Low footprint living

SINGAPORE: Calling COVID-19 not just a public health problem but also a political one, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that it takes political leadership to persuade people about keeping safety measures in place when case numbers are low. In a speech at the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) 36th Ordinary Party Conference, Mr Lee, who is the PAP’s secretary-general, said that although the situation is under control, the country has to get into a position where it can confidently open up further. “We can't simply relax the current restrictions, and hope that COVID-19 cases will remain low,” he said. Opening up further will increase the chances of getting more new cases, Mr Lee said, and so Singapore has to maintain its safe distancing measures. It also has to keep refining its safeguards - such as improving its contact tracing and testing regimes - to deal with the cases which pop up. This will minimise the danger of major outbreaks as the country opens up. Then … [Read more...] about PM Lee says it takes political leadership to convince people that COVID-19 measures are still needed

BANGKOK: Prasert Saisamphan’s home used to be a breezy space, surrounded by trees. Now, the 65-year-old finds it hard to breathe, surrounded by confining concrete and the dust of a growing city. “When I was about 20 years old, condominiums were not built here yet. The weather was nice and cool. We only used a fan in the evening. No one had an air-conditioner in my house,” he said. “Now, there’s less air. It feels like I can’t take a deep breath.” The view from Prasert’s house in Klong Khlang in central Bangkok is dominated by the towering pylons of an expressway, and in the distance, seemingly ever-growing residential towers. “It’s hot this year. It’s so hot that the electricity charges significantly rise. It’s so hot that I installed water sprinklers on the roof. It’s so hot that I need water spray. It feels doubly hot compared to last year,” said Jurairat Kruephimai, another local resident. The heat they feel is not imagined. The effect of a phenomenon known as the … [Read more...] about Hot in the city: Rising night temperatures a potentially major health issue in Asian metropolises

SINGAPORE: In the battle against climate change, environment experts have urged individuals to look beyond single-use plastic and make bigger changes in their daily lives: Drive and fly less, and change what they eat and buy. "Most of the individual actions people can do are often less visible than not using straws, and requires an effort to change behaviour for the long term," Associate Professor Winston Chow of the Singapore Management University (SMU) told CNA on Wednesday (Aug 7). "Some steps would be to reduce consumption of goods, materials and services that generate carbon emissions." A Mediacorp survey released on Wednesday showed that more than nine in 10 Singaporeans and permanent residents agreed that they would do their part to "minimise the impact" of climate change. READ: What will it take to kick Singapore's growing multimillion-dollar addiction to bottled water? But what exactly should they do? "Straws are a small part of our overall … [Read more...] about Want to do more to fight climate change? Cut down on driving, buying stuff and eating meat

SINGAPORE: In Singapore, climate change received due attention during the 2019 National Day Rally, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced national strategies to adapt to climate hazards and mitigate carbon emissions. While PM Lee spoke at length about sea level rise and how to adapt to this long-term threat, there is another critical immediate issue - how do we adapt and mitigate warmer temperatures from global warming and urbanisation in Singapore that will affect our day-to-day lives? In our daily lives, we have been mostly sheltered from the harsh realities of heat and humidity, thanks to the ubiquitous air-conditioner in our homes, transport modes, offices and most buildings. However, this does not bode well for a sustainable future. Once outdoors, when taking refuge in air-conditioned spaces is not an option, we are immediately hit by the sweltering heat. READ: Hot in the city: Rising night temperatures a potentially major health issue in Asian metropolises … [Read more...] about Commentary: Singapore could be a model for cooler cities in a world heating up

SINGAPORE: On Saturday (Jul 25), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a new Cabinet which included a reshuffle of portfolios for fourth-generation (4G) leaders, six promotions and three retirements. Former Minister of Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu will move to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, which has now been renamed the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE). Explaining the rationale behind the ministry’s new name, PM Lee noted “sustainability has become an increasingly important part of our national agenda”, which now includes climate change defence and managing the island’s carbon footprint. COVID-19 has also shown Singaporeans how fraught food security and safety is, highlighting the importance of the work of sustainability and climate adaptation. READ: Commentary: How COVID-19 shaped this Singapore Cabinet line-up READ: Commentary: From farmers to supermarket clerks, a new kind of essential worker has emerged … [Read more...] about Commentary: This new Ministry of Sustainability and Environment looks pretty promising