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  Today online 14 Sep 05
Not so green, this Garden City

IN A country where rubbish disappears conveniently down the chute and is whisked off to a distant incinerator or landfill, waste is quickly "out of sight, out of the mind".

No wonder Singaporeans are too pampered to take a pro-active approach to environmental conservation, says Mr Howard Shaw, executive director of the non-governmental Singapore Environment Council (SEC).

He tells LOH CHEE KONG why he and his team of 1,000 volunteers and staff are banking on the next generation to fully grasp the implications of environmental apathy.

What's the fundamental problem in attitudes here towards the environment?

I would accuse Singaporeans of being environmentally pampered and the Government of pampering us. In the United Kingdom, where I studied, there were only two days a week when we could leave our rubbish outside our homes for the workers to dispose of. On the other days, we had to keep the waste inside or be fined.

So, if you didn't want your rubbish heap to grow bigger and stink up the whole place, you'd recycle and cut down the amount of waste.

Here, rubbish just goes down the chutes 24/7. Even in landed properties, the rubbish left outside our homes is gone before we wake up. Singaporeans are so well looked after that we stop thinking about the consequences of our actions.

The awareness is there, as most Singaporeans are highly educated. But there is a complacency and perception that "what little I do is not going to make a difference".

They don't realise the extent of the problem — even if they do, they don't see it as their responsibility.

What's your report card on SEC since its inception a decade ago?

Our mission has been to change people's perception that environmental concerns are the Government's responsibility.

First, we put emphasis on the young and educate them through the schools, from the primary till junior college levels. We provide educators with resource materials and work with them to integrate environmental education into the main curriculum. Four years ago, we also developed resource materials for pre-schoolers.

Second, we encourage environmental protection especially among the small and medium enterprises. The number of participants for the annual Singapore Environment Achievement Awards has increased four-fold since it was launched in 2000.

Third, we want to reach out to the heartlanders through community programmes. I dare say getting the message to the man-in-the-street is one of the biggest challenges. It is easy to get frustrated on a day-to-day level, but we have actually made a lot of headway.

There is a gradual shift among the younger generation. But realistically, it will take another one or two generations for Singapore to be environmentally conscious.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate Singapore on being environmentally friendly?

The Government is doing a lot of things right in terms of policies and support for environmental groups. I would give it an '8'. But when it comes down to individuals, how aware they are and how they go about doing something about it is another thing. I would give them a '5'.

What are the main issues facing us?

The pressing one is our high rate of energy consumption. We are a fossil fuel-based economy with energy intensive industries. Thus, energy efficiency is a very important aspect we have to look into.

Renewable energy is a fantastic option. On an individual level, look at how often Singaporeans change their mobile phones — for most, twice or thrice a year without caring where their used sets go to and how much resources went into producing them. Cars on our roads are not only increasing in numbers but also in size. It's more cool and prestigious to drive a three-litre saloon than a small hybrid car — which remains unfashionable here.

We need more influential people to lead the way and show off their environmental consciousness.

How is coordination among the Government, its agencies and the civil groups championing the environmental cause?

We participate in each other's programmes and we provide help when we are asked to. However, I must admit that in terms of management, there is not enough coordination among the various environmental groups, due to our limited resources. The Government is taking the right approach in playing a supportive role to the efforts of civil groups and the private sector.

How do you and your family practise what you preach? I drive a mini-SUV (sports-utility vehicle) to work and we use it to carpool. It also serves as our office transport. At home, my parents and sister practise recycling. We compost food waste and use that for our plants. We also opt for more organic methods of pest control. My mother leaves stickers all over the place reminding us to switch off the lights and electricity when not in use, while my father leaves the utility bills on his briefcase for everyone to see.

Applications for the SEC's Singapore Environment Achievement Awards, which recognise local-based companies' environmental management practices, close on Sept 22. For more details, visit www.sec.org.sg
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Related articles on Singapore: general environmental issues and Singapore: reduce, reuse, recycle
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