CDL dialogue features Jane Goodall and Sylvia Earle to raise awareness of climate action
Besides being a fundraising event, it also aimed to engage and educate attendees
CITY Developments Ltd (CDL) hosted renowned conservationists Dr Jane Goodall and Dr Sylvia Earle at a dialogue on Sunday (Dec 8) to speak about climate action – the pair’s first joint conversation in Asia.
CDL partnered the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore), or JGIS, and Ocean Geographic for the event, which took place at Orchard Hotel. It had about 1,400 attendees and raised some S$150,000, which will go towards supporting JGIS and Ocean Geographic’s environmental conservation efforts, including educational programmes.
Besides being a fundraising event, the dialogue also aimed to “engage and educate” attendees, said CDL chief sustainability officer Esther An.
“Our planet is in crisis. We need quicker action and the whole world to come together, and the best way to do this is to tap established and respected climate leaders like Dr Goodall and Dr Earle... We need inspiration and role models as a young nation (to inspire action),” she noted.
Dr Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and an United Nations Messenger of Peace, spent her career studying chimpanzees, while Dr Earle, founder of Deep Hope and Mission Blue and a National Geographic explorer in residence, studied the ocean.
Inspiring collective action
During the dialogue, Dr Goodall and Dr Earle reflected on their conservation efforts over six decades. Dr Goodall spoke about her community-led efforts in conserving chimpanzee habitats, while Dr Earle talked about the time she spent underwater, learning about the ocean’s ecosystems and creatures.
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They also discussed the importance of collaboration between sectors to drive climate action and preserve biodiversity and the natural environment amid worsening climate change and human intervention; how the land and sea are interconnected; as well as why it is vital to inspire young people to take action.
Dr Earle emphasised that with collective action, people can encourage each other to “move in the same direction towards protecting nature” by being mindful of what they eat, wear and how they travel.
Dr Goodall added that raising awareness of climate change has already reaped benefits. “Far more people now are aware, and even big corporations are beginning to change... (in the way that companies) source products, get a sustainable supply line and operate in offices,” she said.
In an interview with The Business Times, Dr Earle added: “Sea-level rise will have significant consequences (in Singapore) and, unlike many parts of the world, there is the infrastructure, talent and resources to understand the consequences and take action while there is still time to do everything possible to reverse the trend.”
She emphasised the urgency to take action. “As a young scientist and throughout my career, I was a witness to the consumption of nature. Now, we need to be mindful; nature is poised to consume us. It’s already happening with storms that have increased (in) magnitude, ferocity and frequency, so we need to take the technology that gives us knowledge and apply it to our own security and understanding.”
Focused on increasing awareness
CDL first partnered JGIS in 2019, when the real estate organisation supported the JGIS Fundraising Gala Dinner, as well as the 7th Asia Environment Lecture, in which Dr Goodall was a guest speaker.
In 2022, CDL hosted Dr Earle as a special guest at the Change the Present, Save the Ocean marine-themed exhibition, in collaboration with the National Parks Board and Ocean Geographic. It was held at the zero-energy CDL Green Gallery, and aimed to raise awareness of the ocean crisis as well as coastal and marine conservation.
Similarly, in 2023, the Melting Ice, Sinking Cities exhibition featured Dr Earle, who spoke about the interconnectedness of climate change, melting glaciers, the ocean and Singapore’s coastal resilience.
On the education front, CDL will refurbish and repurpose an old train carriage into an Eco Train, which is slated to open in March 2025. Targeted towards children and youth, the net-zero facility will feature interactive games and displays to educate them about sustainability.
Additionally, in July this year, CDL expanded its Singapore Sustainability Academy, with an annex to advance capacity-building and collaboration in climate action and sustainable development.
“Only with awareness will we be able to drive action, and only with action will we be able to see impact,” said An.
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