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The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also called COP27, kicked off in Egypt last week.
Among our delegates (and Singapore’s first pavilion!) were a group of young Singaporeans who spoke at the conference this year.
Aside from these youths speaking up for our future at COP27, there are also many other Singaporean Gen Zs and millennials who are voicing their sentiments on social media.
They may not have a massive following (yet), but these young Singaporeans wear their hearts and worries on their sleeves, using words and art to help dispel eco-anxiety and bond with others who care for our environment.
Here are five such Instagram accounts:
1. Our Climate Journal
Wanting to escape her anxiety over climate change, 23-year-old Qai created a safe space for herself and others to talk about sustainability and the future of the planet. On @ourclimatejournal, which she created in 2021, she shares her feelings about what is happening to the world and encourages others to do the same.
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She is frank with her feelings too, writing “I’m not the perfect activist and sometimes it really scares me. It took me a while and even posting was a little frightening.”
Inspired by the youth-led sustainability movement We Got This, Qai shares her thoughts and struggles with tackling climate change as a young adult through typography, handwritten notes and doodles. She also recognises that it takes significant effort as a collective to get things moving.
She tells The Pride: “Climate change is such a complex issue, and the problems are deeply intertwined with our current systems. I think it tends to bring about a lot of confusing emotions and thoughts, and we should address them with care.”
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While those around her may not always understand why she cares so much about climate change, she’s grateful that they have always accepted and supported her passions.
Wrote @tereseinatree: “resonate lots w you, you’re not alone in feeling this <3”
Qai calls for like-minded individuals to gather the courage to join the movement and reminds everyone that it’s okay to be imperfect while using your voice for good.
She says: “Perfection shouldn’t be deterring us to speak up for what’s right.”
2. Climate Possible
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Ever heard of eco-anxiety?
Did you know that there’s a condition called “eco-anxiety”, which comes from chronic stress and worry that comes from observing the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change?
@climatepossible, created a month ago, encourages people to express how they feel about the climate change situation across the globe. It hopes to encourage honest conversations within the community.
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Posts include tips on how to celebrate festivities and events sustainably, like dressing up eco-consciously for Halloween, as well as prompts to help others express how they feel about climate change.
3. Hop in the Eco Loop
We all know a lobang king when it comes to food, shopping, or travel deals. It is no different when it comes to an eco-lifestyle.
Hop in the Eco Loop (@ecoloop.sg) aims to be a one-stop source for all things eco-conscious.
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The account owner, 21-year-old Sarah, hopes to connect individuals to businesses and vice versa.
She shares interesting facts about the effects of our carbon footprint and how we can reduce it. What makes @ecoloop.sg a little different from the other accounts is that Sarah posts shoutouts to eco-friendly businesses.
She says that she doesn’t get paid for such collaborations, explaining that this is her way of trying to change the common misconception that being eco-friendly is troublesome.
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Sarah also wants to do what she can to help bring attention to eco start-ups in Singapore.
The fourth-year student, who is pursuing a journalism and communications degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, tells The Pride: “I hope Hop in the Eco Loop helps bridge that gap, to make being eco-friendly a lot more convenient than what people would assume, and also to hopefully convert people who weren’t environmentally conscious to pick up these habits as well.”
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She returned to Singapore at the start of the pandemic and spent her time interacting with eco-conscious communities here.
She tells the Pride: “I love the eco scene because they are super friendly, and the community is tight-knit and supportive of one another.”
“As for the businesses, many are still quite small, so I hope to help businesses gain a bigger audience to volunteers or support for the work they do.”
4. Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB)
It’s not just humans who are affected by climate change. Flora and fauna are just as essential to the ecosystem. Climate change-led disruption of natural habitats can cause a domino effect that can have long-lasting effects that we can’t even start to imagine.
Yet, the effect of climate change on biodiversity is often overlooked by people in society.
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Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (@sgyouthvoicesbiod), set up by a group of passionate youths in 2019 and led by 23-year-old student Nasry, gives youths a voice to talk about protecting the biodiversity in Singapore and across the globe. SYVB is the Singapore Chapter of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network.
Nasry tells The Pride: “Biodiversity usually garners mild interest to indifference from the general populace. I suppose my family and friends aren’t too different in that regard. It doesn’t really bother me that much, but I do know that when I really need to, I can count on them for their support.”
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Posting original content, collaborations with other local nature groups and content from the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, Nasry hopes to reach out to more youths to join SYVB on their campaigns and walks, as well as engage them in biodiversity and nature related issues.
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SYVB also has a series called BiodBites, where they breakdown scientific jargon used in biodiversity studies into easily digestible posts.
5. Wilducation
How often have we seen reports of conflict between human and wildlife in Singapore? As our urban spaces encroach into natural habitats, it’s no surprise that we encounter some of our animal friends, whether it is a snake sighting or a wild boar incident.
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Well, don’t panic, it’s time to get educated! Or should I say wilducated?
Run by 26-year-old Phoebe, Wilducation (@wilducation) is full of colourful hand drawn illustrations accompanied with information on common wild animals in Singapore. Currently pursuing a degree in ecology, Phoebe goes the extra mile to compile research and turn them into attractive and easily understood infographics.
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Wilducation deciphers and explains some common misconceptions over feeding wildlife, green corridors, and the like.
Phoebe tells The Pride that she hopes to help others understand how to better coexist with nature and wildlife in Singapore and raise awareness on how these flora and fauna benefit us.
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She says: “I hope that people will see how truly wondrous our local biodiversity really is, and that our local wildlife are as much residents of this island as we are!”
You can do your part too!
While we only mention five social media accounts here, these vocal Gen Zs are not the only youths active in their relevant eco communities. If you have a heart for the environment, spend some time going down the rabbit hole of social media accounts that advocate for the environment, biodiversity and more.
Who knows, they may inspire you to take a step – create an online account, change your lifestyle habits, contribute to an eco-friendly cause – for a more sustainable future.
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