Singapore discusses turning climate promises into action
About 800 participants from Southeast Asian countries gathered in Singapore for the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training, dedicated to turning climate commitments into practical solutions. The event was organized by the nonprofit The Climate Reality Project, founded by former US Vice President Al Gore, Channel NewsAsia reports.
The two-day meeting began on September 8. According to the organizers, half of its participants are aged 30 or younger. This is the organization’s 10th such training in the region and the first held in Singapore. The program covers the energy transition, climate finance and regional cooperation; Al Gore, scientists and climate experts speak to participants.
Youth participation in decision-making
Phyllis Cuttino, president and CEO of The Climate Reality Project, said that the next decade in Asia will be important in determining the trajectory of the climate crisis, while global emissions continue to rise and government ambition is weakening in some parts of the world. She also described Singapore as one of the few countries that apply a carbon tax and do not subsidize fossil fuels.
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Jitsai Santaputra, co-founder of Youth for Energy Southeast Asia and a founding member of the Thailand Youth Climate Council, stressed that the presence of young people in consultations does not yet guarantee their real influence on policy. In her view, young people should be seen not only as recipients of policy decisions, but also as people able to provide feedback on energy consumption and the desired energy model.
Health and urban transport
Renzo Guinto, associate professor of global and planetary health at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, noted that climate change is already affecting people’s health, primarily vulnerable groups in poorer countries. He named extreme heat, air pollution, diseases, as well as threats to food and water security among the risks. He drew attention to the consequences of flooding in Metro Manila after intense rains and typhoons.
Golda Ilario, urban development director at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, said that reducing transport emissions requires more than electrification. According to her, cities need to become more compact and accessible so that people can use public transport more often, walk or travel by bicycle.
