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  Straits Times 30 Aug 07
Better communication to the masses needed if we want to make recycling campaign a success
Esmond Lee Yan Zhao

THE term 'global warming' seems to be the ultimate turn-off for many people.

So many events in our world could be explained by global warming, so much evidence that warming is taking place.

Facing this information overload, it is hard to sieve out the truth and then decide what we as individuals can do.

This is the mindset that I took with me this year when I attended the 48th London International Youth Science Forum which focused on the theme of 'Managing A Warming World'.

During the two weeks in London, we participated in lecture demonstrations and visited academic institutions. There were also seminars, debates and discussions on the issue of climate change.

The forum cleared up doubts I had as to whether global warming is indeed taking place.

This article is a reflection on what I have taken away from the forum, as well as a message calling for change.

Although many scientific reports dispute global warming, most from the scientific community are certain that warming is taking place because the evidence points strongly towards it.

Only an insignificant number of naysayers claim otherwise, yet because they are so controversial, they receive a disproportionate amount of media coverage.

For those who are still deciding, the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is growing beyond the rate found in natural variation and its impacts have been clearly shown in terms of changes in weather.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international panel of scientists under the UN, has come to this unanimous conclusion.

The issue is a global one and, to any Singaporean, he or she is simply one individual in a very small country.

However, it is inevitable that if everyone considers the problem from this angle, nothing is going to be done.

During the forum, we were told very frankly that the problem of tackling global warming would not fall on the current generation of working adults, but as its effects are manifested in the future, that responsibility would fall squarely on us - teenagers - and therefore we should start doing something today, hence the motivation for this article.

I think we know intrinsically that only if we work collectively as a nation, and as a global community, can we do something about the problem.

And already, there are many practical steps we can take towards helping the environment.

>>National Recycling Programme (NRP) was set up in Singapore since 2001 to allow household recycling to be more convenient.

>>Since last year, many supermarket chains and retailers provide reusable bags that can be used instead of plastic bags.

What are our responses to these measures?

According to the Singapore Clean Card 2005 published by the National Environment Agency, 54 per cent of HDB and landed housing homes participated in the NRP, while the rate for condominiums was 24 per cent.

While these statistics show participation, recycling in households cannot yet be called a norm in our society.

A friend from Ireland commented on a societal change in terms of attitudes towards recycling. Today, almost 90 per cent of all Irish households recycle, compared to 48 per cent in 1999.

It shows that our mindsets and behaviour have a huge potential to affect society in a positive way.

I have come across many who understand the principle behind recycling and the NRP, but are hindered from participating by misinformation, logistical inconveniences or bad experiences with collectors.

Additionally, residents receive very little information about the NRP, often only a notice containing collection dates and a hotline number. I am sure residents would appreciate more regular reminders on collection dates, updates on the progress of this programme and how its goals are being achieved, as well as new initiatives that are being introduced (for example, centralised recycling depositories for HDB flats).

Maintaining communication through regular information channels might create a community norm favouring recycling. This might come in the form of newsletters or advertising campaigns to a wide audience.

Positive changes can also be made through tighter regulation of the programme.

From a macro view of climate change, we must come down to a micro view of how we as individuals can contribute. Everyone should be encouraged to be part of the change that is taking place, and to do what we can, here and now. Let us also provide constructive feedback on how existing programmes might be improved upon.
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