Sustainability lessons from Paris

Nine NUS students got into the climate change act at two events held last December in Paris, France. They were among 100 students from 30 universities who shared their sustainability project proposals at the Global University Climate Forum (GUCF) workshop, organised by the International Alliance of Research Universities, on 5 December. A few of them also observed the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as Paris COP21, which was held from 30 November to 11 December.

Year 1 Engineering student Jaipal Singh Khaira from Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) and Year 1 Business student Phoebe Swinn Yap Xiu Wen from NUS Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE) presented about GUCF and Paris COP21, respectively, at the NUS Environmental Sustainability event, “Post-Paris COP21 Dialogue”, on 3 February.

At the Sorbonne Universités-hosted GUCF, students from NUS SAVE, RVRC and Yale-NUS College (Yale-NUS) received suggestions and feedback on their ideas from other attendees. They also heard from faculty and staff from institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley and the International Sustainable Campus Network.

Their projects, to be completed by mid-2016, are:

• a mobile application to replace goody bags on campus, so as to reduce wastage (RVRC)
• the NUS Green Guide to Event Management, which includes suggestions such as a greener procurement process (NUS SAVE)
• a sustainability network that connects students, academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate sponsors, culminating in a conference in May (Yale-NUS)

“The insights we have taken away from the workshop will definitely aid us in refining our Green Guide, and the networks we have made will be a platform for sharing, co-creation and opportunity to collaborate in the future,” said Phoebe.

The GUCF contingent, who were mostly from NUS Environmental Studies (unless otherwise stated), included (back row, from left) Muhammad Alif Bin Azan, NUS Environmental Sustainability Manager Goh Ter Yang, Tan Weiliang; (front row, from left) Phoebe (Business), Chai Ning, Jeffrey Tong Chee Ying, Ying Tong (Yale-NUS) and Chua Wan Ping

In addition to the workshop, three students also observed Paris COP21 with help from the NUS Energy Studies Institute, which obtained UNFCCC observer status last year.

Year 1 Engineering student Goh Jia Lin found that the conference broadened her understanding of how global climate-change agreements are brokered. Paris COP21 enabled 195 countries to hone in on the landmark Paris Agreement, the first-ever universal legally binding global climate deal. “It was truly an eye-opener for me to witness the world coming together in high hopes for this conference to be successful,” said Jia Lin.

At the conference, Jia Lin also met with ASEAN Secretary General His Excellency Le Luong Minh and listened to Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad deliver the National Statement.

Year 2 Yale-NUS student Lai Ying Tong networked with other youth and NGO observers, as well as watched the conference’s proceedings.

“By attending both negotiations and side events, I was exposed to perspectives of the many varied stakeholders concerned about climate change, allowing me to think more comprehensively about the issues involved,” Ying Tong said.