Does what we do make a difference to tackling climate change? I’m taking that question to COP31

I started The Interchange in 2023, a social enterprise in Singapore focused on tackling the city-state's waste problem. Outside our studio on Mei Ling Street, a big dumpster outside drew crowds daily, the compactor running and crushing large objects. This daily reminder of waste made me realize how much we throw away, a daily reality for me as a Singapore youth delegate at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.

COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the UN's annual climate conference where nations meet to negotiate how the world should tackle climate change. It brings together businesses, researchers, and civil society organisations to share ideas and advance climate solutions. While I don't expect COP31 to solve Singapore's waste problem, I aim to understand how international decisions translate into local action and whether initiatives like ours can contribute to a larger effort.

Waste management is closely linked to climate change. How we produce, consume, and dispose of materials impacts emissions, resource use, and ultimately, our future cities. At The Interchange, we tackle waste from two angles – upcycling hard-to-recycle materials into desirable products and teaching others how to do it. Our workshops have run 38 times, reaching 400 participants, and we've produced and sold around 180 products from waste, reducing about 120kg of waste.

Despite the challenges, COP31 is crucial. Climate change doesn't respect borders, and no nation can tackle it alone. For countries like Singapore, low-lying and exposed to rising seas and heat, a voice at COP is essential. I aim to learn how climate negotiations work, glean insights from funders, corporates, and other social enterprises, and understand how our local efforts fit into the global climate change battle.

While I'm concerned about my understanding of sustainability due to my lack of formal training, I'm determined to approach this responsibly as part of Singapore's youth delegation. At The Interchange, we follow a three-step process: research, design, and fabrication. We upcycle materials like rice bags, drink cartons, and soft plastics into everyday products, turning rigid materials into usable ones.

This approach highlights how ground-up initiatives can play a vital role in waste management, especially for materials not covered by return schemes like drink cartons and woven rice bags.