If you’ve watched the animated movie ‘Happy Feet’, you might remember the adorable, fluffy grey Emperor Penguin chicks dancing and singing to cheerful tunes in the movie. In real life, their survival is a lot more dire. 

            Last August, BBC reported that up to 10,000 chicks died because the sea ice melted before their waterproof feathers grew out, meaning that they froze to death or drowned. Scientists noted that the sea ice melted earlier than normal due to global warming. More than 90% of emperor penguin colonies are predicted to be extinct by the end of the century because they depend on the sea ice for their breeding cycle. 

            Scientists decades ago already warned about the ice at our polar caps melting and the catastrophic climate changes that might take place. They warned that this might lead to severe flooding in other parts of the world. Around the world, rising temperatures and an increase in severe  fires and floods have already been observed. Why did we not take heed? 

            In my opinion, excessive consumerism and a lack of empathy are two factors that have led us down this path. Perhaps, to some, entire colonies of penguins dying have nothing to do with our daily lives. Cute factor aside, human activities have already caused the destruction of habitats around the world, along with the extinction of numerous species of flora and fauna. Ultimately, we are the ones to suffer for our lack of action, including having to survive destructive weather phenomena, losing our own habitats and leaving behind a world devoid of beautiful animals and plants for future generations. As a small island completely surrounded by water, Singapore is at risk of being submerged if the ice caps melt completely. 

            Scientists at the Antarctic hope that the sea ice may form again if it gets cold enough, but the odds are against us if we continue our way of life with little thought for the environment. But what can we do as individuals? 

• Cut down on consumerismSpending keeps the economy going, but doing it recklessly creates more waste than the earth can handle. ‘Fast fashion’ – the buying of cheap clothing that does not last – generates tonnes of carbon dioxide and has led to the burning or burying of clothes in landfills.  In Singapore, 254,000 tonnes of clothing and textiles were discarded in 2022, and only 2% (5,000 tonnes) of that figure was recycled. Think twice before buying something – is it something you really need?

• RecycleSome countries have strict laws on separating waste, but this is something Singaporeans have not really adapted in our daily lives. Sorting out the recyclable items and doing it properly takes some practice and getting used to, but it reduces the amount of rubbish we incinerate and slows down the rates that landfills here will be filled up.

• Spread the wordMany people may be unaware of the effects of our actions. Use social media wisely to spread the message of conserving our planet. The message may seem ‘old’, but it is even more relevant today than ever. 

            In the poem Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life, Max Ehrmann says: ‘“With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” Let us keep the world as beautiful as it is for the generations to come after us. 

- Contributed by Sophia Tan

Climate Change: Thousand of penguins die in Antarctic ice breakup
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66492767

NEA: Waste Statistics and Overall Recycling 2022
https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/waste-statistics-and-overall-recycling