Welcome Address at Youth for Environmental Leaders Programme Graduation Ceremony - Ms Grace Fu

Good morning. I am delighted to be here today with our environment youth leaders and partners. Your support has been so essential to the success of the Youth for Environmental Sustainability or YES Movement. For our 34 YES Leaders graduating today, whom also I met last year, it is a pleasure to see you again! 

SG60 – Building a Sustainable Singapore 

2 Since we last met, the world has become more uncertain and volatile. The Global order is being disrupted in many ways — in economy, security and trade - with rising trade tensions, new barriers to investment, and rising conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. We wonder what will happen to sustainability movement. Countries are moving away for collaboration, and this instability threatens advancement of sustainability development. When cross-border cooperation falters and supply chains fragment, the cost and availability of green technologies are impacted, the political and public attention wane, and momentum of our action falters. 

3 In these difficult times, it is crucial that we remain focused, resilient, and collaborative in our efforts to build a sustainable and secure world. In Singapore, this remains our steadfast priority. And I would like to share three key messages with you, our youth leaders. 

4 First, take a holistic view of sustainability. Sustainability is more than protecting our environment; it is about ensuring Singapore’s long-term survival. Since our independence 60 years ago, we have balanced economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion. These three factors are like the three-legged stand of our table, of our country. We must ensure that there are these three legs that support us going forward. As we look ahead, your generation must carry forward this vital legacy that our pioneers have painstakingly built up. 

5 Second, embrace the democracy of deeds. Amidst global uncertainty, our strength lies in unity and action. While governments and businesses play their part, real change can also be driven by the energy and innovation of young people like yourselves. I am inspired by the work of Cohort 2. 16 impactful projects—from advancing public hygiene to pioneering zero-waste initiatives – have shown that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility, and that taking action together, we can mobilise entire communities for a common purpose, impacting a wider community. 

6 And third, build resilience—in us as individuals and as a community. The journey towards sustainability requires perseverance and resilience. Your cohort has demonstrated remarkable resilience, by turning setbacks into stepping stones, supporting one another and rising above challenges. This spirit will serve you well in the years ahead. 

• Take Natalee and her team for example. Their journey to create biodegradable pots from fruit scraps was not a straight path to success – it required countless iterations, failed experiments, and unwavering determination before arriving at a stable formula. This is innovation at its finest – where each 'failure' contributes to an improvement and bringing them one step closer to their goal.

• Nadhira's story is equally inspiring. When faced with low participation in her food waste workshops initially, she did not give up. Instead, she refined her approach, adapted her strategies, and accumulated experience. Her dedication paid off, delivering a series of successful workshops and received enthusiastic feedback from her participants. This is relevant to education as well. By participating in a project like that, you learn from people around you, and gain project management experience from participating in YES. 
  

• Howie and his team experimented with countless prototypes in the design and development of better urinals that minimizes spillage, that both users and cleaners would find practical. They demonstrated perseverance in their search for a better solution. 
  

7 These stories remind us that innovation requires patience, persistence, and the determination to keep improving. The YES Leaders Programme has helped young environmental leaders like Natalee, Nadhira and Howie turn their ambitions into reality, with the strong support of the IHL mentors and YES Advisors. This programme by the National Environment Agency (NEA) equips youth participants with the knowledge and skills needed to find solutions for our environmental challenges of today and the future. 

8 Through a combination of education, mentorship, sharing by industry partners, and learning journey to NEA’s key installations, participants gained a deeper understanding of our policies and our sustainability efforts in areas such as climate change, energy, waste, and pollution control. 

9 To Cohort 2, I applaud you for your commitment to sustainability and your growth through this journey. I am confident that you will continue to make significant contributions to our environment in the years to come. 

Welcome 3rd Cohort of YES Leaders 

10 Today, we also warmly welcome a fresh batch of participants in the 3rd cohort of the YES Leaders Programme. I congratulate the 37 youths who successfully passed the selection exercise and who will be embarking on their one-year journey beginning next week. I would also like to thank the IHLs for your nominations. Your continued support for the YES Movement is deeply appreciated. 

Sustained Contribution by Network of YES Leaders 

11 Even as Cohort 2 passes the baton to Cohort 3 today, I want to emphasise that our network of YES Movement Leaders continues to work with NEA and stakeholders in the community, well beyond graduation. In other words, the association and support from NEA and stakeholders do not end with this programme, the relationship carries on, and we hope that you continue to nurture this network of friends and advisors. 

a) For example, from Cohort 1, Sophia Ding’s Green Doctor Programme has progressed beyond IHL campuses. Her team collects and recycles used blister packs for medicines – the ones containing pills, tablets and capsules. This reduces the environmental impact from this very common medical packaging. The team continued to look for ways to improve outcomes and is now conducting a Life Cycle Analysis of their approach and developing plans to scale up their operations. 

b) From Cohort 2, Lim Xin Quan from NUS and Nadhira Fateen Safeel from SUSS have joined hands to kick start Planet Pages, a social-environmental project that seeks to facilitate book donations in Singapore and channel it to needy communities in remote areas overseas. 

c) Additionally, NEA and NGO partners such as GreenCollab SG and The Matcha Initiative have also invited YES Leaders as speakers to their respective events and programmes, to share their experience and inspire other youths to contribute towards our sustainability journey. 

12 Members of our YES Leaders Network have also volunteered their time in co-organise YES events and workshops and mobilise youths in public engagement. Three of them – Xavier Ang, Nazhan Iman Bin Mohd Nazim and Chia Howie, co-organised the YES Fest which starts today at Funan. 

13 YES Fest is the first public showcase of the YES movement. Our YES leaders will share their projects with the public, conduct workshops and raise awareness about sustainability. I thank the YES Leaders for helping to bring the first YES Fest to fruition. Let me also thank CapitaLand for hosting the inaugural YES Fest at Funan. 

Conclusion 

14 To our youth champions, your commitment to sustainability goes beyond environmental protection – it's about building a resilient Singapore where every deed shapes our collective future. This is the essence of Forward Singapore Movement – where individual create and shape the future of Singapore for the good of all Singaporean. In this SG60 year, building on the strong foundation laid by our pioneers, I am confident you will continue to inspire positive change in our communities, and build a better, resilient and more sustainable Singapore. Thank you.