Masagos hails success of Year of Climate Action

Minister hopes Republic will be 'an urban mine, where resources have many life cycles'

Minister Masagos Zulkifli acknowledged Singaporeans' collective efforts on climate action. He said these efforts were part of the "overwhelming support from the ground", with green initiatives championed by various segments of society. Environmental
Environmental Music Ambassadors from Anchor Green Primary School kick-started yesterday's Year of Climate Action appreciation lunch at Orchard Hotel. Hosted by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, the event was attended by over 350 representatives from the people, private and public sectors. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
Minister Masagos Zulkifli acknowledged Singaporeans' collective efforts on climate action. He said these efforts were part of the "overwhelming support from the ground", with green initiatives championed by various segments of society. Environmental
Minister Masagos Zulkifli acknowledged Singaporeans' collective efforts on climate action. He said these efforts were part of the "overwhelming support from the ground", with green initiatives championed by various segments of society. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

Art competitions, apps to track carbon footprints and outreach programmes to encourage recycling helped make Singapore's Year of Climate Action a success.

The campaign to rally Singaporeans to work towards a sustainable Singapore saw about 800 climate action-related events initiated and organised here.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli acknowledged these collective efforts on climate action yesterday at the Year of Climate Action appreciation lunch at Orchard Hotel.

He said these efforts were part of the "overwhelming support from the ground", with green initiatives championed by individuals, schools, businesses, non-profit organisations and those in the public and private sector.

Mr Masagos, calling the campaign a success, also referred to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources-sponsored Climate Action SG Pledge, which has garnered more than 300,000 signatures so far. The pledge was launched in January for individuals and organisations to make a public commitment to climate action.

Among the many private-sector businesses which took part in the Year of Climate Action was PacificLight, a Singapore-based power generator and electricity retailer.

The company has run the Create8 Sustainability competitions since 2016, with art, essay and video competitions for schools, junior colleges and institutes of higher learning. This year's competitions attracted 148 entries.

Ms Clare Savereux, senior manager at PacificLight, said both corporate and community initiatives are important, adding that competitions like Create8 aimed to serve as a catalyst for impact and change.

"Everyone can play a part to combat climate change," said Mrunal Makarand Kulkarni, 13, a Temasek Secondary School student and one of the winners of this year's essay competition. "If you make an effort, the Earth will thank you - and if you don't, the day will come when everything comes back to us," she said.

Non-profit organisations also did their bit. Among them was Tzu Chi Foundation, whose chief executive officer Low Swee Seh spearheaded its efforts.

Almost 5,000 people have visited the foundation's eco-awareness centre in Woodlands, which opened in September. It educates the public on recycling through photographic displays.

Mr Low said the foundation was working with community development councils to encourage recycling every second Sunday of the month at HDB void decks islandwide.

One of the initiatives, among the others highlighted at the event, was Ricoh Asia Pacific's planting of 315 saplings at Fort Siloso on Sentosa. Many of these trees are critically endangered.

Also significant was Fuhua Primary School's annual National Photography Competition, themed Sustainable Singapore, with pupils being encouraged to raise awareness of environmental conservation through photography.

These initiatives are more essential now, in the light of the findings of the Special Report On Global Warming Of 1.5 °C by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Mr Masagos said the report was a "sobering reminder of the potentially devastating effects of climate change".

The minister mentioned various efforts already in place to mitigate the effects of climate change, including the Government's implementation of a carbon pricing Act next year.

He also spoke of Singapore's efforts as the chair of Asean to convene the Special Asean Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action (Samca) and Expanded-Samca, to galvanise regional climate action.

Mr Masagos said, however, that it appeared there is only latent awareness among Singaporeans that climate change leads to higher temperatures and extreme weather conditions, such as Singapore's spell of drought in 2015.

"It is important to raise national awareness and the urgency to act - and act together," he said.

"My vision is for Singapore to be an urban mine, where resources have many life cycles. Taking climate action cannot be just a year-long affair in 2018."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 29, 2018, with the headline Masagos hails success of Year of Climate Action. Subscribe