JORDON SIMPSON Today Online 12 Mar 15;
SINGAPORE — For a glimpse of how climate change can disrupt daily life, this year’s World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Earth Hour will have an exhibition of mock-ups, including one of a HDB flat grappling with a heatwave.
The “Climate Change Trail”, outside ION Orchard, will transport visitors to an alternate Singapore affected by climate change and extreme weather conditions. It will be opened to the public from March 13 to March 28,
The trail will feature three distinct scenarios unique to the Singapore context. The first scenario, a HDB flat facing an uncomfortable heatwave, reflects the increasing temperature extremes seen around the Asian region.
To signify the reduced food production of major food crops worldwide due to unpredictable weather, there will be a scenario of a supermarket grappling with a food shortage and increased prices.
The last scenario features a disaster caused by extreme rainfall and flooding, which are related to rising sea levels.
The three scenarios are each built into compact rooms in front of ION Orchard, and have a variety of actors and props, such as smoke and sandbags, to make the exhibition more impactful.
Besides the main event at ION Orchard, there will also be independent satellite events and activities held by several grassroots communities in areas such as West Coast Community, North West Community Development Council and Hong Kah.
These events are aimed at teaching residents how they can make a difference in the battle against climate change.
Apart from these activities, there will also be the traditional one-hour lights-off event, to be observed from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 28.
The 60 minutes of darkness is meant to bring together millions of people around the globe to show their support for a sustainable planet, and how they can each use their power to combat climate change.
According to the WWF, the companies taking part in this year’s event includes IKEA, NTUC FairPrice and StarHub. CapitaLand, the developer of ION Orchard, will also be getting over 200 of its properties in Asia and Europe to participate in Earth Hour 2015.
'Heatwave, food crisis' in Orchard Road
Samantha Boh The Straits Times AsiaOne 14 Mar 15;
EARTH Hour is no longer just about switching off lights. This year, there will also be a chance to experience a heatwave, and learn about the effects of a flood and food shortage.
This will be done through a Climate Change Trail created by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, with booths illustrating the three extreme climate scenarios.
"These are scenarios which many people believe may not happen or are not likely to happen. But research has shown that they are very real," said WWF Singapore chief executive Elaine Tan.
Climate change is a subject that is difficult to grasp, she said. Acting on it is even tougher, hence the need to let visitors experience the effects first-hand.
People who walk into the booth that simulates a heatwave will be hit by temperatures of up to 42 deg C. They will also hear the buzzing of mosquitos in their ears, which is meant to illustrate a rise in dengue cases brought on by the dry weather, as there will be more stagnant water around.
The booth that features intense floods, as a result of rising sea levels and extreme rainfall, will have mist blown at visitors to mimic rain.
There will also be a skit, set in a supermarket, to show the impact of a food shortage and how that can lead to skyrocketing prices.
WWF Singapore aims to have at least 30,000 people visit the trail, which is located in front of Ion Orchard. It will run from today to March 28, from 5pm to 8pm on weekdays and 2pm to 9pm on weekends.
Biologist Nicole Dorville, 26, said the skit will be an eye-opener. "People think of climate change as only a change in weather but they don't realise it affects our food supply too," she said.
The trail will be a prelude to Earth Hour, which will take place from 8.30pm on March 28, when participating organisations and households will turn off their non-essential lights for an hour.
One firm which has already pledged its support is CapitaLand, which will be switching off the facade lights and non-essential lighting of 200 properties across Asia and Europe throughout the night.
