About Us

 

Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore), or ECO Singapore, is a not-for-profit social enterprise. ECO Singapore aims to establish a voluntary environmental movement, thereby creating opportunities for active involvement by Singaporean youths, instilling a sense of commitment and awareness of environmental issues and global hazards. By providing youths a holistic approach towards environmental issues, ECO Singapore’s mission is to encourage youths to take initiative and choose to live environmentally sustainable lifestyles.

ECO Singapore was registered in 2002 under the Registrar of Societies, Singapore, and is run solely by volunteers. However, it was only in December 2005 when ECO Singapore began operationalising herself. ECO Singapore’s main differentiating factor is its promotion of environmental issues in a more holistic manner. It achieves this by sharing its expertise, resources and volunteer pool with existing local and regional environment groups.

To attract and instill a sense of responsibility as a global citizen among youths, ECO Singapore consistently seeks to repackage environmental issues to make it more youth-oriented. It conducts environmental forums and produces its in-house magazine on a quarterly basis to keep youths, corporate partners, and environmental groups and organisations abreast of environmental developments on both local and global scales.

ECO Singapore represents Singapore as a member at — and is also the Secretariat of — the Asia Youth Environmental Network (AYEN), which was formed in 2003 together with seven other Asian countries (Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and is supported by the Commonwealth Youth Program.

ECO Singapore is also a founding member of the ASEM Youth Network for Sustainable Development. ECO Singapore was also recently nominated to be the National Focal Point of South East Asia Youth Environment Network (SEAYEN).

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Message from Singaporean International Youth Delegates at COP16

Welcome to ECO Singapore’s blog of our experiences and insights at United Nations Framework for Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) 2010! Consisting of 6 youths across Singapore, we will be representing Singapore civil society at the international negotiations in Cancun between the 28^th November and 10^th December 2010.

Our aim is to lobby other delegates, engage with media and work with international youth to affect change in climate change policy.

On this blog, we will share our experiences and insights to the conference and update you on this landmark event in the fight against Climate Change! Do use this blog as a platform to voice your opinions and thoughts. Stay tune for more content every day!

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1st Row(L-R): Ping, Gabriel, Mel, Wilson, Amira, Zhi Kai, LJ, Syeyuet – Standing(L-R): Eleina, Huching, Yi Tao, Eileen

Delegation Member Profiles

Here are what some of our members have to say about themselves!

COP16

Logesh

Logas is a 17-year-old with a keen interest in both biology, environmental conservation and  how they are intertwined where climate change is concerned. Having seen the effects of climate change upset the delicate balance of ecology, she believes that even the smallest actions by both individuals and the government to reduce the causes and effects of climate change will go a long way and preserving both the endangered species of the Earth, and ourselves. The prospect of working with other youth of a similar mindset to achieve the same goal and bring about laws and legislation that can help save our planet drives her and provides her with endless energy and enthusiasm.

Tan Wen Yun

Wen Yun’s enduring love affair with the environment and nature began during her childhood, influenced by her parents’ strong concern and views regarding environmental conservation, as well as their meticulous care for the potted plants at home. She strongly believes in the potential to integrate economic possibilities with environmental protection, and also how youths are key to shaping a better future for the environment. She enjoys working with similar-minded youth on environmental causes and hopes that in sharing her experience at COP16 she can inspire her peers to become more pro-active and motivated towards environmental change. Currently a Year 5 student in Raffles Institution, the avid Geography student enjoys music, reading and visual arts.

Judy Goh

An avid explorer, Judy was first inspired as a child by the first full photograph of the Earth from space to embrace the environment. She is a third-year student at the Victoria Integrated Program with a passion for foreign policy, the sciences and geography, but strongly believes that legislation is only a fraction of the solution to climate change. As secretary-general in the organizing committee of the futuristic Victorian Model United Nations 2010, she pushed for vital issues geared towards sustainable development. At COP16 in Cancun, she hopes to drive real change from the bottom up to world leaders, representing the voices of the youth and the concerned next generation. When she’s not writing articles for local newspapers and blogs or sorting out recyclables at home, she dreams of discovering innovative breakthroughs in green technology, something she hopes to make a reality one day.

Teh Yi Ying

Watching the 2007 Climate Change Conference from afar in Bali, Yiying felt something stir within her. 2 years later with the initial passion taking the form of a fiery conviction, Yiying is now proud to be the President of Victoria Junior College’s environmental club, Earthwatch. Knowing that revolutions always start with small steps, she goes meatless once a week, has stopped using styrofoam completely and encourages others to follow suit. She feels that climate change transcends into every area of society and is also a social issue, taking its toll on developing countries especially which she feels inclined to sympathise with. Yiying strongly believes that at the upcoming Climate Change Conference, youth will be empowered to be that voice for a voiceless Mother Earth. When she’s not running about saving the earth, Yiying likes to read, listen to indie music, and enjoy picnics with friends.

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COP15

Eleina Ailmchandani

An undergraduate student, Eleina has interest in intercultural communications, social movements and rural development. An active volunteer, she has been involved in reconstructing tsunami affected areas in Aceh and has taken active part in several overseas projects dealing with education and development. Pumped up with the prospect of working with other youths at the Copenhagen Conference this year, she hopes to push for stronger legislation that will curb greenhouse gas emissions by bringing to the forefront the future of island nations and developing nations which will suffer the most with climate change.

Amira Karim

A rainforest enthusiast and foreign policy geek, I am a keen advocate of the UNFCCC’s philosophy of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” I believe in seeking sensible solutions to climate change through creating common ground with the private sector, governments, youth and communities. My aim for attending the COP 15 conference is to garner deeper insights on the UNFCCC negotiation process, to foster meaningful dialogue between youth and other stakeholders and to expand my knowledge in climate change issues. I hope to carve out a career in the area of sustainable development. Also enjoy sailing, salsa dancing, shoestring travel and working on international development issues as a World Bank Youth Fellow.

Gabriel Teo

Many 18 year olds have strong aspirations and interests in a diversified range of fields. I have mine too. Yet mine revolves around reshaping my fellow friends and peers into developing an interest and personal conviction in the aspect of climate change. Through this conference, I endeavour to develop a deeper insight into the climate change policies and impact a change on governmental determination. I hope to bring back these experiences in Copenhagen and share it amongst my friends, to enthuse them on this green movement.

Lee Zhe Yu

Zhe Yu has been a passionate greenie (and humanitarian) since young. Concerned with the current ills of global (economic) development especially with regards to the massive inequity that exists in the world. Realizes that climate change is the most severe global issue affecting mankind and yearns to find solutions that will promote true sustainable development for all. Desires for a new age of multilateralism, internationalism and global citizenship to solve the many interrelated global problems ranging from biodiversity conservation to chronic poverty, overfishing, deforestation, hunger and fair trade.

Melissa Low Yu Xing

Melissa majors in Geography and has a keen interest urban civility and sustainability. She took part in this year’s Universitas 21 Climate Change Adaptation Summer School Program held at the University of Queensland, Brisbane which involved youths from around the world engaging in climate change debate. She hopes to again work with passionate youths in Copenhagen and to achieve greater heights in climate awareness. Melissa hopes to make a difference with the support of fellow youths to push for climate action TODAY.

Hu Ching

As a secondary school student, Hu Ching’s first introduction to climate change came from the movie – ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. Ever since, he has grown an avid interest in global environmental issues, and was chairman of his Junior College’s Earth Club, rallying friends and schoolmates together for his green crusade. His main interest lies in understanding and overcoming the economic and social inequalities that contribute to, and are amplified by environmental change.

Having attended regional conferences in Germany and Bali, Hu Ching believes that this delegation can be a model of leadership to the other Asian nations, bridge the gap between participatory nations of varying wealth, as well as relay key environmental messages back to fellow Singaporeans.

Hu Ching is currently reading Geography at the University of Oxford, and is organizing the inaugural Oxford Climate Forum 2010.

Loo Yong Ping

My creative journey started with the doodling in my school books, to my Mass Communication studies at Ngee Polytechnic, to the running of a Campus Television Station, to the creation of my T-shirt company, then onto becoming an Officer in the Army, to being put in charge of the National Day Parade website and am now pursuing a BA (Hons) in Graphic Media Design at the London College of Communication. I believe that a designer’s job is not just about making things look good, but to be the creative mind in the market place. Amongst my freelance work, personal projects and internships, I have strong beliefs in using my creative skills and knowledge to help the under represented and less fortunate.

Also acting as an Asian Team Leader for Project Survival Media, I co-ordinate media teams in China, the Fiji Islands, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore in reporting from the front lines of the climate crisis. In my second year as an International Youth Delegate for the UNFCCC, I hope to use my creative abilities for the greater good. More about me + my work @ iampingpong.com

Eileen Lee

A love for backpacking in developing countries, coupled with a keen interested in the feminization of poverty and food security, has led Eileen to realise how vulnerable the poor are to the effects of climate change. This has spurred the acquirement of relevant knowledge, resulting in much enthusiasm on the language and psychology of climate change. Being actively involved in volunteerism, Eileen wishes to spread the climate change message through grassroots activities.

As a Political Science and Corporate Communications major, she will be putting her knowledge to use as a writer with the COP15 youth media team, G-1 Billion, and will be providing non-negotiations content to international media.

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If you have any enquiries, do feel free to contact us at international.affairs@eco-singapore.org