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Blog 1: About the UNSDGs & me

  • Apr 30, 2024
  • 4 min read

Updated: Oct 17, 2024

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog! I'm Yoong Sern, a Year 2 Chemical Engineering student in SP and I started this blog to share my experiences throughout the entire Introduction to Chemical Product Design (ICPD) module. You can find out more about me here.

My goal for this module would be to understand the process of chemical product design and eventually, with the help of my team, make a chemical device that contributes to the UNSDGs.



The Worlds Largest Lesson


The video "Worlds Largest Lesson" serves as a call to action, to all of us. It shows us how precious our planet Earth is and highlights a few urgent global challenges such as climate change, inequality and poverty. The video also raises awareness about the 17 United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and reminds us that we all have a role to play in building a more sustainable future.



The UNSDGs

Achieving the 17 UNSDGs by 2030 seems impossible given that poverty and hunger are still major problems, but that doesn't mean we should give up on this place we call home 🇸🇬


The goals provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable development, serving as a beacon of hope🌟 guiding our journey forward.





Plastic: Remaking Our World

To learn more about chemical products, my school had organized a learning journey for chemical engineering students to visit the National Museum of Singapore and we went to the Plastic: Remaking Our World exhibition.


At the museum, I saw this Bakelite collection which I thought were weird looking whistles🤨, but later I found out that they were just button light switches.










There was also this piece on display which looked like armor for a child, however it was actually a spinal brace for a child with spinal tuberculosis🙁



These are just a few among other pictures that I took, you can find more pictures with descriptions here.




Overall, I felt that my visit to the museum went well. I was amazed to discover the many different chemical products made with plastic, from household items such as cutlery, to cutting-edge technology like the 3D-printed plastic chair🤯. Seeing the impact of plastic on our world made me appreciate it for its versatility, I now have a better understanding of its role in shaping our daily lives.



2 UNSDGs





One of the UNSDGs my team chose Goal 13: Climate Action, and here's why it's so important for us here in Singapore. We're not just sweating bullets because of the weather – in 2021, we were also ranked 5th in the Asia Pacific for CO2 emissions per person! With 8.351 metric tons of CO2 emissions per capita! (IEA, 2021)




And guess what's causing all this extra heat?

Our electricity and heat producers are pumping out CO2💨 like there's no tomorrow, accounting for a whopping 69%(nice) of total emissions from fuel combustion in the energy sector (IEA, 2021). It's trapping heat in the atmosphere and cooking us alive🔥, especially with UV levels rising today☀️(The Straits Times, 2024)


So, Goal 13? It's not just another goal to have. It's about dialing down the heat, saving the planet, and preserving our island nation. Because let's be honest, there is no Planet B and we owe it to ourselves to protect our home for generations to come.


Another UNSDG my team chose is Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production

Here in Singapore, we're not blessed with abundant natural resources. That means we need to be smart about conserving what we have. Taking part in sustainable practices like recycling isn't just a choice, it's our responsibility to protect our environment and reduce waste.


Take a look at our Semakau Landfill, it's filling up fast with our waste☹️


Satellite images of Semakau Landfill from 2000 to 2020

(Satellite images of Semakau Landfill from 2000 - 2020)

Semakau Landfill's lifespan is getting shorter by the minute. At our current rate of waste generation, Semakau Landfill (SL) is expected to be fully filled by 2035. (NEA, 2020)

Recycling isn't just about saving the planet, it's about preserving our way of life and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.


Together, we can make a change. Let us foster a greener, sustainable tomorrow🌍


Now that you've learned about these 2 UNSDGs, how do YOU wish to contribute?


Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Spread awareness by educating others about the UNSDGs 📖

  2. 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ♻️

  3. Take action by supporting green initiatives, such as

the Singapore Green Plan 2030.



Chemical Device

Last but not least, the chemical device that my team chose was an algae bioreactor🦠

It uses the basic principles of photosynthesis to convert CO2 to oxygen and it produces algae biomass at the same time, which has various applications.


One of its uses that we are focusing on is feed stock for ruminant animals, such as cows 🐄


Why are we feeding the cows algae?

Well, that is because livestock emissions account for roughly 32% of human-caused methane emissions (UNEP, 2021).


Methane is also a powerful greenhouse gas. Over a 20-year period, it is 80 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide (UNEP, 2021)

And according to an article from ScienceDirect, algal mixes containing Spirogyra, a common algae, reduced methane emissions by >10% (Lester, et al.)


With the help of algae, we can tackle climate change and promote more sustainable practices to create a better future for all🌏




And... that's about it, see ya!










References:


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