Olivia Siong Channel NewsAsia 17 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Technologies (ST) Endowment Programme (STEP) on Monday (Nov 17) kicked off the second STEP-NUS Sunburst Environment Programme, involving more than 150 students from here and eight countries across Asia.
The five-day programmes will see the student participants - from Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand - challenged to examine the conflicting demands of biodiversity conservation and urban development. They will also take part in workshops and environmental study visits, including nature walks conducted by NUS staff at Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve, MacRitchie Forest Adventure and St John's Island.
Chairman of STEP and Director of Special Projects at the NUS Faculty of Science Professor Leo Tan said: "Rapid urbanisation, population growth and economic progress have given rise to challenges in conserving our natural environment.
"Through this programme, I hope that students can develop a thorough understanding of the issues affecting the future of our planet. In time to come, I hope that they can, in one way or another, play a role in improving the environment of their own school, community and society," he added.
The STEP-NUS Sunburst Environment Programme was first launched in 2013, with the aim of nurturing environmental leaders among youths.
- CNA/kk
Urbanisation done right may be positive: Dr Balakrishnan
SIAU MING EN Today Online 17 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE — Urbanisation is an unstoppable trend but it is not necessarily bad for the environment if cities are planned with the right principles, values and perspectives, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today (Nov 17).
The unit cost of providing water, electricity, education and culture opportunities is also lower in cities, noted Dr Balakrishnan, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the second Singapore Technologies Endowment Programme — National University of Singapore (STEP-NUS) Sunburst Environment Programme.
For example, he cited an example of how compact, dense and well-planned cities spend less on building infrastructure to provide piped water and electricity to everyone.
“If you are an environmentalist, if you want to conserve resources — urbanisation is a good thing, it’s not a bad thing because it allows us consume less resources...,” he said.
Other major threats to our environment raised by Dr Balakrishnan include climate change, haze and the depletion of natural resources. Haze is a “special case of pollution”, said Dr Balakrishnan, adding that that real problem with pollution lies with people’s values.
For instance, those who burn forests benefit from the profits of producing palm oil. However, the subsequent haze and damage to the environment will be felt by others.
The solution lies in getting the politics and economics right, he added.
The STEP-NUS programme allows students from Singapore and across Asia — aged between 13 and 15 — the opportunity to take part in a five-day programme where they are able to attend lectures delivered by leading scientists in biodiversity, conservation and sustainability. Over 150 students in the programme will also make study visits at Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve and St John’s Island, among other places.
