Do we treat global warming seriously enough?

Singapore enjoys a favourable geographical location that shelters it from serious natural disasters. It is highly unlikely that a storm like Typhoon Haiyan would hit the island in the near future.

However, Singapore is not an isolated haven immune to climate change. The frequency of recent heavy downpours and flash floods is expected to increase as sea levels rise due to global warming.

The city-state is renowned for its environmental management expertise and contributes less than 0.2 per cent to global carbon emissions. Still, is global warming treated seriously enough here?

Although many Singaporeans find the air-conditioning in offices, cinemas, schools, public transport and other public areas too cold, is such energy wastage curbed?

Consumption habits fuelled by a high gross domestic product per capita are common in Singapore. Food wastage amounted to 703,200 tonnes last year, up 26 per cent from 2007. And although water is a scarce and precious resource in Singapore, wastage is still high.

The per capita domestic water consumption is 152 litres per day (the goal is 140 litres by 2030), whereas cities such as Hamburg in Germany and Barcelona in Spain hope to lower usage to less than 100 litres by 2015. (“It’s drought, not floods, S’pore should fear”; March 18)

We should really play our part to curb climate change, starting with our daily life. Otherwise, we may also be victims of environmental disasters eventually.