Opening Remarks by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the 14th Munich Young Leaders Roundtable on "Forging A Path To the World As We Hope It To Be" On 18 February 2023

Thank you for inviting me back again, and I am really delighted to be back. I am conscious that I am addressing a crowd half my age, albeit selected and very learned ones.

For our discussion, I will address two sets of global issues – I think the most important challenges that should occupy all our efforts. The first set of global issues deals with the world as you and I, more so you, hope it to be – that your generation can reshape it into, your aspirations, your hopes - and really for your future, not mine. Because it really takes about 20 to 40 years to actualise your vision, and that is the timeline for politics, from conception to actualisation. That is the first realisation for you as leaders and movers and shakers of society. It takes about 20 to 40 years, so you really ought to have staying power. The second set of issues deals with the world as it is, that willy-nilly, fortunately or unfortunately, you will inherit from my generation, whether you like it or not.

Global Challenges

Let me start with the simpler one – the second set. I think it is easier to list – the one that you will inherit. To greater and lesser extents, the challenges which you will inherit are all existential, meaning that the forces they generate, of these challenges, can either decimate our physical world or our current social-political systems. Climate change will face a projected 2.8 degrees Celsius rise in temperature above the pre-industrial levels that were set, and that far exceeds the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit for global temperatures. Even in the near term, we will not achieve the target set in Paris to reduce global emissions by 45% by 2030. COVID-19 was the only global event that actually reduced carbon emissions. That was the only time and that is the kind of world that you really need to have to bring it down. Where all of us did not take public transport, kept away from each other, stopped meeting, and that may be the price. But we are all talking about going back to pre-COVID levels and the carbon emissions are showing just that. So, 2030 is off and if we continue as it is, instead of 1.5, it is 2.8 degree Celsius – that is all existential. Second existential question: Great power rivalry. For climate change – when my generation hands it to you and you are in the driver’s seat, good luck. It will not be anywhere near settled and I think it will get worse. Great power rivalry is another, obviously, including the prospect of nuclear wars. The only difference in World War 1, World War 2 and now is that now you have nuclear weapons – you are talking about contest between nuclear powers. Third, wealth inequality. According to Thomas Piketty, the wealth share of the top 10% in France was estimated to be about 83% of France’s national wealth in 1780 before the French Revolution, while the bottom 50% owned only about 2% of national wealth. The situation today is very similar. The top 10% in the world holds 76% of global wealth, while the bottom 50% owns just 2%. I am not suggesting that we are headed for another French Revolution, but the figures tell you that inequality is rising, and the question is whether this system can continue as it is.

I talked about the first set where this is the world as it is, but what is the world that we hope to be? Whether you as millennials or the younger generations hope for it to be? Let me list some aspirational goals; they are not exhaustive. Certainly one goal for all of us is to end the oppression and marginalisation of different groups, whether it is gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, and political persuasion – in the 21st century, why should there be any oppression and marginalisation at all? You can see it on social media, and not one of us, regardless of country it comes from, when we see what is happening, we just recoil in horror, and that is just our humane side, so we want to end that. Second is to alleviate poverty. Apart from narrowing the gap, it is to raise the base. As you raise the base, the top may go further, but that is a different proposition. I will give an example – China. China in the last thirty years has been an economic miracle. It has lifted 600 million people out of poverty – show me a political system that can do that. A third goal is to protect the fundamental rights of all citizens – proper education, employable skills for work, decent pay, clean water and law and order on the streets – fundamental rights. I have listed them as they are because I think they are important. Sometimes we say "freedom of speech", but these are fundamental rights that I am talking about.

My questions for you, to get your views, will be these two questions: How optimistic are you about the world that you will inherit, and what other goals do you think should be worked on to reach the World as you hope it to be?

Thank you.

More Resources

Dr Ng Engages Young Leaders at 14th Munich Young Leaders Roundtable on Forging A Path To The World As We Hope It To Be