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).
___________________________________________________________________
Message from Singaporean International Youth Delegates at COP15
Welcome to ECO Singapore’s blog of our experiences and insights at United Nations Framework for Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) 2009! Consisting of 21 youths across Singapore, we will be representing Singapore at the international negotiations in Copenhagen between the 5th and 21st December 2009.
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 say. Stay tune for more content every day!
_________________________________________________________________
Delegation Member Profiles
Here are what some of our members have to say about themselves!
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.
Mellssa 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.
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
__________________________________
If you have any enquiries, do feel free to contact us at international.affairs@eco-singapore.org
i like to help to serve the country
i have participated in Asean +3 youth festival and i have been in Environmental Group . I am delegator from Vietnam . At first , i applied for being in another group but when i was being here , i felt that how lucky i was to be there . AYF was the first festival that i had participated in and i always look forward to news from ECO singapore . i hope that youths in my country can be updated news and act more for environment
Hello!
Zubeiru: Would you like to volunteer with ECO? : )
Do Ha: I’m glad you had a fantastic experience at ASEAN+3 Youth Festival, especially since I was in the organising committee! And you can always take the first step towards rallying your fellow Vietnamese youths into doing more for the environment : ) Perhaps as a start, your own blog with environment-related news specific to Vietnam? I’d love to read more about it!