2 June 2008

Green award winner works with Earthwatch scientists

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: HSBC/NYAA Youth Environmental Award 2008 winner Ong Wei Tao is the man behind the many impactful green initiatives on campus.

ACTION is needed more than words. This is the mantra of environmental activist Ong Wei Tao, who won the HSBC/NYAA (National Youth Achievement Award) Youth Environmental Award 2008. He does not believe in one-off campaigns that just use the usual words like 'Go Green', 'Save the Earth', or 'Recycle me' — choosing to walk the talk with impactful sustainable projects.

As chairman of the NUSSU SAVE (Students Against Violation of the Earth), Wei Tao, a 2nd-year Social Work undergraduate, is behind the many impactful green initiatives on campus. His OneDegree project reduces energy usage by setting the air-conditioning at 25 degrees in all lecture theatres and seminar rooms. And thanks to his Rebate2Earth campaign that charges 10 cents for each plastic bag used at the NUS CO-OP stores, plastic bag usage was reduced by over 90 percent.

"I hope that I can influence people to rethink what is important in their lives and be grateful for the resources we have now instead of taking them for granted," he said.

As part of the prize, Wei Tao will be sent on a fully sponsored trip to Vietnam (16 - 24 June) to work with Earthwatch scientists on how butterflies are affected by climate change.