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The Role of Innovation in Climate Change

The various human-caused activities that have resulted in adverse effects on the climate have not only deteriorated environmental conditions but have also had a negative impact on human living standards. With climate change becoming more visible over the years, it has become critical for countries to come together and deal with the crisis on a global scale. As a result, Professor Low Teck Seng, NUS’ senior vice president for Innovation with Societal Impact (ISI), picks up the subject and analyzes the role of innovation in driving climate change in an Oxford-style discussion.

Innovation in climate change

Professor Seng starts the conversation by stating that Singapore is dedicated to utilizing R&D and technology advances to combat climate change. In this regard, he believes that the University plays a vital role in addressing key sustainability challenges through research and education. Dr. Echo Wang, the co-founder of Synectify, argued that innovation has always empowered and moved mankind ahead to bring about constructive social improvements. Innovative technologies, she claims, are already helping to cut emissions by modifying current energy use patterns or enhancing energy efficiency and conservation. Professor Seeram Ramakrishna of NUS supports her views, stating that history has demonstrated that people have an infinite capacity for creativity and innovation. Humans have conquered the obstacles of survival on Earth throughout the ages by generating, sharing, and spreading new information. In response to the proposition’s arguments, NUS’ Professor Johan Sulaeman emphasized the inherent difficulties in translating innovative ideas into actual concrete outcomes to combat climate change, arguing that the world lacks the mass commitment, whether social, political, or financial, to get these outcomes delivered. The winning team of the debate was determined by an audience poll after an hour of heated debate and a quick Q&A session. The opposition side finally won by collecting 85% of the audience vote, with many audience members believing that addressing climate change should be a collective endeavor, not only the job of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Climate change, being a global issue, could hardly be addressed alone via the efforts of one institution. To properly confront the situation, everyone must band together and cope with it. The aforementioned statement highlights a debate on the issue hosted by Innovation with Societal Impact (ISI).

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