Greening The Future

Why is it important for all of us to be stewards of our environment? Four young Singaporeans shed light on why fighting climate change is not just a cause for Gen Zs, and how they're raising awareness about the crisis.

- Chelsia Tan & Vanessa Tai

WOO QIYUN, 26, SUSTAINABILITY CONTENT CREATOR & CONSULTANT

IT’S OK TO BE AN “IMPERFECT” ENVIRONMENTALIST

“Being known as a climate activist means that people have a perception of what I’m like and what I stand for,” says 26-year-old Woo Qiyun. “When I go out to eat with a new group of friends, they want to know if I’m a vegan – I’m not, but I’m trying to be. People also ask me why I still use plastics sometimes, or why I still support certain brands.”

Qiyun, who holds a day job as a sustainability consultant at a decarbonisation company, takes a pragmatic approach towards these detractors. Through her Instagram account (@theweirdandwild), she shows the reality of being an environmentalist. “I started sharing experiences, such as having to take a plastic bag from the grocery store because I forgot to bring a reusable bag, or about how I struggle to find vegetarian food I enjoy because my body doesn’t process soy very well,” says Qiyun. “Through these posts, I hope to show that there is more than one way to be a climate activist, and you don’t have to be a purist to fight for environmental protection.”

Beyond offering an unfiltered view of life as a climate activist, The Weird and Wild – which was set up in 2018 – also serves as a repository for content related to sustainability and environmentalism. Qiyun says that her intention is to build climate literacy in Singapore, and to contextualise global events for a local audience. For example, one of her most popular posts is about a topic close to many Singaporeans’ hearts: bubble tea.