Nations urged to work together over resources

Singapore among Green Group nations calling for cross-border approach to reduce conflicts

- Shabana Begum

Effective management of natural resources across national borders will help to reduce resource scarcity and enable cooperation, thus reducing the risk of conflict between countries.

This was a key message from a Nov 11 statement by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and four of his ministerial counterparts in the six-country Green Group – a multinational initiative that aims to promote green policies and solutions in international relations.

"Without coordinated and decisive global action, increasing resource scarcity and environmental degradation can escalate tensions, potentially triggering conflicts," said Dr Balakrishnan and four ministers from Slovenia, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica and the United Arab Emirates in a statement on day one of the UN climate change conference (COP29). Iceland is also part of the Green Group.

Water is a major source of transboundary conflict between countries.

In 2020, Mexican farmers seized a dam in its border state to prevent water from being diverted from their parched fields and sent to the US. They also ambushed hundreds of soldiers during the conflict.