More than 20,000 people showed up at the Marina Barrage today for Singapore’s largest environmentally-sustainable lifestyle event.
With its record participation numbers, Singapore G1 2012 is also Singapore’s biggest ever walk-for-green event.
Organised by the Singapore Environmental Council (SEC), the event was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Mr Teo Chee Hean.
The walkathon featured two five-kilometre routes: The North and East Walkathon which started at Lavender and Stadium MRT Stations.
The New Paper Big Walk was also held in conjunction with the Singapore G1 2012 walkathon and started at The Central above Clarke Quay MRT Station and ended at the Marina Barrage.
The event’s theme, “Live Green”, highlighted the link between the protection of the environment with healthy living and the reduction of carbon footprint.
“The key for event organisers, and we have proven it through the Singapore G1 2012, is to organise their events as carbon neutral as possible and to ensure that as little waste as possible is generated,” explained Mr Jose Raymond, Executive Director of the SEC.
He added that this event is proof that “going green need not involve a compromise in creativity.”
The event’s marketing and branding also entailed minimal usage of posters and banners and recycling bins were also heavily utilised during the event to ensure that the water bottles used by participants were recycled.
To further reinforce the green initiative, a string of activities including green music performances, a soapbox competition and a ‘Live Green’ photography contest awaited participants at the Marina Barrage.
At the event, DPM Teo also launched the climate change exhibition, “Our Green Home”, organised by the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS).
The exhibition can be viewed at selected libraries, community clubs and shopping malls in the heartlands from September 2012 to January 2013.
It provides information on Singapore’s climate change plans, highlights the opportunities arising from climate change and the importance of individual and community actions to address climate change.
Incorporating a Partnership Corner in the exhibition, selected People, Public and Private (3P) sector partners will showcase their initiatives and projects as examples of the diverse ground-up efforts on climate change.
“Climate change affects all of us, not just in Singapore but around the world. It’s going to affect our lives and our economy. We are much more of a consumerist society today than we were, say, 20 or 30 years ago. And even if we want to consume, there are also green ways of consuming,” said Mr Teo, who is also the chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change.
“As the climate change exhibition travels to various parts of Singapore, we hope that it will inspire more people to take steps to address climate change as part of our daily lives,” said DPM Teo.
The exhibition also provides information on Singapore’s climate change plans and highlights the importance of individual and community actions to address climate change. It will travel to selected libraries, community clubs and shopping malls in the heartlands till January next year.
Singapore G1 was created with a no-waste objective. For example, there are no event posters or banners.
Instead, all publicity was done online and through word of mouth.
Organisers hope that more events will take on an eco-friendly approach.
Already, there are plans to make the 2015 South East Asian Games, which will be held in Singapore, an all-green affair.
This article is an adaption from news articles in CNA and Asiaone