Balakrishnan Optimistic About Singapore’s Environmental Future
Text: Grace Yeoh
Amidst major environmental challenges Singaporeans face, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan remains optimistic about the future.
He said, “Young people today are greener and far more passionate about protecting the environment, preserving nature and securing long-term security for us. Perhaps they instinctively know that they are the generation who has to deal with the problems.”
The minister was speaking at the U@live talk titled “Our Environment – Is it too late to save it?” held on Oct. 30 at the National University of Singapore’s Shaw Foundation Alumni House. U@live is a monthly forum that showcases outstanding members of the NUS community – students, faculty and alumni – who have championed causes for a better world.
In his talk, Balakrishnan outlined three “nightmare scenarios” he said he fears Singapore would go through, namely epidemics, transboundary contamination and problems to do with climate, food, water and energy.
In relation to epidemics, he said the greatest threat to public health lies in the quality of the environment. He then said the transboundary haze Singapore experienced in June this year foreshadowed the larger issue of transboundary contamination in general as well as how climate change could affect sea levels and thus food systems of agricultural countries, affecting Singapore’s food price and availability.
Balakrishnan said the government has more work to do to safeguard Singapore against these crises.
Even though the minister’s concerns reflected Singapore’s possible future environmental battle, NUS alumnus Clemmie Deng said she was confident that Singapore could handle it. She said, “Even though we don’t have many major crises so far, we are very organised and I believe that will help us.”
Balakrishnan also spoke of a relaxed mindset he observed in most Singaporeans. He said, “Our reasonably isolated and protected environment has led us to assume that this calm will last forever. The government needs to have a long-term horizon, try and understand what is happening and communicate a sense of urgency without alarming people.”
He said a stable relationship between the government and people would be key to getting through hard times such as environmental crises. “In terms of the environment, because we all breathe the same air, we are equally vulnerable. We have to develop a sense of togetherness,” he said.
He recalled one such vulnerable period – the SARS period – which gave him an unexpected “glimmer of hope.” He said that everyone in all hospitals showed up for work every day. “What this taught me is that when push comes to shove, Singaporeans have an instinctive sense of duty, courage, commitment, dedication and passion,” he said.
However, second-year computing undergraduate Aaron Chia had reservations about the minister’s confidence. “Frankly, he’s overly optimistic. The younger generation is too concerned with themselves. They might want a better environment, but it doesn’t mean they are willing to create it,” he said.
Tags: breaking news
Amidst major environmental challenges Singaporeans face, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan remains optimistic about the future.
He said, “Young people today are greener and far more passionate about protecting the environment, preserving nature and securing long-term security for us. Perhaps they instinctively know that they are the generation who has to deal with the problems.”
The minister was speaking at the U@live talk titled “Our Environment – Is it too late to save it?” held on Oct. 30 at the National University of Singapore’s Shaw Foundation Alumni House. U@live is a monthly forum that showcases outstanding members of the NUS community – students, faculty and alumni – who have championed causes for a better world.
In his talk, Balakrishnan outlined three “nightmare scenarios” he said he fears Singapore would go through, namely epidemics, transboundary contamination and problems to do with climate, food, water and energy.
In relation to epidemics, he said the greatest threat to public health lies in the quality of the environment. He then said the transboundary haze Singapore experienced in June this year foreshadowed the larger issue of transboundary contamination in general as well as how climate change could affect sea levels and thus food systems of agricultural countries, affecting Singapore’s food price and availability.
Balakrishnan said the government has more work to do to safeguard Singapore against these crises.
Even though the minister’s concerns reflected Singapore’s possible future environmental battle, NUS alumnus Clemmie Deng said she was confident that Singapore could handle it. She said, “Even though we don’t have many major crises so far, we are very organised and I believe that will help us.”
Balakrishnan also spoke of a relaxed mindset he observed in most Singaporeans. He said, “Our reasonably isolated and protected environment has led us to assume that this calm will last forever. The government needs to have a long-term horizon, try and understand what is happening and communicate a sense of urgency without alarming people.”
He said a stable relationship between the government and people would be key to getting through hard times such as environmental crises. “In terms of the environment, because we all breathe the same air, we are equally vulnerable. We have to develop a sense of togetherness,” he said.
He recalled one such vulnerable period – the SARS period – which gave him an unexpected “glimmer of hope.” He said that everyone in all hospitals showed up for work every day. “What this taught me is that when push comes to shove, Singaporeans have an instinctive sense of duty, courage, commitment, dedication and passion,” he said.
However, second-year computing undergraduate Aaron Chia had reservations about the minister’s confidence. “Frankly, he’s overly optimistic. The younger generation is too concerned with themselves. They might want a better environment, but it doesn’t mean they are willing to create it,” he said.
Tags: breaking news