Youth leaders speaking at the panel discussion “Keep Calm and Love Our Planet” by Singapore Youth for Climate Action. The panel was part of the programme sponsored by CDL, and in collaboration with The Commonwealth.
Keep Calm And
Love Our
Planet: Quelling
“Eco-Anxiety” And
Calling For
Net Zero
Commitments
After being postponed for more than a year, the 2021 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland, on 31 October. The two-week event saw some 25,000 delegates from over 200 countries, gathering to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Among the delegates from Singapore led by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Ms Grace Fu include City Developments Limited (CDL) Chief Sustainability Officer Ms Esther An. Ms An spoke at the Built Environment Leaders Panel on 11 November, calling on the building industry to commit to achieving net zero emissions. The built environment industry currently accounts for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In an earlier interview with Singapore Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, she said that as the region is rapidly urbanising, a large number of buildings and infrastructure is expected to be built over the next decade. How properties are designed, built and maanged will have a huge impact on the global climate, and that if today's technologies and practices are continued to be used, net zero emissions are not achievable, resulting in a need for ambitious yet prudent targets.
CDL Chief Sustainability Officer Ms Esther An gave a video sharing at the “Keep Calm and Love Our Planet” event, calling for more collaboration to accelerate climate action.
CDL is also funding a series of programmes by Ms Cheryl Lee and Ms Swati Mandloi, both members of non-governmental group Singapore Youth for Climate Action (SYCA). The pair were also at COP26 as youth representatives. The programme will include the production of a video and other communication materials aimed at turning climate anxiety into positive action.
Ms An told Singapore newspaper The Straits Times, “The project aims to promote positive thinking and creative collaboration for climate solutions among youth, showing that everyone can play a positive role in this global race to net zero.”
Delegates also had the opportunity to meet with Singapore Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Ms Grace Fu (2nd from left) and gain insights on issues at COP26, such as the finalising of guidance for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. (Image credit: Channel NewsAsia)
Ms Mandloi added that through the conference, they hope to communicate the state of negotiations to young people in Singapore through hybrid events in Glasgow that are live-streamed to Singapore, raise awareness on issues such as eco-anxiety, green jobs and climate education, as well as meet other young people from Asia.
As part of the programme, SYCA and CDL held a panel discussion on 10 November, titled “Keep Calm and Love Our Planet: Youths Can Change The Future”. It was moderated and emceed by SYCA youth representatives and featured sharings from Ms An, youth leaders and The Commonwealth Secretariat Senior Director for Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development Dr Ruth Kattumuri.
