"Climate action is not just about individual action": Terese Teoh encourages a stronger affinity for nature

In the second of this four-part Earth Day series, we speak to environmental science and public policy undergraduate Terese Teoh about why solidarity and empathy are two important factors in climate activism.

Most observers would associate climate activism with crowds of environmentalists pounding the streets, but an important aspect of being a part of the movement actually involves understanding the legislative processes of climate change policies.

This was a significant takeaway for environmental science and public policy undergraduate Terese Teoh, who attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt last November. “Being at COP27 helped catalyse a sound understanding of some high level COP negotiations, or examples of agenda items like Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

“It helps to see how we can engage and facilitate discussions by understanding these processes,” says the 21-year-old third-year student at Nanyang Technological University.

Terese was one of seven Singapore youths who attended the COP27 (the delegation included fellow activists Woo Qiyun and Kate Yeo). It was also her first time attending the conference, an experience that she describes as “mind-blowing”.

“I learnt a lot from different people and groups,” she enthuses. “You get to meet people from different international backgrounds, and it was very interesting to hear their ideas, aspirations, principles and values. It’s just nice to be surrounded by various people with so many ideas and so much knowledge about climate solutions, and how we can drive them forward.”

Her journey started through a failed secondary school project tackling food waste, which piqued her interest in environmental issues.

In 2018, Terese joined Plastic-Lite Singapore, an initiative that raises awareness of the over-consumption of plastics, to help organise various outreach activities. “It started as a hobby, but eventually, I wanted to do more, because I realised that this is where my passion lies,” she shares.

Today, Terese is also the president of climate advocacy group Singapore Youth for Climate Action (SYCA), a youth-led organisation that facilitates discussions and advocacy movements around climate change policies, as well as biodiversity conservation group Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB).

She emphasises that climate action is not just about individual action, but also about changing “the systemic way that our society is organised, that makes us become detached from nature and the environment”.

One way that Terese is hoping to encourage a stronger affinity for nature among young Singaporeans is through a Telegram group that journals about nature, which she set up with a friend. It’s a forum that allows members to discuss their work and share their love of nature.

“I really like writing in general. As I grew older, I realised the potential of nature writing to recreate the sensory experiences of being in nature. I feel like even if I’m surrounded by concrete buildings, I can still connect with nature through these words,” she says.

Terese’s larger goal is to help cultivate more solidarity in the climate movement, whether it’s through her advocacy work or nature writing initiative. Empathy, she believes, is key to affecting change, and she hopes to see more Singaporeans supporting those who have been affected by the climate crisis.

She says: “I believe we should take a more human approach towards looking at things in general. I hope to see more laughter in the climate movement, and that it can be a space where people forge lifelong friendships.”

PHOTOGRAPHY Nur Athirah Annissa
ART DIRECTION & STYLING Adeline Eng
HAIR & MAKEUP Aung Apichai, using Tom Ford Beauty & Kevin Murphy