Hellooo friends, welcome back to my blog! Last week, I talked about how Singapore as a Developed country, should be committing to more ambitious environmental efforts. The entire blogpost sounded very pessimistic on the issue; however, I believe that there still lies a beacon of hope in the environmental scene and not all is gloom and doom. This post is hence in acknowledgement of the increasing environmental efforts in recent years, and my personal take on the measures imposed.
Plastic-free at NTUC
I mentioned in my previous blogpost how corporations are the agents most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, due to their large influence. It is heartening to see more corporations stepping up to commit towards an environmental cause. For instance, we see NTUC adopting a tax on the use of plastic bags in 25 of its outlets across Singapore, charging shoppers who request for a plastic bag an additional 20-cents per bag. I feel that this will certainly deter shoppers from requesting for unnecessary plastic bags, which reduces the demand for plastics from its point source rather than recycling or reusing these bags thereafter. I believe NTUC will slowly expand similar measures to other of its many outlets across Singapore in near time, and it would certainly be great to see other businesses (such as beverage companies) doing the same for single-use cups.
Recycle and Save vending machines
It has also been announced by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resource recently, regarding a pilot initiative for a vending machine which collects recyclable PET bottles and aluminium cans. This vending machine collects used cans and bottles, whereby in return, consumers receive a 20-cents discount voucher off their grocery purchase in NTUC. The purpose of these machines is to increase accessibility of locals to recycling points for used cans and bottles, giving locals more incentive to recycle with the small financial reimbursements.
However, I feel that as Singapore aims to encourage more locals to recycle, she should also ramp up her own recycling rates. Currently, only 6% of plastic is recycled in Singapore (Singapore Environment Council, 2018). Hence, even with used cans and bottles collected, the extent of the effectiveness of this measure lies in how much of these recyclables collected are eventually recycled. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this measure should be measured against the consumption rates of plastic water bottles. Should locals purchase more PET bottles unnecessarily due to the mindset that they can “recycle and be reimbursed thereafter”, it defeats the purpose of the entire measure.
Eco-Link @ BKE
Just a few days ago, the Eco-Link at Mandai was announced to open in December this year. The eco-link is a bridge meant to connect the wildlife from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. This is in view of the wildlife accidents that occur as animals try to get across from one reserve to the other, where between 1994 and 2014, an average of two Sunda Pangolins were killed each year. The Sunda Pangolin is critically endangered, with possibly less than 50 of such in Singapore. The bridge also serves as a connection to increase plant dispersal by animals between the two catchments, increasing plant biodiversity. This wildlife bridge is hence part of the increasing biodiversity conservation efforts in Singapore.
However, I feel that these efforts are not valid justifications for the construction of the Cross-Island line, which will nonetheless threaten the biodiversity situated in the Central Catchment Reserve. As we innovate to construct new conservation features for our biodiversity, it is ironic how we are also tearing down existing nature, downplaying our very own conservation efforts. Prevention is certainly better than cure, hence we should ramp up protection measures, instead of going ahead with measures that will destruct our biodiversity, and then mitigate its impacts.
Final thoughts
In all, I feel that Singapore still has a long way to go in its commitment towards the environmental crisis. However, it must still be acknowledged that more efforts have been taken in recent years, although the effectiveness of these measures are largely unknown as they are still relatively new. Till then!
Cheers, Kelly (:
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