Vivian Wong

Edited by Lianne Lee

Climate change is a phenomenon that has a significant impact on the present and future of the environment. Impacts include rising sea levels, soil biodiversity loss, flooding, and desertification — all of which would impact at least half the world’s population. Its effects are already starting to make its presence in certain parts of the world, such as India, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Singapore (Which Countries, n.d.). 

Singapore is a city known for its status as a bustling and wealthy city in Southeast Asia. It is a global financial hub, known for its stability and security (Singapore Country, 2018). As a low-lying island city state, the financial hub would be in a vulnerable state if threatened by the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, destruction of habitats, and damage to biodiversity. However, youth organisations and individuals are determined to tackle the problem, by reaching out to Singapore’s government.

On November 5, a group of youths in Singapore released a statement containing 18 recommendations for the government that tackles climate change and other environmental crises. The statement was written by six youth-led environmental organisations such as the FiTree, a youth organisation dedicated to sustainability, and Singapore Climate Rally, an environmental organisation that aims to encourage the government to create more ambitious environmental policies (Tan, 2021). The statement was the creation of a first time collaboration of environmental and youth organisations of different interests, communities, and primary purposes (Tan, 2021). 

The detailed statement calls for change in some of the climate goals set by the government. For instance, Singapore’s peak emissions target is currently set at 2030, but the authors of the statement persuade the government to set a more determined target of reaching peak emissions by 2025, which would accelerate Singapore’s path to environmental sustainability (Tan, 2021). Peaking emissions around the World would mean governments have to collaborate to curb emissions growth globally; there have been targets set to curb the emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (Bednarski, n.d.), all of which would accelerate the climate change process (Bednarski, n.d.). 

Another main topic discussed in the statement is governmental engagement (Tan, 2021). The individual authors and youth organisations behind the creation of the statement also called out the government to increase engagement and contact with youth organisations — after all, Singapore’s youths would be the future role model citizens for the younger generations in the future. It is important for the government to encourage the youth to take action on a phenomenon that has an increasing presence in people’s everyday lives. 

Singapore’s government aims to honour justice and equality (Tan, 2021), and the creation of the statement is a great opportunity for the Singaporean government to show the world its ability to improve the environment in accordance to the public, the youth, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Opinions and suggestions to changes in governmental policies from the youth are equally important as the government’s, especially in critical situations such as climate change. 

We have witnessed a major improvement from the past few decades as youths continue to make a presence in addressing environmental problems and other social issues. Increasing engagement of the youth in critical situations such as climate change also ensures the exchange of knowledge between governments and the local community, mobilising citizens and organisations that actually have hands-on experience with the issue.