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Two years ago, SG Climate Rally made headlines in September 2019 and created momentum for a range of activities and initiatives. Two years later in 2021, climate change activists in Singapore were frustrated by the lack of systemic or structural progress at COP26, or the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. The frustration is perhaps compounded by persistent apathy or lethargy among Singaporeans too. As such, is there a feeling of pessimism or even hopelessness, that institutional changes will be perpetually inadequate in terms of scale and timeliness?

With Woo Qiyun, a climate risk consultant and who does sustainability communications on Instagram @theweirdandwild, and Samantha Thian, founder of the marine conservation social enterprise Seastainable, a sustainability manager, and now currently running Stridy, a non-profit litter collection app, we ask them about what they are hearing from their communities of activists and advocates. They also share what they hear or sense from those who are not engaged in climate change activism or unbothered by the climate crisis.

Past episodes and posts of relevance:

• Intersectional climate justice, climate change and its unequal effects, and aspirations for a low-carbon Singapore
• Contested framings of climate change and climate governance in Singapore: PhD student Belicia Teo
• Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Michele Chong’s “Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene: Environmental Perspectives on Life in Singapore” (Book Club, April 2021)

This episode is part of the “Civic Engagement and Action” series of the podcast’s fifth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Ng Shi Wen.

Click here to listen to the episode.