Singaporeans and local groups support Open Letter asking for policies that protect nature as the world battles COVID-19

Local environmental organisations and individuals announce the launch of an Open Letter to Singapore, a platform for people to voice support for nature and the future they envision. The initiative rallies Singaporeans to safeguard Singapore’s future by calling for improved environmental policies and business practices nationwide, supported by:

• Green Drinks Singapore
• LepakinSG
• SG Climate Rally
• WWF-Singapore
• Zero Waste SG

The Open Letter is unveiled in conjunction with Earth Hour. Making a case for the inextricable link between human action and the health of our planet, the Open Letter provides a platform for people in Singapore to be part of the movement to protect nature and biodiversity.

It is against the backdrop of this extraordinary time that this Open Letter to Singapore is unveiled. The individuals and groups aim to get as many people as possible signing the letter, creating the largest voice for nature in Singapore.

Earth Hour 2020 – Live & Unplugged is a digital livestream happening on 28 March 2020 at 5:30 PM, leading up to the iconic lights-out at 8:30 PM.

It comes after the nationwide advisory to defer large-scale events over the rapid evolvement of COVID-19 outbreak. With more people choosing to stay home during this public health emergency, the decision to go digital offers more accessibility for people to join this meaningful movement.

Outcomes to Safeguard Singapore’s Future

Recognising the crucial role that systemic intervention plays in advancing scaled and sustained environmental change alongside individual action, the Open Letter is addressed to Singapore’s political leaders, businesses, institutions and schools.

The letter enables people who live in or care about Singapore’s future to urge these decision-makers to strengthen policies and practices that support the preservation of the environment. This guarantees Singapore’s long-term essential needs – clean air, food, water and its biodiversity.

The Open Letter to Singapore seeks three outcomes:

1. Maintain the good health of Singaporeans by addressing environmental threats caused by deforestation, exploitation and pollution.
2. Achieve a good quality of life for Singaporeans by preserving natural environments and biodiversity in Singapore and the region.
3. Ensure a bright and prosperous future for Singapore by ultimately stopping climate change.

Achieving these objectives requires measures such as ambitious emission reduction targets as part of the Paris Agreement and sustainable and transparent procurement of natural resources; also necessary are regional and global agreements such as the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and Convention on Biological Diversity.

The platform for the Open Letter to Singapore goes live at 5:30 PM local time on 28 March 2020.