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Monday, August 31, 2015

Asean Power Shift by 350 Singapore


350 Singapore, a team in Young NTUC, is a Singapore Chapter to the global 350.org movement. Climate Scientists such as Director of NASA, Dr James Hansen, have advised that to keep the planet in a safe zone, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere should be kept at 350 ppm (parts per million).  However the current CO2 level in the atmosphere has reached 400ppm.

In Jul 2015, 350 Singapore organized an ASEAN Power Shift event in the United World College of South East Asia in Tampines. It is a 3-days youth Conference held from 24 Jul till 26 Jul.

The event aims to bring together youths from 10 ASEAN countries to a common platform where they will form an aligned position towards the climate negotiations in COP21 in Paris, learn about each other’s environmental initiatives and experiences, and provide networking opportunities to catalyse more ground-up climate initiatives.

350 Singapore invited 200 youths from 10 ASEAN Countries to participate in this event. The organizing committee invited Earth Society to send representatives to attend the event. To support this wonderful initiative, Earth Society members attended the event.

During the 3 days conference, we attended lectures by Keynote speakers, workshops on Environment Activism conducted by various NGOs and listened to youth delegates present their position on Climate change.

Dr Vivan Balakrishnan, Minster for the Environment and Water Resource, graced the occasion and addressed the youths during the second day of the conference.

During the event, we networked with many youths and various NGOs who send representatives to attend the event. (e.g. WWF, Sharksavers, Eco Singapore, PM Haze and Urban farmers.)

We observed that to cut down on carbon footprint and promote an Eco-friendly lifestyle, ALL the meals served during the 3 days Conference are Vegetarian meals. 
We are hugely encouraged by this gesture as it shows that the youths are aware of the huge impact our diets have on the environment.







Straits Time Reporter, Ms Jessica Cheam attended the ASEAN Power shift event and wrote an Article about the event (published in Straits Time on 04 Aug)
Inspiring Asean youth on climate change:
More info on 350 Singapore and the Asean Power Shift event can be found in 350 Singapore’s Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/350sg

Bravo to 350 Singapore and we hope that they can organize ASEAN Power Shift every year to promote awareness and action on Climate change among ASEAN youths.

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