NYEF2008 Report 040908

environmental challenge organisation (singapore)
known as ECO Singapore
Our Youth. Our Future.
Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

Charity Reg. No: 1739
87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903
NYEF 2008 Report known as ECO Singapore

Table of Contents Charity Reg. No: 1739
Executive Summary 3
Chapter 1 Introduction 6
Chapter 2 Topic 1: Reducing our Carbon Footprint 8
Chapter 3 Topic 2: Rethinking our Waste 12
Chapter 4 Topic 3: Conserving our Biodiversity 16
Chapter 5 Topic 4: Sustainable Food and Water 20
Chapter 6 Conclusion 23
Appendix 1 Profile of Environmental Challenge

Organisation (Singapore) 24
Appendix 2 NYEF 08 Programme 26
Appendix 3 Speakers’ Profile 28
Appendix 4 Partners List 33
87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 2

Executive Summary Our Youth. Our Future.

The National Youth Environment Forum (NYEF) is organised by the

Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore) and provided an
interactive platform for youth to engage in discussions on various
environment issues and policies, and to take action. The theme is
“Beyond Awareness” and focused on bridging the gap from inaction to
action and from superficial knowledge to holistic, enlightened
understanding.
The invited speakers on the topics of Technology, Business/Economics,

Social/Attitudes, Legislation, and Media set the stage for a lively
presentation and discussion with the youth participants on the different
aspects to approach environmental issues.
This was followed by a fruitful caucus discussion on the following topics:

1. Reducing our Carbon Footprint;
2. Rethinking our Waste;
3. Conserving our Biodiversity, and
4. Sustainable Food and Water.
The participants expressed concerns and improvements in some areas,

and suggested several recommendations and potential projects for
implementation after the forum.
On the topic of Reducing our Carbon Footprint, the participants would

like to see more engagement with the private sector through
developing green guidelines and awarding incentives. They also
encouraged green transportation and suggested the Our Youth. Our Future.
reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles, the Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
addition of more CNG stations in Singapore, and having cycling as a

mode of transport in Singapore.
On the topic of Rethinking our Waste, the youth focused on increasing

education on waste management through events and by introducing
Eco-Schools. They also recommended more recycling by collecting
paper at the end of the school term, placing paper recycling bins next
to letter boxes, and offering incentives. In addition, some participants
wanted to see enhancements to the BYOB programme.
On the topic of Conserving our Biodiversity, the participants expressed

concerns about the developments in Mandai and the need to protect
the biodiversity there. There were plans by the youth to hold campaigns
to “Save Mandai”. The development of standards and Environmental
Impact Assessment studies to protect our biodiversity and nature areas
were also discussed.
On the topic of Sustainable Food and Water, the youth would like to
promote vegetarianism and to eat less meat. The possibility of
community farming was also brought up and the idea was to designate
plots of land for residents to grow their own food. In addition, some
participants supported faith-based environmentalism since
environmentalism is an integral part of various religious beliefs.
The NYEF 08 was held successfully and ECO Singapore and its partners
would continue to work closely with youth who are keen to implement
their projects after the forum. In this way, youth will move from

awareness to action and play a part in shaping the Our Youth. Our Future.
environmental landscape in Singapore. Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002


Chapter 1 Introduction Our Youth. Our Future.

Through its years of involvement in youth environmental activism, ECO

Singapore has realized the immense potential in the youth of today to
make a difference. The National Youth Environment Forum organized by
the Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore) aims to provide
an interactive platform for youth to engage in discussions on various
environment issues and policies. This educational and interactive
platform for exchange and education also gives participants the
opportunity to take action and cultivate collaborative relationships
through project mentorship and feedback to relevant ministries. The
success of creating such platforms can be witness by the several similar
initiatives that spun off since its successful inaugural session with the
Minister of Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, in
2006.
The youth in Singapore are already well attuned to the many issues that
plague the environment. While they may be well familiar with terms
such as climate change and resource depletion, this basic awareness
can only go so far. ECO Singapore set out to organize its second NYEF
with the theme for the NYEF 08 “Beyond Awareness” to bridge the gap
from inaction to action and from superficial knowledge to holistic,
enlightened understanding. The forum this year brings representatives
from the NGO, academia and the corporate sector to examine how
the fundamental driving forces of technology, economics, legislation,
media and our attitude play out in the arena in shaping the
environmental landscape in Singapore.
The emblem of the grizzly bear found on the cover of the poster and
publicity material set the tone for the forum. Three decades ago, under
the threat of extinction, there were only about a hundred Our Youth. Our Future.
grizzly bears roaming in the Yellowstone National Park. Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
Individuals who were aware about the perilous plight of the bears
sought to gain a better understand of this creature and its habitat, and
took action on many fronts and across many agencies to preserve the
grizzlies. Today, the grizzly bear has been taken off the endangered
species lists and more than 500 of these magnificent creatures roam
freely in the Yellowstone national park area. The triumph of the grizzly
bear helps illustrate the theme of the forum; that we too can make
changes to create a more sustainable future and this document
represents the first step in going beyond awareness.

Chapter 2 Our Youth. Our Future.

Topic 1: Reducing our Carbon Footprint Charity Reg. No: 1739
Current Situation
It is a universal fact that global warming is hitting hard on our earth, and
the main causes for global warming has been a result of the
greenhouse effect, exacerbated by mankind’s indiscriminate
production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere.
Singapore as a country may have little impact on the global carbon

footprint, but it has been high in the global ranking when it comes to
carbon footprint generated per person. In addition, it discounts the fact
that Singapore, having little natural resources on its own, has to import
from other countries and the carbon footprint in Singapore is not entirely
restricted to its own borders.
Some current policies or Initiatives include:

• Tampines’ Cycling on Footways: A year-long trial which ended on 30
May this year had received an extension in its trial run for another
half year. Education efforts for the general public are expected to
be stepped up with road safety videos, talks and exhibitions held in
Tampines. In a survey of 565 residents from May to November last
year, 57 per cent of non-cyclists and 73 per cent of cyclists
supported the continuation of the scheme.
• Aside the pilot programme in Tampines, Sembawang and

Woodlands will be getting 7.4km of cycling paths which are
expected to be completed by 2010.
• Foldable bicycles of certain dimensions are allowed in Our Youth. Our Future.
the trains. Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

• A 5-year, $50 million Sustainable Energy Fund to beef up energy

management and support energy efficiency programmes has been
established, on top of a $10 million Energy Efficiency Improvement
Assistance scheme (EASe) to co-fund energy audits.
Recommendations and Projects
1. Engagement with Private Sector
46% of carbon emissions come from industries in Singapore and it is a

figure where improvements can be made. For a start, more dialogue
between non-governmental organisations and industries, such as the
Singapore Compact and the NUS Corporate Social Responsibility team
can be executed in a 3-6 months timeframe. After which, proposals
from both parties will be discussed and presented as guidelines for the
various industries to fulfill, where another 6 months of time period are
needed for suitable methods to measure the guidelines. Upon
implementation of the guidelines, the government would award
incentives such as tax breaks for companies who have achieved the
particular green marks, which are more stringent and more industry-
specific as compared to the current benchmarks.
2. Green Transportation
The aim to promote green transportation comes via a three-pronged

approach:
• Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles

Encouragement and incentives to be provided for Our Youth. Our Future.
conversion of vehicles (public and private alike) to Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
compressed natural gas (CNG) or other cleaner sources of energy (e.g.

hydrogen, biodiesel)
• More CNG stations in Singapore
Currently there are only two operating CNG stations on Singapore

mainland, and there is one slated to open at Serangoon North.
However, in order to popularise the use of CNG operated cars, this is not
enough. In addition, there should be standardisation and proper
provision of CNG rates being charged at CNG stations.
• Encouraging cycling as a mode of transport in Singapore
Short-term goals: More pilot programmes are to be started in Singapore

and not restricted to just a few towns. Education programmes should be
intensively carried out regarding road safety, taking after the Tampines
model.
Long-term goals: Changing of mindsets would be important, where
people would live at a place closer to work, in satellite towns which are
self-sustainable in terms of working and living space. Companies can
also look at providing infrastructure for employees to park their bicycle,
a locker for clothes to be kept and also bathing facilities to have a
more conducive environment for cycling to work.
Other recommendations include:

• To carry out more vigorous examinations of green accreditation
schemes with industries, and eventually bringing the notion of green
across the industries.
• Public education on the use of bicycles and safety issues.
• Popularising CNG vehicles use in Singapore.

• Building of more bicycle tracks in Singapore. Our Youth. Our Future.

• Make time travel for taking public transport shorter to as Charity Reg. No: 1739
short as 45 minutes upon leaving one location and

successfully reaching another, which includes its waiting
time for 90% of Singapore’s working population.
• An in depth study into possible means of adapting the

taxing the citizens based on it carbon emission. The
more the consumer chooses to function with a higher
carbon footprint, the more that individual will be taxed.
This will function as a means for the government to
garner additional funds to possibly support other
sustainability projects. This would also make everyone
more conscious about their choices, bring our
externalized environmental costs back into reality.


Topic 2: Rethinking our Waste Charity Reg. No: 1739
Current Situation
Due to economic expansion in Singapore, the spending power of the

average Singaporean has greatly risen since our early years as a nation,
leading to an increase in the consumption of various goods and
products. This increase in consumption is also due in part to the highly
consumeristic culture: People tend to buy, and hence discard, many
things they do not need, resulting in the production of large quantities of
waste. The effects of this high volume of waste being generated are:
lack of landfills, extinction of indigenous wildlife, and pollution of the
environment.
In the caucus discussion, it was brought out that the landfill in Singapore
is filling up due to the high amount of waste. Due to the small
geographical size of Singapore, and an ever-increasing population, this
is of concern as we do not have the luxury of space. The participants
felt that we should not rely too much on off-shore landfills and should
focus on the reduction of waste instead of simply disposing it.
Also, the improper disposal of waste can result in the extinction of

wildlife indigenous in Singapore, as various items can actually kill animals
when thrown haphazardly. An example raised was how the ubiquitous
plastic bag, when thrown into the sea, can choke turtles who mistake
the plastic bag for jellyfish. The disposal of waste can also cause the
problem of pollution. Irresponsible disposal of waste, such as littering,
has been known to be harmful to the all environments, be it land, air or

sea. In Singapore, where the population density is very Our Youth. Our Future.
high, even a small change in environment would have a Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
large effect on people.
The participants felt that there was a lack of knowledge among

Singaporeans on how their consumption habits harm the environment.
For those who have such knowledge, they felt that these people lack
the necessary actions, and not enough of them initiate measures to
solve the situation.
Some current policies or initiatives include:

• Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB): This is a step in the right direction, but it
does not appear to be having enough of a following among
average Singaporeans.
• National Recycling Initiative
• 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
• Singapore Green Plan 2012.
1. Education on Appropriate Management of Waste
• Expose students to the environment by organising events related to

the environment, field trips, excursions, clubs and competitions. The
purpose is to let students know more about the environment, so that
they will care for it. Also, it is to let them know that they can do their
own bit to preserve the environment by managing their waste.

• Changing the culture of schools, and introducing Eco- Our Youth. Our Future.
Schools, that aim to make the environment one of the Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
key focuses of the school.
• Print proper waste disposal techniques on the packaging of

products.
• Develop a syllabus to allow students to draw the connection that

things we consume do not just disappear when disposed to the bin.
They have to learn to see how “Cradle to Grave” way of
manufacturing has impact us and on the long run, this suppose
problem will be back to haunt us if we continue our current mindset
of “Buy and throw away”.
2. Recycling
• At the end of the school term, have a ‘paper recall’ for old tutorials
and lecture notes so that the paper can be recycled.
• Incentives can be offered to schools that reduce their paper usage

by recycling.
• Hold a “Mr Green” pageant in each school to excite students about

recycling.
• In apartment blocks, redesign rubbish chutes so that the different

waste can be segregated and hence recycled.
3. Enhancements to BYOB
• Target major supermarkets to implement the BYOB policy as far as
possible.
• Train cashiers not to give out plastic bags for small items.

• Adopt the ‘IKEA policy’ rather than the ‘NTUC policy’. Our Youth. Our Future.
In NTUC, there is an incentive for customers who bring Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
their own bags, whereas in IKEA, customers have to pay for bags if
they do not bring their own. In the ‘IKEA way’, people will feel the
pinch, and thus it is more effective in encouraging people to BYOB.
4. Letter Boxes
• Place paper recycling bins next to letter boxes, so that unwanted
mail can be recycled.
• Encourage the use of electronic bills, rather than the traditional

paper bills. This will greatly reduce the amount of paper used daily.

• Prices of product to factor in “disposal” costs at retail. These finances
would be channeled to the waste management companies as a
revenue replacement to the existing home charges by Singapore
Powers. This would also allow consumer to take notice that the
disposal of materials recklessly has a costs tied on to it and hence be
more conscious of its disposal.


Topic 3: Conserving our Biodiversity Charity Reg. No: 1739
Current Situation
Singapore has many sites rich in biodiversity, such as Chek Jawa, Sungei
Buloh, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Labrador Park, and the Central
Catchment area. However, many of our native species of flora and
fauna are becoming threatened, because of a few reasons as
identified below.
Rampant poaching on land and sea: Drift nets cast by fishermen are
sometimes left behind in the rivers and seas, and pose a threat to
marine life. These drift nets trap fish and other marine creatures at low
tide, and when scavengers go to eat the fish, they themselves get
trapped, eventually trapping more and more animals. Bird nets are also
sometimes left in the forests and parks, trapping birds and monitor
lizards, who are unable to escape from the nets and die of starvation.
These nets, when abandoned, also add to the litter found on our land
and shores.
Development: Condominiums are frequently built next to nature

reserves, and this throws up a few problems. The land next to the edge
of the nature reserves act as a buffer zone, and is important for nature,
with animals such as rare migratory birds seen in these areas. However,
unlike the nature reserves, this land is not under the jurisdiction of the
National Parks Board (NParks). When home owners conduct activities
such as fogging and spraying of insecticides, insects in the nature

reserves also get killed apart from the mosquitoes that Our Youth. Our Future.
they are targeting. Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

Development of Mandai: Mandai has been slated for development for

eco-tourism, with the area housing a nature theme park, nature resort,
spa, and other facilities. In order to develop this area for eco-tourism,
pristine forests need to be cleared, forests that are home to many
threatened and endangered species in Singapore, including the
leopard cat, banded leaf monkey, scaly anteater, mousedeer, and
civet cat. Alternative sites have been proposed to the government by
non-governmental organisations, but they were not accepted.
Other issues such as pollution, littering, and roadkill were also raised
during the forum discussion, but not discussed in detail.
Some current policies or initiatives include:

• According to the law, Reserves have protection status under the
Parks and Trees Act, while Parks are not protected under any Acts.
• Under the law, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority can prosecute
poachers and fine them $1,000 or more. The National Parks Board
can also now detain poachers.
1. About Mandai
Unlike Chek Jawa, the Mandai area is restricted for military use, and it is
not possible to bring people to visit the area and appreciate the
biodiversity found there. As a result, it is more difficult to generate public
support, for example to get signatures for a petition to save Mandai. To
make things more difficult, the developers of the area Our Youth. Our Future.
probably not nature lovers, and are keen on just making Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
money from developing the area. However, in the long run, the
economic gain will never be enough to replace the loss, as extinction is
forever.
2. About Singapore
There is no Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) required to be carried

out before developing a nature area, but NParks does have a National
Biodiversity Scheme to monitor the flora and fauna of the country. In
order to carry out an EIA, standards need to be developed for the
tropical environment to be able to apply locally, and not simply the use
temperate models that are already available from other countries. This
will need time to develop.
3. Save Mandai Campaign
Various ideas were brainstormed to generate publicity for the

campaign to save the Mandai area from negative development. This
included the making of videos and short stories about the area, similar
to those of Teo Pin Pin, which captures the essence of Mandai. These
videos could be put up on websites such as Youtube, and additional
publicity generated by word of mouth through blogs. Similar to Chek
Jawa, people could also be asked to come forward to sign petitions, as
a show of the strong support by the people for the campaign.

• To reduce the frequency of roadkill, there could be placement of
signages for people to look out for animal crossings along roads near

to or bordering nature areas, such as Jalan Bahar, Our Youth. Our Future.
Rifle Range Road, and Sime Road. Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
• To educate developers about the impact that their development

decision can have on the environment, and develop guidelines as a
reference for them to reduce their impact on the environment.
• The government should get more feedback from non-governmental

organisations and the people regarding the development of
biodiversity sites.
• Environmental topics can be included in the academic curriculum,

starting from primary schools up to tertiary institutions. Teachers could
also be trained as nature guides, to pass on the valuable knowledge
and inculcate a love for nature in the students. The important thing is
to make the learning fun.
• Green awards could be put in place to recognise companies who

go green, through in-house environment programs such as the
education of employees, environmentally friendly policies, etc. This
award should not only apply for future developments but also
current ones. Companies could also be further encouraged to go
green through tax reliefs.
• Create and adopt a Singapore “blue” plan to support marine

conservation by identifying marine biodiversity sink around Singapore
and label them as nature reserve area for possible research purpose
and even eco tourism, sites.


Topic 4: Sustainable Food and Water Charity Reg. No: 1739
Current Situation
Ensuring sustainable food and water is being able to meet the needs of
the current population without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. At present, the world is in need of
both sustainable food and water. Factors such as population pressures
and uncertain consequences of climate change make it essential that
more food and water is produced in a sustainable manner.
Singapore in particular does not have natural food and water

resources. Water supplies are mainly imported from Malaysia and are
based on two agreements, which will expire in 2011 and 2061.
Singapore also imports 95% of its vegetables and imports the rest from
neighbouring countries.
1. Towards Vegetarianism
Animals feed on grain and producing 1 tonne of grain requires 1000

tonnes of water. Large areas of land also have to be cleared for grazing
which releases carbon dioxide into the air. Furthermore, livestock
produces significant greenhouse gas emissions, especially the gas
methane which is twenty times more effective than carbon dioxide in
trapping heat and raising global temperatures. These factors make it
crucial for the population to switch to a vegetarian diet. This switch can
be done in gradual steps, such as being a vegetarian on certain days
of the week or eating only one or two kinds of meat. Our Youth. Our Future.
Vegetarian food should also be promoted to children in Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
school canteens, and to have one vegetarian food stall in every school.
2. Community Farming
Engaging the community in joint projects will generate awareness

among the public of the value of food and water. They will be
encouraged not only to reduce wastage, but to spearhead initiatives
that will increase sustainability in food resources. In Singapore for
example, the government can designate a plot of land to each
constituency. The residents can then grow their own food. This forms of
urban agriculture is most suited in the context of Singapore given its lack
of traditional agricultural land e.g. rooftops, school plots. Plots of land
can also be leased out by the government to business organisations
and/or families who are interested in producing agricultural goods for
the population.
3. Amplifying the Moral Dimension of Environmentalism
Faith-based environmentalism is a growing trend as many have realised

that environmentalism is an integral part of various beliefs. It has been
illustrated in several religious teachings such as the Bible, the Quran,
Buddhist sutras and Hindu texts. Religion, as we know it, is a powerful
avenue through which environmental awareness can we raised and
subsequent action can be taken. By highlighting the link between the
environment and beliefs, moral obligations towards the betterment of
the environment can be cultivated. This can be done through joint
collaborations between environmental groups and religious
organisations to give out guide books and/or deliver sermons.

Other recommendations include: Our Youth. Our Future.
• The discussion group at the NYEF 2008 was in favour of Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
engaging the community as whole to ensure sustainable food and

water.
• While it is important for the government to continue raising

awareness on such matters, hands-on action by the public will spur
them to initiative their own projects. Through the three suggested
action plans, food production will be boosted, large quantities of
water will be saved and awareness on these delicate issues will rise.
• Since land is scarce in Singapore and we import most of our

agriculture, one ways worth exploring on a more sustainable food
source would be to explore vertical farming in the community. There
are initial studies at Columbia University, which can be further
explored with.
• Harvesting rainwater for non-portable usage such as for toilet

flushing.

Chapter 6 Conclusion Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

The National Youth Environment Forum 08 “Beyond Awareness” was

held successfully to engage the youth on various environmental issues
and to inspire them to take action to build a sustainable future for
Singapore.
The invited speakers on the topics of Technology, Business/Economics,

Social/Attitudes, Legislation, and Media set the stage for a lively
presentation and discussion with the youth participants on the different
aspects to approach environmental issues.
This was followed by a fruitful caucus discussion on the topics of:

Reducing our Carbon Footprint; Rethinking our Waste; Sustainable Food
and Water; and Conserving our Biodiversity. The participants had
several good ideas, recommendations and projects to improve the
current situation of the various environmental areas.
Since the theme of this year’s forum is “Beyond Awareness”, ECO

Singapore and its partners will work closely with youth who are keen to
implement their projects after the forum. ECO Singapore would guide
and mentor them in implementing their projects successfully. In this way,
youth will move from awareness to action and play a part in shaping
the environmental landscape in Singapore.
ECO Singapore will be forming a policy department to allow more

youth to be engaged in policies of similar platforms. The department
intends to work more closely with the relevant ministries on sustainable
development.
Appendix 1 Profile of Environmental Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

Challenge Organisation (Singapore)

ECO Singapore is the leading youth-led Non-Governmental Social
Enterprise on sustainable lifestyle.
Operational in 2005, ECO Singapore aims to challenge youth of age 17-

35 to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and embrace environmental issues
holistically. ECO Singapore actively drives and supports local and global
environmental initiatives involving other environmental stakeholders -
the National Youth Council supports ECO Singapore’s activities and
programmes, and we also work closely with the Ministry of Environment
and Water Resources, National Environment Agency, Public Utilities
Board, local environmental groups and international environmental
groups.
Our Vision
To be the leading environmental body advocating sustainable lifestyle
for youth
Our Mission
1. To challenge youth of age 17-35 to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and
embrace environmental issues holistically*.
2. To drive local and global environmental initiatives.
3. To support environmental activities/initiatives as a resource platform
involving other environmental stakeholders.
*Holistic – In ECO Singapore, we categories global environment issues

into seven areas. They are Agriculture, Biodiversity, Energy, Climate
Change, Health & Water Sanitation, Pollution, Population and Poverty.
The organisation is mainly run and managed by volunteers. The

volunteer pool stands at 120 and growing. The organisation does its
empowering and engaging outreach through its 5 departments. Each
department consists of five to six core committed volunteers that steers
their respective departmental projects/initiatives.
Departments:
Publication & Research;
Policy (Forum Planning);
Marketing & Communications;
International Affairs; and
Volunteers Management & Development

Apart from relying on the kind donations and sponsorships from the
public and corporate, the organisation offers a range of services
through its enterprise arm to generate income to support its current
overheads.
Enterprises:
ECO Training
ECO Advertisements
ECO Publications
ECO Shop
ECO Talks

Appendix 2 NYEF 08 Programme Our Youth. Our Future.

Time Programme
0900 Registration
0930 Arrival of Guest-of-Honour
Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan
Senior Parliamentary Secretary,
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
0935 Welcome Address by ECO Singapore
Mr Aaron Yeo
Forum Head, ECO Singapore
0940 Opening Address by Guest-of-Honour
0950 Presentation of Tokens of Appreciation to Partners by GOH
1000 Opening Plenary Session
Mr. Wilson Ang
President, ECO Singapore
1020 Question and Answer
1030 Tea Break
Tour of Booths by GOH, ECO Singapore and Corporate Partners
1045 Topic Presentations:
• Technology
Dr Wang Jing Yuan, Director of Environmental Engineering
Research Centre
• Business/Economics
Mr Henry Kang, Singapore Compact
• Social/Attitudes
Mrs Kirtida Mekani, Board Member, Garden City Fund
• Legislation
Dr Gunawansa Asanga, Associate Member, Asia-Pacific
Centre on Environmental Law
• Media
Mr. Augustine Anthuvan, Mediacorp Singapore
1145 Question and Answer
Chaired by Dr. Geh Min, President of the Nature Society of
Singapore
1200 Lunch
1300 Caucus Discussion Session:
Caucus Discussions are facilitated by faculty from Republic
Polytechnic
• Reducing our carbon footprint
• Rethinking our waste
• Sustainable food and water resources
• Conserving biodiversity

1400 Session Break

1415 Caucus Discussion Session (Continued)
1545 Tea Break
1600 Caucus Presentations and Question and Answer Session
1730 Closing Plenary Session
1750 Closing Address by ECO Singapore
1800 End of Forum

Appendix 3 Speaker Profiles Our Youth. Our Future.

Business/Economics
Henry Kang
Corporate Responsibility Champion FEM Region
Asia
ST Microelectronics, Singapore
Biography
Henry Kang is the Corporate Responsibility Champion at

STMicroelectronics' Manufacturing Site in Ang Mo Kio. He is responsible
for disseminating STMicroelectronics' Culture and helping to deploy
programmes like Corporate Responsibility Awareness and Compliance
to Sustainable Excellence. He assists to integrate Sustainable Excellence
into key functions and operational activities. Henry also ensures that
STMicroelectronics' Ang Mo Kio Manufacturing Site is in compliance with
the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct.

Legislation Our Youth. Our Future.

Dr. Asanga Gunawansa

Department of Building, National University of
Singapore
Associate Member of the Executive Committee
of Asia Pacific Centre for Environmental Law.
Biography
Dr. Asanga Gunawansa is an Attorney–at-Law with over 14 years of

experience. He holds a Ph.D. in law from the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and a LL.M in International Economic Law from the
University of Warwick, United Kingdom.
Dr. Gunawansa is currently attached to the Department of Building,

NUS, as an Assistant Professor. He is also an associate Member of the
Executive Committee of the Asia Pacific Centre for Environmental Law.
Prior to joining NUS, Dr. Gunawansa worked for the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the United Nations Compensation
Commission as a Legal Officer.

Media Our Youth. Our Future.

Augustine Anthuvan
Deputy Editor, News
MediaCorp - Channel NewsAsia
Biography
Augustine produces daily news programmes including ‘360’ - a “live”

interview/talk show. He was co-commentator for the programme
‘Farewell to the People’s President’ – state funeral of President Former
President Wee Kim Wee - which was awarded the MediaCorp News
Annual Excellence Award (2005) for ‘Best Live Event Coverage’.
Prior to his move to television, Augustine was the Assistant Programme

Director for Radio Singapore International (RSI) English service at
MediaCorp Radio from 1997 to 2005.
Augustine holds a degree in Mass Communications from Oklahoma City

University and a Master of Environmental Management from the
University of Adelaide.


Attitude Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
Ms Kirtida Mekani
Sits on the Board of Advisors in various
institutions including
1) Singapore Environment Council

Board of Directors.
2) National Park’s Garden City Fund Management Committee
Committee member on the National Park’s Garden City Fund
Management Committee.
3) South West Community Development Council of Singapore (SWCDC)
Committee member on the Environment and Health Committee of the
SWCDC.
Biography
Kirtida's involvement in youth and the environment arises from a long-

standing commitment to child education and a passion for finding
effective strategic solutions to the problems inherent in a rapidly
developing world. Raised and educated in Karnataka, India, Kirtida's
multi-faceted career has taken her to a diverse set of countries where
she has been able to witness at first hand the ways in which different
nations tackle environmental issues. Her experience in educational
institutions around the world has provided Kirtida with a broad, creative
and unique perspective on how to heighten environmental awareness
amongst young people both here in Singapore and abroad.


Technology Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
Wang Jing-Yuan
Associate Professor
Nanyang Technological University
Biography
Dr. Wang Jing-Yuan is an Associate Professor in the School of Civil &

Environmental Engineering of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and
is currently Director of NTU’s Environmental Engineering Research Centre
(EERC). He is a licensed professional engineer in the US and has over 17
years of environmental consulting, research, and teaching experience in
the US, Taiwan, and Singapore. Dr. Wang’s expertise includes solid waste
resource management, contaminated site remediation, and
environmental management. He has been providing technical support
to US EPA, DOE, ORNL, Taiwan EPA, Singapore NEA, PUB, JTC, AVA, and
UN Environmental Program in various environmental projects.

Appendix 4 Partners List Our Youth. Our Future.

Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL)
The Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law

(APCEL) was established
in February 1996 by the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore,
at the initiative of the Faculty and the World Conservation Union-
Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN-CEL), and in collaboration with
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was launched on
1 July of the same year. The initiative was in response to the call in
Agenda 21 to build capacity in environmental law and to promote
awareness of environmental issues.
Singapore Compact
The Singapore Compact for CSR is a national society in bringing forward

the CSR movement in Singapore. It is also country network of the United
Nations (UN) Global Compact, the world's largest voluntary corporate
citizenship initiative with about 4,000 companies.
The Singapore Compact promotes good business ethics and CSR

practices,
in helping companies to enhance their CSR programmes through
ongoing
forum dialogues, training, partnership and practical project
implementation. About 190 companies, unions, cooperatives, NGOs
and
institutions have joined the society, in supporting the CSR movement
in Singapore. - www.csrsingapore.org


Republic Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic’s Conservation Interest Group started in 2007 and

currently has 50 student members and 11 staff advisors from Republic
Polytechnic’s School of Applied Science.
The group has spear headed various community

outreach events within and outside RP. Some of
the events we have organised include: Eco-
Picnic 2007, Launch of Project Minus 3 Million
Plastic Bags on Bring Your Own Bag Day
(BYOBD) 2007, RP Toy Library: RP Spreads
Christmas Cheer at Woodlands Community
Centre, RP's Conservation Month 2007,
Woodlands Healthy Lifestyle cum Green
Environment Day
The student committee members include:

SOH ZHI HAO; SABRINA CHOO; NUR AZIEANI BTE ARIFIN; TAY JIT LING
JACKELINE; MUHAMMAD TARMIDZI B ROSLAN; MUHAMMAD FAREEZAL B
MOHAMED I; QUEK XIU HUI
Conservation IG staff advisors ::: Dr Amy Choong; Dr Chua Hwee

Chuan; Dawn Ong; Dr Matthew Wong; Serena Seah; Song Sin Nee, Won
Choong Yun; Dr Wong Luh Cherng; Natasha Raina; Grace Tan; Joyce
Leo
For more information visit WWW.CONSERVATIONIG.BLOGSPOT.COM

Contact us at conservationig@gmail.com
Supported Republic Polytechnic’s School of Applied Science

The School of Applied Science (SAS) offers courses in Biomedical
Sciences, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Environmental
Science, and Materials Science. The School actively seeks to remain at
the forefront of industry, partnering key companies in the development
of its curricula and facilities, and collaborating in research and
development projects with industry partners to provide a wealth of
experience and contacts to both staff and students. At the School of
Applied Science, students will be provided rigorous training in scientific
thought and method so that skills gained can be applied in the industry
or, for further education. Problem-based Learning, the Our Youth. Our Future.
pedagogy in practice at the polytechnic will provide Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
students with a firm foundation in scientific technologies andCharity expose
Reg. No: 1739
students to social and ethical issues applicable to the workplace.
The diplomas offered by SAS include:

Diploma in Environmental Science (DENV)
Diploma in Biomedical Sciences (DBMS)
Diploma in Biotechnology (DBIO)
Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPHM)
Diploma in Materials Science (DMTS)
Supporting Non-Governmental Organisations
ANIMAL CONCERNS, RESEARCH and EDUCATION SOCIETY
ACRES is a non-profit
organisation that aims to foster
respect and compassion for all
animals, improve the living conditions and welfare of animals in
captivity, and educate people on lifestyle choices which do not involve
the abuse of animals and which are environment-friendly. We are
driven by the belief that animals can feel pain and stress but they
cannot speak up for themselves, thus the onus falls on us.
ACRES works to raise awareness on animal welfare issues and have

rescued more than 170 animals from the illegal wildlife trade. Our
approach is Scientific, Creative, Practical and Positive.
http://www.acres.org.sg
BLUE WATER VOLUNTEERS
Blue Water Volunteers (BWV) is a volunteer-

based, marine conservation NGO that seeks to
complement research activities and increase
awareness of local marine habitats, such as coral
reefs. We strive to achieve our aims for
conservation, awareness and education through
four main programmes: ReefFriends, ReefWalk,
ReefTalk and ReefExhibits.
http://www.bluewatervolunteers.org


THE CAT WELFARE SOCIETY
The Cat Welfare Society is a charity, run almost

entirely by volunteers, whose aim is to improve
the welfare of stray cats in Singapore. All stray
cats deserve our compassion and protection,
and we believe that there are humane,
effective ways to control their population -- that is, through sterilisation
instead of destruction.
http://www.catwelfare.org/
CLIMATE CHANGE ORGANISATION
CCO helps to organise seminars and

support public awareness projects like the
Climate Change Awareness Program
initiated by NEA and SEC. Due to the
members' passion and diligence, CCO
now is recognized by many government
agencies as well as private companies.
CCO believes that more meaningful
projects will be undertaken to serve for the
well-being of the environment in which not
just Singaporeans but all the citizens of the world will eventually benefit.
http://www.cco-asia.org
SINGAPORE ZOO DOCENTS

Our mission is to complement the educational
efforts of the Singapore Zoological Gardens and
Night Safari by providing special programmes which
educate visitors on conservation awareness and
encourage respect for animals. The docents run
stations and provide guided tours of the Zoo. The
docents also support the Zoo in a variety of activities
held to promote awareness and interest in
conservation.
http://www.szdocent.org


NAKED HERMIT CRABS Charity Reg. No: 1739
The Naked Hermit Crabs (NHC) are a small

group of volunteers committed to working on
Singapore's most imperiled shores, especially
shores not currently covered by other groups or
efforts. NHC comprise of experienced shore
volunteers who have come together to raise
awareness of Singapore's shores, specifically to
fill gaps not dealt by existing programmes. Our
focus is on shores at risk and which are not covered by other groups.
http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/
NATURE SOCIETY (SINGAPORE)
The Nature Society (Singapore) or NSS is a non-

government, non-profit organisation dedicated to
the appreciation, conservation, study and
enjoyment of the natural heritage in Singapore,
Malaysia and the surrounding region. The Society
organises a variety of nature appreciation activities
for its members. There are regular walks for
members, guided by other members, at weekends
- some are general nature walks, others are more
specifically for bird-watching, butterfly-watching, or plant study.
http://www.nss.org.sg
NATURE TREKKER SINGAPORE
Nature Trekker Singapore was formed with a

mission to share & educate people on nature. It
also fosters and unifies all outdoor enthusiasts to
better appreciate nature, thus giving the beautiful
yet fragile environment the due respect it deserves.
Hence, that simply guiding principle has been the
main focus of our establishment
http://www.naturetrekker.org

RAFFLES MUSEUM AND BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH (RMBR) Our Youth. Our Future.
TODDYCATS! Charity Reg. No: 1739
Toddycats! is meant to expose, develop,

enthuse and apply students to programmes
in conservation, education and research.
Toddycats! originally was an attempt to
provide capacity building amongst
undergraduates in NUS, to provide a means
to
contribute immediately towards the greater good of Singapore. It has
been open to others in the recognition that all you really need is
enthusiasm and commitment!
http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/toddycats
SCHOLASTIC ENVIRONMENT FUND
Scholastic Environment Fund Ltd (SEF) is set

up to foster global and local environment
awareness amongst youths and educators
from different backgrounds. It believes
that the future of the earth belongs to the young, and that they will
show us how to cherish and preserve the environment. Led by
volunteers, SEF organizes activities for young people with the aim of
encouraging, nurturing and empowering them in the areas of
advocacy and action.
scholastic_environment_fund@yahoo.com.sg
SINGAPORE ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL

The SEC evolved from Singaporean's growing
awareness and convergence to a
more sophisticated understanding of being
part of the global community's "Green-
Consciousness".
http://www.sec.org.sg


SOCIETY for the PREVENTION of CRUELTY to ANIMALS Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
(SPCA) Charity Reg. No: 1739
The SPCA has been lobbying the authorities on various

animal welfare issues such as reinstating the Stray Cat
Rehabilitation Scheme (a project to sterilise stray cats
and return them to their neighbourhood), and the
lifting of the ban on cats in HDB flats. Add your voice
to ours and help make a difference.
http://www.spca.org.sg
VEGETARIAN SOCIETY
Vegetarian Society (Singapore) is a

nonprofit organisation run entirely by
volunteers, formed in 1999 with the
primary objectives of promoting
vegetarianism through research and education, and linking individuals
and organisations that believe in the principles of vegetarianism. The
society has no religious affiliations and seeks to encompass a wide
range of vegetarianism. We are the only registered vegetarian society
in Singapore, recognised as a member of the International Vegetarian
Union, and to have links with other vegetarian societies all around the
world. Vegetarian Society encourages people to eat less or no meat to
contribue to a better environment, better health, and better welfare for
farm animals.
http://www.vegetarian-society.org
WATERWAYS WATCH SOCIETY

The 'Waterways Watch' is a special
volunteer group tasked to bring people
together
to monitor, restore and protect the
aesthetics of our waterways. It is an
independent
group of volunteers working towards
the same objective as other green groups however concentrating more
on our waterways with an identity of its own and led by a committee of
volunteers.
http://wwws.org.sg


NYEF2008 Report 040908

Transféré par

Informations du document

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

NYEF2008 Report 040908

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

environmental challenge organisation (singapore)

known as ECO Singapore

Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building #06-01 Singapore 189695

Our Youth. Our Future.

Chapter 2 Topic 1: Reducing our Carbon Footprint 8

Chapter 3 Topic 2: Rethinking our Waste 12

Chapter 4 Topic 3: Conserving our Biodiversity 16

Chapter 5 Topic 4: Sustainable Food and Water 20

Appendix 1 Profile of Environmental Challenge

Appendix 2 NYEF 08 Programme 26

Appendix 3 Speakers’ Profile 28

Appendix 4 Partners List 33

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 2

Executive Summary Our Youth. Our Future.

The National Youth Environment Forum (NYEF) is organised by the

The invited speakers on the topics of Technology, Business/Economics,

This was followed by a fruitful caucus discussion on the following topics:

2. Rethinking our Waste;

3. Conserving our Biodiversity, and

4. Sustainable Food and Water.

The participants expressed concerns and improvements in some areas,

On the topic of Reducing our Carbon Footprint, the participants would

addition of more CNG stations in Singapore, and having cycling as a

On the topic of Rethinking our Waste, the youth focused on increasing

On the topic of Conserving our Biodiversity, the participants expressed

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 4

environmental landscape in Singapore. Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 5

Chapter 1 Introduction Our Youth. Our Future.

Through its years of involvement in youth environmental activism, ECO

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 7

Chapter 2 Our Youth. Our Future.

Singapore as a country may have little impact on the global carbon

Some current policies or Initiatives include:

• Aside the pilot programme in Tampines, Sembawang and

the trains. Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002

• A 5-year, $50 million Sustainable Energy Fund to beef up energy

Recommendations and Projects

1. Engagement with Private Sector

46% of carbon emissions come from industries in Singapore and it is a

The aim to promote green transportation comes via a three-pronged

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 9

Encouragement and incentives to be provided for Our Youth. Our Future.

compressed natural gas (CNG) or other cleaner sources of energy (e.g.

Currently there are only two operating CNG stations on Singapore

Short-term goals: More pilot programmes are to be started in Singapore

Other recommendations include:

• Public education on the use of bicycles and safety issues.

• Popularising CNG vehicles use in Singapore.

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 10

• Building of more bicycle tracks in Singapore. Our Youth. Our Future.

short as 45 minutes upon leaving one location and

• An in depth study into possible means of adapting the

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 11

Chapter 3 Our Youth. Our Future.

Due to economic expansion in Singapore, the spending power of the

Also, the improper disposal of waste can result in the extinction of

87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695 12

large effect on people.

The participants felt that there was a lack of knowledge among

Some current policies or initiatives include:

• National Recycling Initiative