, but it could do more in resisting reliance on natural gas, and in supporting renewable energy and the decarbonization agenda.”

Associate Professor Jolene Lin highlighted Singapore’s strengths in diplomacy and legal expertise, which lend it credibility on the global stage: “Singapore plays a critical role in promoting global political stability and advancing international multilateral negotiations,” she said.

Addressing climate change will require significant investment, Lin added. “Singapore has the potential to become a hub for climate finance, which would help catalyze the region’s energy transition. This is not only consistent with our national interests, but also reflects our responsibility as a member of the international community.”

Published in Mandarin on September 17, 2025, 7:59 p.m. on Lianhe Zaobao: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250917-7388821?utm_source=ios-share&utm_medium=app 

Translated by Yang Huiwen, Research Associate at APCEL