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GE2020 shows encouraging start but political parties need to articulate more comprehensive plans on climate crisis, says activist Tim Min Jie
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This year’s General Election (GE) showed an encouraging start on the climate crisis issue, but there is still a need for political parties to articulate more comprehensive plans on the issue, said young climate activist, Tim Min Jie, in the Ethos Books’ gathering of civil society.
She was among the panellists in the Ethos Books’ gathering of civil society that aimed to bring together activists from different areas. The gathering, which titled The Ground Speaks: Civil Society After GE2020, was live-streamed on Facebook on 26 July.
Ms Tim, who is an undergraduate at Yale-NUS College, noted that this year’s GE was the first election where the climate crisis was being mentioned in most of the political parties’ manifestos.
She added that the People’s Action Party (PAP), Workers’ Party (WP), Singapore People’s Party (SPP), Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Reform Party (RP) and Red Dot United (RDU) had dedicated a section in their GE manifestos to address the climate crisis issue.
“I think this really shows that the climate crisis is recognized as an issue that requires political’s will to effectively tackle and it cannot be solved simply by individuals’ action like recycling or turning off your light bulb,” said Ms Tim.
“In terms of the policy, I think over the past few years we definitely see an increase in environmental-related parliamentary questions being asked,” she continued.
Previously in February, the Government announced its pledge to halve the amount of emissions by 2050 after they peak in 2030. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said that Singapore will commit to an absolute peak emission level of 65 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent around 2030.
This also indicates a shift to a target with an absolute cap, from a target to reduce emissions intensity which measures carbon emissions per Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dollar.
Referring to that, Ms Tim said, “This indicator means that even if emissions intensity were to decrease, absolute emissions continue to rise as long as our GDP keeps increasing which doesn’t make sense from a climate point of view. And so this change indicator is something that the movement had been explicitly calling for.”
Moving forward, the 21-year-old activist opined that the political parties need to “articulate more comprehensive plans” on the climate crisis in the future GE.
“I think even though this GE was quite an encouraging start, we are definitely still looking for parties to articulate more comprehensive plans on the climate crisis,” she noted.
Some of the key areas that Ms Tim highlighted were the position on the fossil fuel industry – which she claimed is one of the largest polluters in Singapore – a concrete plan for decarbonization and a transition plan with specific measures to protect the livelihoods of those who might be affected by the transition.
Additionally, she believes the movement and the political parties also need to determine how to make environmentalism “a much more intersectional issue”.
“And what I mean by intersectional environmentalism is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of the people and the planet,” she stated.
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Netizens question NTU’s choice of timber for Gaia Building amid mould issues
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SINGAPORE: The Gaia building at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), which opened in May 2023 as Asia’s largest wooden structure, was initially celebrated for its sustainable design and architectural beauty.
However, just over a year later, the S$125 million (US$95.5 million) timber building is facing an unexpected challenge: mould growth.
The 450,000-square-foot Gaia building, constructed with sustainable timber beams and panels, has developed mould on its walls, raising concerns about the suitability of timber for large-scale construction in tropical climates like Singapore’s.
The mould issue highlights the global challenges that timber structures can face, especially in environments with high humidity.
According to Bloomberg, the mould problem at Gaia underscores the difficulties that timber buildings encounter worldwide.
The Gaia building’s timber supplier claims that the structure sequesters over 5,000 tons of CO2, even when accounting for shipping, as trees absorb carbon dioxide during growth.
However, Singapore’s tropical climate, with its high humidity and frequent rainfall, has revealed the limitations of using timber in such environments.
The wood used in Gaia, primarily Austrian spruce processed into mass-engineered timber, is less resistant to mould compared to other species.
In Singapore’s humid conditions, untreated spruce is particularly vulnerable to mould and rot, according to Andrew Wong of the International Wood Culture Society.
Erik L’Heureux, an associate professor of architecture at the National University of Singapore, emphasized that different climates present unique challenges for timber construction.
He noted that in tropical regions, special care is required to prevent issues like mould, while in other climates, such as deserts or freezing environments, timber faces other risks like cracking and splitting.
Singapore has used mass-engineered timber in over 20 projects in the past decade, but it remains unclear if other buildings are experiencing similar issues.
In contrast, Singapore’s colonial shophouses, built with regionally native hardwoods, are naturally resistant to mould.
However, sourcing these traditional hardwoods today is both difficult and costly.
Loh Kee Soon, the lead architect for Gaia at RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, explained that while thicker protective coatings could have mitigated some of the mould issues, his team opted against it due to cost concerns and a desire to showcase the natural wood grain.
Despite its aesthetic appeal, the presence of mould has raised health concerns among staff and students.
While the mould is not expected to affect the building’s structural integrity, NTU has implemented a comprehensive maintenance plan, which includes reapplying sealant to the timber, adjusting air-conditioning settings, and instructing staff to keep windows closed to reduce condensation.
Experts also recommend treating surfaces with bleach, applying thicker coatings, installing dehumidifiers, and running the air-conditioning continuously, although these measures could undermine the building’s sustainability.
Netizens question sustainability of NTU’s Gaia building amid mould concerns
Under Mothership’s Facebook post, netizens have expressed various concerns regarding the mould issue at Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Gaia building.
One user questioned whether continuing to use the building is worth it, given the upcoming maintenance and potential health risks to staff and students.
They suggested that if maintenance is not feasible, it might be better to endure a one-time inconvenience of demolition rather than face ongoing issues.
One commenter questioned the logic of using wood in Singapore’s hot and humid climate, suggesting that protective coatings should have been applied to prevent mould.
They pointed out that NTU should have had the resources to implement such measures.
Another netizen proposed that demolishing the building and replacing it with a concrete structure might be a better long-term solution than continually dealing with mould.
Netizens raise concerns over material choices for NTU’s Gaia building
Several netizens focused on the choice of wood for the building, criticizing the decision to use Austrian spruce instead of locally sourced tropical wood that is more resistant to humidity.
One commenter pointed out that using wood from Austria hardly seems sustainable or environmentally friendly when considering the carbon footprint.
Another suggested that the building should have used hardwoods like teak, ebony, or mahogany, which are more resistant to termites and mould.
Further criticism focused on the project’s planning, with some questioning why wood from a cool climate was used in Singapore’s tropical environment.
They speculated that the original committee might have prioritized reducing construction costs, leaving the current management to deal with the consequences.
One commenter expressed disbelief that the project proceeded with wood susceptible to mould, despite the availability of more suitable materials like teak and cedar.
They criticized the $125 million price tag, suggesting it reflects a “lowest cost wins” mentality that overlooks potential long-term costs.
One netizen also raised doubts about the building’s sustainability, questioning whether the cost of treating and preventing mould might become exorbitant over time and ultimately undermine the building’s sustainability claims.
The post Netizens question NTU’s choice of timber for Gaia Building amid mould issues appeared first on Gutzy Asia.
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Malaysian burger vendor duped by repeat scammer: Calls for safer payment protocols
In a viral TikTok video, an Ampang burger vendor recounts how he fell victim to a scam, losing nearly RM100. This incident sheds light on a notorious scammer’s modus operandi, prompting calls for improved payment procedures in the local food scene.
MALAYSIA: A roadside burger vendor in Ampang, Selangor, fell victim to a scam, losing nearly RM100 (US$21.3) in the process.
Taking to his TikTok account “mohdazroyampang” on Wednesday (20 Sep), the burger vendor shared his ordeal, and the video quickly went viral, garnering over 218 thousand views.
@mohdazroyampang Dengan rendah diri aku halal kan makanan yang kau ambil, semoga ada rezeki untuk aku pada masa2 akan datang amin #crispybitesburger #burgerayamcrispy #chickencrispyburger #scammers
According to Azroy, the incident transpired at approximately 08.30 pm (local time). A middle-aged woman and a young man, seemingly a mother-son duo, arrived at his stall riding an electric scooter.
They placed an order for two triple-crusted chicken burgers, a double venison special, and a double meat special but requested to collect the food later due to a sudden influx of customers.
True to their word, the duo returned to claim their order and inquired about the total cost. They also mentioned their intention to place another order based on the receipt.
The initial order cost RM48 (US$10.20), which the son promptly paid and left on his motorcycle.
Subsequently, the mother asked Azroy to prepare another meal, bringing the total to RM96 (US$20.5).
Then, as she pretended to scan the QR code, she suddenly claimed to be short on credit and needed to return home for money.
Seizing this opportunity, they both abruptly left the stall, taking the first set of burgers with them.
Azroy shared that they waited until closing time, but the duo never returned.
He expressed relief that his wife had stopped him from making the second order, thus preventing further financial loss.
In the video, Azroy went on to reveal that the individual involved was a notorious scammer in Ampang, with several other food vendors falling prey to the same modus operandi.
A fellow seller in the comments section confirmed that they almost had been scammed by the same individual.
Many viewers expressed sympathy for the burger seller and called for improved payment procedures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
One commenter suggested that, moving forward, the seller should request payment upfront before allowing customers to leave with their food.
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