We Love Our Planet – A Community and Youth-Driven Exhibition Highlights the Importance of Nature and Biodiversity for a Sustainable Future
- The exhibition aims to support global and national nature and biodiversity action
- Public-Private-People partnership involving 24 community partners, including government organisations and NGOs, youth groups and IHLs
- Opened by legendary marine scientist and climate heroine Dr Sylvia Earle and the Singapore community
City Developments Limited (CDL), the National Parks Board (NParks), Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) (JGIS), and Ocean Geographic have put together an exhibition themed “We Love Our Planet” on nature and biodiversity conservation. Held at the CDL Green Gallery, Singapore’s first net-zero gallery located at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the exhibition will run from 10 December 2024 till 1 June 2025, in support of global and national nature and biodiversity action.
Marking the 22nd exhibition held at the CDL Green Gallery, “We Love Our Planet” highlights the critical role of nature and biodiversity in ensuring ecosystem resilience and addressing the climate crisis. Our planet is in a crisis, and climate change is a major threat to the survival of humanity and biodiversity on Earth. This Exhibition, like others before it, aims to create greater awareness of the planet’s plight, to inspire more to care for our life source. The exhibition was officially launched by Dr Sylvia Earle, Founder of DEEP HOPE and Mission Blue, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and TIME Magazine’s first “Hero for the Planet”, alongside young Singaporean eco-champions, Pragnya Rajagopalan (11 years old), Tan Hong Liang (11 years old) and Zac Armstrong Chia (7 years old) on 9 December 2024. By involving children and youths in this endeavour, CDL hopes to inculcate in them the importance of preserving and restoring the health of our planet.
With an emphasis on the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the exhibition underscores the urgency of ecosystem restoration in line with global initiatives and the Singapore Green Plan 2030. The exhibition also showcases Southeast Asia’s rich biodiversity, with a focus on Singapore’s efforts to conserve its natural heritage.
Power of Partnerships to Advance Climate Action
The exhibition showcases the power of partnerships through collaboration with 24 diverse governmental and community partners, including women and youth groups, local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). Partners include the CITES Global Youth Network (CGYN), Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions and more. A film highlighting Singapore’s rich biodiversity was created with National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2017, Jayaprakash Bojan, titled “This is Our Home”. These strong collaborative efforts embody SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which demonstrates how collective action can drive biodiversity conservation and inspire meaningful change.
The exhibition features six zones:
1. Nature and Biodiversity for Life: Importance of nature and ecosystem services, and the primary factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity and natural habitats.
2. Life on Land: Spotlights SDG 15 (Life on Land), Southeast Asia’s terrestrial ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation efforts.
3. Life below Water: Spotlights SDG 14 (Life under Water), Southeast Asia’s marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation efforts.
4. Singapore, Our City in Nature: Spotlights Singapore’s rich natural heritage, including NParks’ strategic initiatives – fulfilled with strong community support – aimed at conserving terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as transforming Singapore into a City in Nature.
5. Championing Sustainability Towards a Nature-Positive Future: CDL’s pioneering sustainability efforts and track record in the race towards Net Zero Carbon and nature positivity, in line with Singapore Green Plan 2030.
6. Partnerships for the Goals: Emphasises the impact of collective environmental action through partnerships to achieve a sustainable future.
Ms Esther An, CDL’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said, “Collaboration, education, and engagement are key to driving climate and nature action. Guided by our ethos of ‘Conserving as We Construct’, CDL is committed to empowering diverse stakeholders through platforms like the CDL Green Gallery. These efforts reflect our unwavering dedication to creating a sustainable, nature-positive future and advancing impactful climate solutions.”
This commitment to climate action is also shared by Dr Earle, who famously stated, “No Blue, No Green, No Water, No Life,” emphasising the vital connection between a healthy ocean and a thriving planet.
The CDL Green Gallery is powered by on-site solar generation, symbolising CDL’s commitment to sustainability and climate action. Since its opening in 2013, the Gallery has hosted 21 impactful exhibitions on biodiversity, climate, and sustainability, attracting over 400,000 visitors and inspiring action for a sustainable future.
