oh this is me last Rena when I was probably around two to four years old
probably around two to four years old
probably around two to four years old and at this age I probably did not know
and at this age I probably did not know
and at this age I probably did not know what I wanted to do in life like most
what I wanted to do in life like most
what I wanted to do in life like most kids here in Singapore I went to school
kids here in Singapore I went to school
kids here in Singapore I went to school did well for my PSL II got into a good
did well for my PSL II got into a good
did well for my PSL II got into a good secondary school did not do so well for
secondary school did not do so well for
secondary school did not do so well for my a-levels and could not get into a
my a-levels and could not get into a
my a-levels and could not get into a public university but at the end of the
public university but at the end of the
public university but at the end of the day I still ensured that I graduated
day I still ensured that I graduated
day I still ensured that I graduated with at least a degree somewhere along
with at least a degree somewhere along
with at least a degree somewhere along my university days in 2010 I decided to
my university days in 2010 I decided to
my university days in 2010 I decided to apply what I learned in school outside
apply what I learned in school outside
apply what I learned in school outside of school so I started to volunteer a
of school so I started to volunteer a
of school so I started to volunteer a lot with various environmental
lot with various environmental
lot with various environmental organizations in Singapore and it was
organizations in Singapore and it was
organizations in Singapore and it was literally a lifelong learning for me and
literally a lifelong learning for me and
literally a lifelong learning for me and from there I got myself opportunities to
from there I got myself opportunities to
from there I got myself opportunities to attend various events like this one so
attend various events like this one so
attend various events like this one so this was December 2014 where I had the
this was December 2014 where I had the
this was December 2014 where I had the chance to attend a two week’s UN climate
chance to attend a two week’s UN climate
chance to attend a two week’s UN climate change conference in Lima Peru and in
change conference in Lima Peru and in
change conference in Lima Peru and in one of the actions I participated in I
one of the actions I participated in I
one of the actions I participated in I had my face painted with traditional
had my face painted with traditional
had my face painted with traditional markings and I stood in solidarity with
markings and I stood in solidarity with
markings and I stood in solidarity with readers from the Soweto community Soweto
readers from the Soweto community Soweto
readers from the Soweto community Soweto community is one of the indigenous
community is one of the indigenous
community is one of the indigenous community in Peru so what happened was
community in Peru so what happened was
community in Peru so what happened was earlier in that year for community
earlier in that year for community
earlier in that year for community leaders were killed while defending
leaders were killed while defending
leaders were killed while defending their land against illegal loggers and I
their land against illegal loggers and I
their land against illegal loggers and I learned that for years these people were
learned that for years these people were
learned that for years these people were trying to obtain official land rights
trying to obtain official land rights
trying to obtain official land rights from the government but failed to do so
from the government but failed to do so
from the government but failed to do so and very little was done to address the
and very little was done to address the
and very little was done to address the situation so from that small action you
situation so from that small action you
situation so from that small action you know when I think of rainforest I think
know when I think of rainforest I think
know when I think of rainforest I think of how it affects the local temperature
of how it affects the local temperature
of how it affects the local temperature and the local rainfalls but from that
and the local rainfalls but from that
and the local rainfalls but from that action I discovered how it was affecting
action I discovered how it was affecting
action I discovered how it was affecting local communities and in this case it
local communities and in this case it
local communities and in this case it was even resulting in deaths so then I
was even resulting in deaths so then I
was even resulting in deaths so then I thought be here in Singapore we are
thought be here in Singapore we are
thought be here in Singapore we are either very sheltered or very ignorant
either very sheltered or very ignorant
either very sheltered or very ignorant with what was happening with the rest of
with what was happening with the rest of
with what was happening with the rest of the world so what is going on with the
the world so what is going on with the
the world so what is going on with the rest of the world of course there’s lots
rest of the world of course there’s lots
rest of the world of course there’s lots of things happening
of things happening
of things happening every day but what I wanted to share
every day but what I wanted to share
every day but what I wanted to share right here are two things so one is
right here are two things so one is
right here are two things so one is population so this is the projected
population so this is the projected
population so this is the projected population for the years 2030 2050 and
population for the years 2030 2050 and
population for the years 2030 2050 and to100
to100
to100 for the world and Asia in millions so
for the world and Asia in millions so
for the world and Asia in millions so you can see briefly population is
you can see briefly population is
you can see briefly population is definitely growing and another event
definitely growing and another event
definitely growing and another event that I want you to take note off the map
that I want you to take note off the map
that I want you to take note off the map is not too clear but I hope you can see
is not too clear but I hope you can see
is not too clear but I hope you can see the colors so this is multiple small
the colors so this is multiple small
the colors so this is multiple small maps of global temperature change from
maps of global temperature change from
maps of global temperature change from the years 1850 to 2016 so you can see
the years 1850 to 2016 so you can see
the years 1850 to 2016 so you can see visually how it has changed you know
visually how it has changed you know
visually how it has changed you know from that blue color spots all these
from that blue color spots all these
from that blue color spots all these weight spots in recent years so we can
weight spots in recent years so we can
weight spots in recent years so we can literally feel temperature is now rising
literally feel temperature is now rising
literally feel temperature is now rising Oh with that background context of a
Oh with that background context of a
Oh with that background context of a growing population and climate change
growing population and climate change
growing population and climate change what does that mean for us how can be
what does that mean for us how can be
what does that mean for us how can be late to that how can people in Singapore
late to that how can people in Singapore
late to that how can people in Singapore relate to all these world events
relate to all these world events
relate to all these world events now lots of studies and climate
now lots of studies and climate
now lots of studies and climate projections have been done to show what
projections have been done to show what
projections have been done to show what can go on in the next 100 years or so
can go on in the next 100 years or so
can go on in the next 100 years or so for this particular study that I’m
for this particular study that I’m
for this particular study that I’m sharing with you here it’s focused on
sharing with you here it’s focused on
sharing with you here it’s focused on Singapore and I’m just showing if you
Singapore and I’m just showing if you
Singapore and I’m just showing if you two scenarios and in these two scenarios
two scenarios and in these two scenarios
two scenarios and in these two scenarios they say that sea level rise over here
they say that sea level rise over here
they say that sea level rise over here can be anything between 0.25 meters to
can be anything between 0.25 meters to
can be anything between 0.25 meters to 0.76 meters and even with this numbers
0.76 meters and even with this numbers
0.76 meters and even with this numbers leading scientists like James James
leading scientists like James James
leading scientists like James James Hansen and several other scientists have
Hansen and several other scientists have
Hansen and several other scientists have come forward to say that the figures
come forward to say that the figures
come forward to say that the figures reported by the UN IPCC report from
reported by the UN IPCC report from
reported by the UN IPCC report from which this report was referenced from is
which this report was referenced from is
which this report was referenced from is very conservative because they do not
very conservative because they do not
very conservative because they do not take into account the potential
take into account the potential
take into account the potential disintegration of the polar ice sheets
disintegration of the polar ice sheets
disintegration of the polar ice sheets so we can expect several meters rice
so we can expect several meters rice
so we can expect several meters rice instead of one meters rise just by this
instead of one meters rise just by this
instead of one meters rise just by this century alone and just to help you
century alone and just to help you
century alone and just to help you visualize how a conservative figure of
visualize how a conservative figure of
visualize how a conservative figure of 0.5 meters could look like this is
0.5 meters could look like this is
0.5 meters could look like this is Singapore’s current
Singapore’s current
Singapore’s current and this is how a 0.5 meter sea level
and this is how a 0.5 meter sea level
and this is how a 0.5 meter sea level rise could look like so you can see in
rise could look like so you can see in
rise could look like so you can see in the Northeast region parts of the land
the Northeast region parts of the land
the Northeast region parts of the land area is already submerged so imagine how
area is already submerged so imagine how
area is already submerged so imagine how it could be if sea level rise is 1
it could be if sea level rise is 1
it could be if sea level rise is 1 meters or even 10 meters and in the
meters or even 10 meters and in the
meters or even 10 meters and in the larger context in the ASEAN region we
larger context in the ASEAN region we
larger context in the ASEAN region we have 8 percent of the world’s population
have 8 percent of the world’s population
have 8 percent of the world’s population living on 3% of the total land area
living on 3% of the total land area
living on 3% of the total land area available as it is with global warming
available as it is with global warming
available as it is with global warming and how it’s affecting global
and how it’s affecting global
and how it’s affecting global circulations it’s already affecting our
circulations it’s already affecting our
circulations it’s already affecting our food security and crop yields it’s
food security and crop yields it’s
food security and crop yields it’s causing more urban problems that
causing more urban problems that
causing more urban problems that increase in vector borne diseases so
increase in vector borne diseases so
increase in vector borne diseases so imagine how a growing population coupled
imagine how a growing population coupled
imagine how a growing population coupled with storm surges could affect all these
with storm surges could affect all these
with storm surges could affect all these land spaces but then what happened to
land spaces but then what happened to
land spaces but then what happened to the people and to the living environment
now I’m not just trying to paint a gloom
now I’m not just trying to paint a gloom and doom scenario with you right here
and doom scenario with you right here
and doom scenario with you right here what I want to share is that I feel it’s
what I want to share is that I feel it’s
what I want to share is that I feel it’s important for each and every one of us
important for each and every one of us
important for each and every one of us to continue to be optimistic and hopeful
to continue to be optimistic and hopeful
to continue to be optimistic and hopeful that we can create change that at the
that we can create change that at the
that we can create change that at the end of the day we can come together to
end of the day we can come together to
end of the day we can come together to do whatever we can to the best of our
do whatever we can to the best of our
do whatever we can to the best of our ability to create a better world and I
ability to create a better world and I
ability to create a better world and I feel everyone here in this room has that
feel everyone here in this room has that
feel everyone here in this room has that potential has that skill and passion to
potential has that skill and passion to
potential has that skill and passion to change things and I’m going to share
change things and I’m going to share
change things and I’m going to share with you eight stories of local groups
with you eight stories of local groups
with you eight stories of local groups and their efforts and their existing
and their efforts and their existing
and their efforts and their existing efforts and see just sharing with you
efforts and see just sharing with you
efforts and see just sharing with you some ideas of how you can get involved
some ideas of how you can get involved
some ideas of how you can get involved with them as well and if you can think
with them as well and if you can think
with them as well and if you can think outside of the box introduce new ideas
outside of the box introduce new ideas
outside of the box introduce new ideas to the movement so a very simple one if
to the movement so a very simple one if
to the movement so a very simple one if you’re someone who’s interested in
you’re someone who’s interested in
you’re someone who’s interested in events you can help compile
events you can help compile
events you can help compile environmental events and by doing so
environmental events and by doing so
environmental events and by doing so you’re exposing other people to
you’re exposing other people to
you’re exposing other people to opportunities or events that environment
opportunities or events that environment
opportunities or events that environment related so for us in this group that I
related so for us in this group that I
related so for us in this group that I co-founded Lipa in SG we list anything
co-founded Lipa in SG we list anything
co-founded Lipa in SG we list anything from literature education politics arts
from literature education politics arts
from literature education politics arts creative events that has an intersection
creative events that has an intersection
creative events that has an intersection with the environment theme
with the environment theme
with the environment theme I think there’s lots and lots of events
I think there’s lots and lots of events
I think there’s lots and lots of events happening in Singapore one that I look
happening in Singapore one that I look
happening in Singapore one that I look forward to is spear star Obon which is a
forward to is spear star Obon which is a
forward to is spear star Obon which is a 10 week long festival happening at pulau
10 week long festival happening at pulau
10 week long festival happening at pulau ubin in may to July so if you’re
ubin in may to July so if you’re
ubin in may to July so if you’re interested in outdoor Explorer open May
interested in outdoor Explorer open May
interested in outdoor Explorer open May to July is really a good period to be
to July is really a good period to be
to July is really a good period to be out there at pulau ubin this next one’s
out there at pulau ubin this next one’s
out there at pulau ubin this next one’s pretty cool device which I just found
pretty cool device which I just found
pretty cool device which I just found out recently so this device is called
out recently so this device is called
out recently so this device is called the flood helmet and what it does is it
the flood helmet and what it does is it
the flood helmet and what it does is it helps the user experience future flood
helps the user experience future flood
helps the user experience future flood scenarios based on the user’s GPS
scenarios based on the user’s GPS
scenarios based on the user’s GPS location and what the artist did on
location and what the artist did on
location and what the artist did on camping so his aim was to give that
camping so his aim was to give that
camping so his aim was to give that sensory experience show experience to
sensory experience show experience to
sensory experience show experience to the user themselves so that they can see
the user themselves so that they can see
the user themselves so that they can see what kind of future holds for them and
what kind of future holds for them and
what kind of future holds for them and one of his other works too far too Nia
one of his other works too far too Nia
one of his other works too far too Nia even warned him a president young
even warned him a president young
even warned him a president young talents or what so if you’re someone
talents or what so if you’re someone
talents or what so if you’re someone driven by say recognition and there’s
driven by say recognition and there’s
driven by say recognition and there’s nothing wrong with that but if that
nothing wrong with that but if that
nothing wrong with that but if that drives you to do more then you know
drives you to do more then you know
drives you to do more then you know perhaps that’s a trap for you to explore
perhaps that’s a trap for you to explore
perhaps that’s a trap for you to explore as well another example is this little
as well another example is this little
as well another example is this little climate and the lady behind it is called
climate and the lady behind it is called
climate and the lady behind it is called a Suzanne Chu so Suzanne works in
a Suzanne Chu so Suzanne works in
a Suzanne Chu so Suzanne works in low-carbon pro-poor projects in
low-carbon pro-poor projects in
low-carbon pro-poor projects in Southeast Asia region and she thought
Southeast Asia region and she thought
Southeast Asia region and she thought that if rural villages in Lao and
that if rural villages in Lao and
that if rural villages in Lao and Cambodia can be using clean cookstoves
Cambodia can be using clean cookstoves
Cambodia can be using clean cookstoves and clean electricity to make a
and clean electricity to make a
and clean electricity to make a difference so can we and so she
difference so can we and so she
difference so can we and so she published a digital book of over 100
published a digital book of over 100
published a digital book of over 100 cartoons to do just it to talk about
cartoons to do just it to talk about
cartoons to do just it to talk about climate change in a fun manner if you’re
climate change in a fun manner if you’re
climate change in a fun manner if you’re someone who is good at facilitating
someone who is good at facilitating
someone who is good at facilitating conversations or hosting gatherings then
conversations or hosting gatherings then
conversations or hosting gatherings then you might want to consider hosting get
you might want to consider hosting get
you might want to consider hosting get drinks that’s climate focus so the idea
drinks that’s climate focus so the idea
drinks that’s climate focus so the idea is simple to leverage on food and people
is simple to leverage on food and people
is simple to leverage on food and people get friends over over meal talk about
get friends over over meal talk about
get friends over over meal talk about climate action and from there the
climate action and from there the
climate action and from there the movement grows exponentially the guy
movement grows exponentially the guy
movement grows exponentially the guy behind this is Chris Jensen and is
behind this is Chris Jensen and is
behind this is Chris Jensen and is trying to start the movement in
trying to start the movement in
trying to start the movement in Singapore so if you’re interested you
Singapore so if you’re interested you
Singapore so if you’re interested you can visit Bly /cc
can visit Bly /cc
can visit Bly /cc underscore SG later on
this is the other group I co-founded
this is the other group I co-founded Singapore you for climate action I put
Singapore you for climate action I put
Singapore you for climate action I put up here as you know if you’re someone
up here as you know if you’re someone
up here as you know if you’re someone who’s interested to organize events then
who’s interested to organize events then
who’s interested to organize events then you might want to consider joining us or
you might want to consider joining us or
you might want to consider joining us or help to organize events and programs for
help to organize events and programs for
help to organize events and programs for other communities as well and organize
other communities as well and organize
other communities as well and organize ones that is environment focus for us
ones that is environment focus for us
ones that is environment focus for us the cofounders of sy CA we are not
the cofounders of sy CA we are not
the cofounders of sy CA we are not necessarily the content expert but what
necessarily the content expert but what
necessarily the content expert but what we do have is the skills in organizing
we do have is the skills in organizing
we do have is the skills in organizing event and we do have networks so people
event and we do have networks so people
event and we do have networks so people who are experts in haze issues or energy
who are experts in haze issues or energy
who are experts in haze issues or energy issues people who can talk about
issues people who can talk about
issues people who can talk about branding and journalism skills and we
branding and journalism skills and we
branding and journalism skills and we got everyone together to educate and
got everyone together to educate and
got everyone together to educate and empower more people another group that I
empower more people another group that I
empower more people another group that I think you know one might not relate haze
think you know one might not relate haze
think you know one might not relate haze with climate change but the relationship
with climate change but the relationship
with climate change but the relationship is there if you’re someone who’s annoyed
is there if you’re someone who’s annoyed
is there if you’re someone who’s annoyed by haze for example you might want to
by haze for example you might want to
by haze for example you might want to advocate for the protection of pit lane
advocate for the protection of pit lane
advocate for the protection of pit lane and prevention of fires because by doing
and prevention of fires because by doing
and prevention of fires because by doing so you are then helping to advocate for
so you are then helping to advocate for
so you are then helping to advocate for the limit on carbon emission beliefs so
the limit on carbon emission beliefs so
the limit on carbon emission beliefs so the group behind is poop people’s
the group behind is poop people’s
the group behind is poop people’s movement to stop haze and this year
movement to stop haze and this year
movement to stop haze and this year alone they’re doing a lot more um than
alone they’re doing a lot more um than
alone they’re doing a lot more um than the past two years so they’re rolling
the past two years so they’re rolling
the past two years so they’re rolling out a Leadership Program and even
out a Leadership Program and even
out a Leadership Program and even bringing people out to real Indonesia
bringing people out to real Indonesia
bringing people out to real Indonesia for some projects to reread fire-prone
for some projects to reread fire-prone
for some projects to reread fire-prone kit land areas another example is up two
kit land areas another example is up two
kit land areas another example is up two degrees so the idea is very simple to
degrees so the idea is very simple to
degrees so the idea is very simple to get people to up the aircon temperature
get people to up the aircon temperature
get people to up the aircon temperature unit by two degrees so that you save
unit by two degrees so that you save
unit by two degrees so that you save energy and you limit carbon emissions
energy and you limit carbon emissions
energy and you limit carbon emissions release and if you’re someone who’s good
release and if you’re someone who’s good
release and if you’re someone who’s good at digital marketing for example the
at digital marketing for example the
at digital marketing for example the lady behind this is Sandra miracle she’s
lady behind this is Sandra miracle she’s
lady behind this is Sandra miracle she’s a professional in marketing and branding
a professional in marketing and branding
a professional in marketing and branding and what she does is she tries to
and what she does is she tries to
and what she does is she tries to communicate all these ideas in a very
communicate all these ideas in a very
communicate all these ideas in a very fun and sexy manner so if you check out
fun and sexy manner so if you check out
fun and sexy manner so if you check out the up two degrees Facebook page for
the up two degrees Facebook page for
the up two degrees Facebook page for example will give you some ideas on how
example will give you some ideas on how
example will give you some ideas on how you can communicate climate change in
you can communicate climate change in
you can communicate climate change in more fun way or you as the participant
more fun way or you as the participant
more fun way or you as the participant can
can
can helped to contribute your skills and
helped to contribute your skills and
helped to contribute your skills and create more engaging content so so far
create more engaging content so so far
create more engaging content so so far I’ve shed on how people can utilize the
I’ve shed on how people can utilize the
I’ve shed on how people can utilize the skills or leverage on your passion to
skills or leverage on your passion to
skills or leverage on your passion to act on climate I think at the end of the
act on climate I think at the end of the
act on climate I think at the end of the day it’s also important to see how we
day it’s also important to see how we
day it’s also important to see how we can ourselves change our personal
can ourselves change our personal
can ourselves change our personal behavior and lifestyle consumption as
behavior and lifestyle consumption as
behavior and lifestyle consumption as well and in Singapore one group which is
well and in Singapore one group which is
well and in Singapore one group which is particularly doing a great job at this
particularly doing a great job at this
particularly doing a great job at this is this nonprofit community called round
is this nonprofit community called round
is this nonprofit community called round up initiative they are based about 10
up initiative they are based about 10
up initiative they are based about 10 minutes from cutting MRT and they now
minutes from cutting MRT and they now
minutes from cutting MRT and they now have the size of four football fields
have the size of four football fields
have the size of four football fields which is really a lot considering land
which is really a lot considering land
which is really a lot considering land scarcity in Singapore and over there
scarcity in Singapore and over there
scarcity in Singapore and over there people get to get themselves involved
people get to get themselves involved
people get to get themselves involved with farming carpentry and various
with farming carpentry and various
with farming carpentry and various leadership programs and it’s a platform
leadership programs and it’s a platform
leadership programs and it’s a platform for us to build our character build our
for us to build our character build our
for us to build our character build our skills and the compound campus is the
skills and the compound campus is the
skills and the compound campus is the place to go should you want to help
place to go should you want to help
place to go should you want to help build the soul and build the character
build the soul and build the character
build the soul and build the character of the city so so far I think I’ve shed
of the city so so far I think I’ve shed
of the city so so far I think I’ve shed quite a few existing initiatives and
quite a few existing initiatives and
quite a few existing initiatives and ideas that’s already here in Singapore
ideas that’s already here in Singapore
ideas that’s already here in Singapore and if something interests you I hope
and if something interests you I hope
and if something interests you I hope you connect with some of these groups as
you connect with some of these groups as
you connect with some of these groups as well I think one might ask you know what
well I think one might ask you know what
well I think one might ask you know what exactly can we do to help
exactly can we do to help
exactly can we do to help Singapore remain visible and not hidden
Singapore remain visible and not hidden
Singapore remain visible and not hidden in the face of climate change do we
in the face of climate change do we
in the face of climate change do we really live it to government policies or
really live it to government policies or
really live it to government policies or climate resilient infrastructures or you
climate resilient infrastructures or you
climate resilient infrastructures or you can also ask yourselves what exactly can
can also ask yourselves what exactly can
can also ask yourselves what exactly can we do to touch the heart and soul of
we do to touch the heart and soul of
we do to touch the heart and soul of people so that we inspire them to do
people so that we inspire them to do
people so that we inspire them to do more for climate action do we focus on
more for climate action do we focus on
more for climate action do we focus on environmental events or do we create
environmental events or do we create
environmental events or do we create initiatives that get them back connected
initiatives that get them back connected
initiatives that get them back connected to the land I think at the end of the
to the land I think at the end of the
to the land I think at the end of the day it’s important for us to reflect on
day it’s important for us to reflect on
day it’s important for us to reflect on these basic questions what values do we
these basic questions what values do we
these basic questions what values do we want to live by and what kind of home do
want to live by and what kind of home do
want to live by and what kind of home do we want to live in we got those of your
we want to live in we got those of your
we want to live in we got those of your thoughts on this I hope that at the end
thoughts on this I hope that at the end
thoughts on this I hope that at the end of the day everyone here can come
of the day everyone here can come
of the day everyone here can come together to do whatever we can to the
together to do whatever we can to the
together to do whatever we can to the best of our ability to create a better
best of our ability to create a better
best of our ability to create a better world
world
world thank you
thank you
thank you you
”
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