More efforts to heighten awareness of climate change

SINGAPORE — More efforts are afoot to heighten awareness of climate change in Singapore as the island nation increasingly feels the heat from the effects of global warming.

The average temperature here has gone up by 0.26°C per decade between 1951 and last year, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday, adding that “this is consistent with global trends”.

“The sea level around Singapore has also risen by 45mm over the past 15 years,” Mr Teo said. He added that, while it does not sound like much, over many years, it has an impact. “Heavy storms have also become more frequent and intense over the past decades.”

Mr Teo was speaking at the award ceremony of the National Climate Change Competition 2013, which aims to inspire students to produce videos that create awareness and spur action on climate change among youth.

Besides the competition, the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) also embarked on several new programmes to raise awareness on climate change among the young. For instance, it rolled out an educational drama for primary schools called Stop Melting My Home in August.

While the Government has implemented measures to mitigate the impact of climate change, Mr Teo said efforts must go beyond those by the Government. “All of us can reduce our carbon footprint and play a part to prepare for the climate challenges ahead.”

At the ceremony, he also announced a S$3-million revamp of the five-year-old Climate Change Exhibition at the Science Centre Singapore.

The new exhibition — a tie-up between the Science Centre, the NCCS and Meteorological Services Singapore — will feature more localised content, such as the Republic’s measures to combat climate change and the technological strides the country has made towards addressing the problem.

Slated to open by the second half of next year, the exhibition will also look at efforts being made around the world to reduce global warming.