IN A first-world city where the population is more likely to be interested about which mall to shop at next, than what goes on in the rainforests in and surrounding this country, it's no surprise that climate change ranks at the bottom of concerns.
A recent survey by HSBC Bank showed that people here are more concerned about the global economy, terrorism and pandemics than they are about climate change.
The findings of the HSBC Climate Change Monitor, which surveyed Singapore for the first time, found that only 12 per cent of those polled, ranked climate change as a top issue. This is among the lowest across the countries in the survey. Only France, Britain and the United States scored lower.
Globally, climate change takes third place among major issues, which also includes poverty, natural disasters and violence. It has consistently been among the top three concerns since 2008.
Interestingly, the Asia-Pacific region ranked higher than the rest of the world on levels of concern and optimism in tackling climate change. In contrast, scores for Singapore are lower than the Asia-Pacific average. Only 34 per cent of the more than 1,000 Singapore residents - polled between August and September 2010 - acknowledged that climate change is an important concern while the Asia-Pacific averaged 41 per cent.
The results made me wonder whether the average person thinks much about mankind's relationship with the environment. How many actually do make the effort to step out of their comfort zones to get acquainted with nature?
This is perhaps why some businesses such as HSBC Bank see a need to increase local awareness on environmental issues, and a partnership with the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Council is one of the ways they use to do it.
NYAA was set up in 1992 to encourage leadership qualities in young people. HSBC's partnership with the organisation has lasted more than 10 years and it has focused on environmental leadership.
When four Singaporean youths won the HSBC/NYAA Youth Environmental Awards recently, they were rewarded with a research study trip to experience the Puerto Rican rainforest on an Earthwatch Institute expedition.
The four young Singaporeans were Jasmine-Victorina Lye, 18, who is studying at Ngee Ann Polytechnic; Jocelyn Tay, 20, who is studying environmental engineering at NTU; Calvin Tan, 23, who is doing a degree at NUS on life sciences; and Kenneth Wong, 25, a youth environmental campaigner and social worker.
Puerto Rico rainforest
The objective was to enable them to learn how forests can be managed sustainably, especially in a location such as Puerto Rico, which has managed to successfully reverse its rate of deforestation with an extensive replanting programme.
EARTHWATCH
The Earthwatch Institute is an international non-profit organisation that brings science to life for people concerned about the Earth's future. It regularly offers expeditions to anyone who wants to volunteer at exotic locations around the world. As a volunteer, you might choose to study lizards and frogs in Puerto Rico, band penguins in South Africa or tag endangered sea turtles on Pacific beaches.
If you are one of those keen for an adventure-type holiday, I would fully recommend you look at their list of volunteer projects where you can volunteer and have a meaningful holiday at the same time.
HSBC Singapore CEO Alex Hungate said that the Bank picked the rainforest expedition for the winners, to encourage them to gain a "deeper understanding of the relationship between forests, carbon and climate".
Primary rainforests are more effective at capturing carbon from the atmosphere than any technology that man has yet been able to invent, he noted. This is why under HSBC's Climate Partnership initiative, the bank has sponsored more than 1,000 staff to volunteer at Earthwatch projects to help investigate the impact of climate change on forests around the world.
Some of Singapore's heritage trees are hundreds of years old, and Singapore is the only city in the world which hosts primary rainforest, he said. Therefore, whatever is learnt on the expedition can also be applied here.
The experience seems to have had the desired effect on the young team. They were bursting with ideas on how they would apply what they had learnt in Puerto Rico, back home in Singapore, during an interview with The Straits Times.
Jasmine, who initially cried on the first day of the expedition from being homesick, said the trip was an eye-opener that has inspired her to volunteer her time back in Singapore, among nature. She used to be a tour guide at the Sungei Buloh reserve, and says she wants to go back to doing that.
"I was very touched by the passion of the scientists. While we were doing this for only 10 days, they have dedicated their whole lives to this," she said.
Tropic Ventres director Thrity Vakil teaches volunteers how to use equipment to make measurements of the trees in the Puerto Rica rainforest. The project researches sustainable ways to manage forests.
Read more about the rainforest project here: http://www.eyeontherainforest.org/
Kenneth and Calvin both said they would share their experience in their capacity as environmental campaigners. "We don't get to do such hands-on work with scientists back in Singapore, so this has been a real opportunity for me," said Kenneth.
Calvin added that the trip for him, was learning to view the environment as a friend rather than a harsh environment that people try to conquer, while Jocelyn recalled that the most memorable experience for her was jumping from tree to tree on the steep slopes, trying to tag them for measurement.
"The first thing I'll do when I get back to Singapore, is to learn about our native trees. This trip has made me appreciate the nature around me so much more," she said.
I couldn't agree more with her. I was forced to step out of my comfort zone, and realised that I truly did love the experience.
I'm already planning my next rainforest adventure - maybe to Borneo this time?
To watch a multimedia show by Jean Qingwen Loo on this Earthwatch expedition, click here:
http://vimeo.com/16606423
jcheam@sph.com.sg
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