Reader’s Response Draft Number 1

In the article "Why the climate fight needs engineers", Vaidehi Shah (2015) emphasised the importance of having competent engineers who are able to help in overcoming the sustainable challenges Singapore has begun to faces and will face in the future due to climate change. The writer also agrees with the experts who believe it is essential for engineers to find ways to manage the rising climate changes in Singapore. According to Edwin Khew, deputy president of IES and also chairman of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore, Asian cities are already seeing the consequences of climate change and experiencing extreme weather events such as floods, extreme high temperatures and droughts, water shortages, and rising sea levels made worse by increasing population growth and urban development. He added, sustainable engineering solutions will therefore be in strong demand, and engineers will see tremendous opportunities, both locally and regionally to support the need to flight climate change.

In Singapore. The Engineer Progression Pathway programme was launched to aid engineers to develop professional and technical skills to combat global environment issues and address future challenges posed by climate change. The new programme for engineers will boost their long-term job prospects and provide the country with the skilled professionals it needs to address future challenges posed by climate change. 

The article mostly highlights the positive effects of why engineers are needed to fight climate change that affects mostly Singapore and the Asia Pacific region. The article does not prove that world over engineers are needed to fight the climate changes nor does the article analyse the effects on climate changes caused by other developing cities of Asia.

Even in Singapore, sustainable engineering solutions have to come from all sectors. Key areas where engineering has a “frontline role to play in the fight against climate change” include clean environment and water resources; sustainable development and infrastructure; sustainable energy; and resilience and adaptation against climate change. But looking at the current situation in Singapore, Singapore has one of the world’s highest carbon emissions per capita. Until the carbon footprint problem is reduced, engineers will continue to face challenges. While I agree that engineers play a crucial role, I feel that over-dependence on engineers to solve the climate changes does not always result in the best solution and there are several other factors that the article has failed to consider. 

However, in conclusion, going forward, I agree with Mr Choi Shing Kwok, permanent secretary in Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, engineering expertise will remain a key part of the solution in realising Singapore’s green growth vision and the demand for competent engineers will also stay.

Why the climate fight needs engineers (Summary)

In the article "Why the climate fight needs engineers", Shah (2015) emphasised the importance of having competent engineers who are able to help in overcoming the sustainable challenges Singapore faces. The writer agrees with the experts who belief it is essential for engineers to solve the rising climate changes in Singapore. Hence, the Engineer Progression Pathway programme aids engineers to develop professional and technical skills to combat global environment issues. According to Edwin Khew, deputy president of IES and also chairman of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore, that Asian cities are affected by climate change such as experiencing extreme weather events such as floods, extreme high temperatures and droughts, water shortages, and rising sea levels due to screaming increase population growth and urban development. She further quotes Edwin Knew “Sustainable engineering solutions will be in strong demand, and engineers will see tremendous opportunities, both locally and regionally “to support the need of engineers to flight climate change. While I agree with this to some extent, I feel that dependence on engineers to solve the climate changes does not always result in the best solution and there are several factors that the article has failed to consider. 

The Importance of English for Me

Being a Singaporean and belonging to a minority ethnic group, English as a tool of communication is important to me. Majority of my friends are from other ethnic groups, so English is the primary language that creates a common bond among us. It is also the language I use to communicate with my parents, as I do not know how to speak in my mother tongue.

English is also a universal language that makes it easier to communicate with people from other parts of the world, and creates a common identity among nations. English is everywhere; in social media, in the movies we watch, in the in the games we play and even in the music we listen to every day. Most of the content produced on the internet (50%) is in English. So knowing English will allow you access to an incredible amount of information which may not be otherwise available!

For these reasons, English plays an important role in my life.

(Edited: 3:00 AM, 11 Sept 2015)