GREENHOUSE gas emissions is a permanent, global problem that calls for an urgent and collective solution, even in this period of global slowdown, said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran on Wednesday.

Singapore is committed to growing a 'carbon services cluster' and to serve as a regional carbon price centre and trading hub, said Mr Iswaran at the opening ceremony of the two-day Carbon Forum Asia held at Suntec City.

'Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions... is an objective valid even through the economic dowturn,' he said. 'We're talking about an impact over decades and centuries. Of course in the current economic downturn, some will argue this may not be as high priority. This is true to some extent. but if you look at it another way, an economic downturn is the right time to look at these issues, as it is positioning your business, for the next upturn.'

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