Calling on young Singaporeans to take ownership of climate issues

Mr Alan Yeap, CEO of Sustainable Green Solutions 
Mrs Liz Courtney, Environment Director for Youth4Arctic Documentary
Partners of the Youth4Artic project
Ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

1. Good morning, and thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts on how developments in the Arctic affect Singapore, and why it is important for young people to care about these developments.

Singapore’s interest in the Arctic

2. Singapore and the Arctic could not be more different. Singapore is a small, low-lying island-state just one degree north of the equator. On the other hand, the Arctic is located at the utmost north of the Earth. Its average monthly temperature hits a high of below 10 degrees Celsius. Yet, Singapore lobbied for a place on the Arctic Council for about two years until we were granted permanent observer status in May 2013. As a permanent observer, Singapore is now able to participate in policies that impact this icy northern region.

3. Why did we get ourselves involved in matters concerning the Arctic?  Although we are far from the Arctic Circle, the developments there – whether it is the melting of the ice caps or opening of new sea routes – will have important implications for Singapore as a low-lying island and international seaport. As Singapore’s representative on the Arctic Council, my role is to ensure that we contribute meaningfully to the Council’s work.

4. At the 9th Arctic Frontier Conference in January this year, I shared Singapore’s concern over the accelerated rise in sea-level over the past century, and how we have built walls and stone embankments to protect our coastal areas from erosion. Another result of Arctic warming is the alteration of flight patterns of Arctic migratory birds, which transit in our Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to feed and roost during the winter season.

5. We have also had to manage other environmental challenges, such as flash floods, prolonged dry-spells, and air pollution. At the same time, we continue to explore alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to enhance environmental sustainability. But environmental conservation is not just one nation’s responsibility. It must be a collective and sustained effort by the global community. In March last year, Singapore hosted the Norway-Singapore Arctic Symposium to promote regional awareness concerning developments in the Arctic. This is an important endeavour, and we look forward to further collaborations with the Arctic Council and the wider international community.

6. Last January, I had the privilege of visiting the Parliament of the indigenous Sami people in Karasjok, Norway. The Arctic indigenous peoples have also visited Singapore to learn more about our experience in governance and development. There is much that Singapore and the indigenous communities of the Arctic can learn from each other through these exchanges.

Launch of Youth4Arctic and youths’ involvement in climate change

7. Climate change impacts everyone. This also means that everyone, including our youth, has a part to play in conserving our environment. The attitudes and impact we have on the environment today will affect the world you inherit in future. Therefore, I would like to call upon young Singaporeans to take ownership of climate issues and contribute positively in any way you can.

8. Today, I am pleased to join you in launching a call out to young Singaporeans to march for the Arctic. At the same time, I would like to thank everyone who are involved in this meaningful initiative.

9. In fact, some of our youths have taken such an interest in the Arctic that they have already ventured to the north for a first-hand experience. In June last year, the Singapore National Youth Achievement Award Council and The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) sponsored four young Singaporeans on a trip to the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Canada. During the trip, they studied saplings to investigate the effects of climate change in the North. Our youths were even surprised by a summer snowstorm that occurred during their expedition, and had a taste of the resilience needed to survive in Arctic conditions.

NYC and holistic youth development

10. Such efforts are aligned with the National Youth Council (NYC)’s mandate to engage and develop young Singaporeans, including through its Youth Corps Singapore and Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) programmes.

11. For example, a team of Youth Corps Singapore Aspirants recently partnered Hemisphere Foundation to design a system for employees of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) to reduce energy consumption and to promote the recycling and reusing of paper.  The Aspirants developed a handbook for the VEA employees, installed recycling boxes at their work units, and introduced reminder stickers to save electricity and encourage best practices for waste separation. I am pleased to hear that the project, initiated by Singaporean youth, has now been taken on by the VEA staff, and Vietnamese Youth Leaders will continue to see it through.

Conclusion

12. Therefore, I would once again like to urge eligible young Singaporeans to register your interest with Youth4Arctic. While Singapore and the Arctic may seem like worlds apart at first, the fates of both are tied to how well we are able to manage climate change. Albert Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”  As a representative of the Arctic Council, this is a statement I can identify with, and one that I invite you to discover for yourself in your march for the Arctic. Thank you.