In 2021, IPUR launched its data visualisation competition, Optigram, with the theme: “Climate change in Asia”. Three winning teams were selected to develop their proposals into interactive tools that could help the public be more conscious of their carbon footprint, as well as take steps to reduce their daily consumption habits.
How our food consumption habits can affect greenhouse gas emission levels
Our food consumption habits are a major contributor to climate change and in particular, greenhouse gas emission levels. Without a substantial shift in global diets, scientists predict that the world is unlikely to achieve targets set out under the Paris Agreement.
Inspired by this complex yet relatively unknown issue in the fight against climate change, three NUS students, Premakumar Ganesh, Raphael Roshan Joseph and Ebenezer Denzel Shemaiah developed an interactive video detailing how food production and consumption contribute to greenhouse gas emission levels and impact the environment.
Your expensive relationship with energy
Without much thought, we often find ourselves turning and leaving on household appliances at home for nearly the entire day. The pandemic has seen us spend more time at home which naturally increases appliance usage, leading to increased energy consumption. In a warm and tropical country such as Singapore, air conditioners are a necessity in every household yet it’s the appliance that consumes the most energy.
One of IPUR’s Optigram 2021 winners, He Shiying and New Jun Jie, developed an interactive article that details energy consumption habits of Singaporeans at home and what simple actions can be taken to mitigate carbon emissions. Through their project, users can expect to come away with an understanding of how families and homes in Singapore are using electricity, how that contributes to carbon emissions, and ultimately, visualise the tangible impact they can make based on the number of hours of appliance usage.
Check out their project here.
Understanding our transportation choices
Transportation accounts for around one-fifth of global carbon dioxide emissions. Passenger vehicles (cars, motorcycles, buses, and taxis) and freight trucks contribute to around 45% and 30% of transport emissions respectively. Aviation and shipping each account for about 11% of transport emissions while rail travel and freight account for 1% of transport emissions.
Our third team of Optigram winners created an interactive quiz to call to attention the impact of transport choices and what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Explore the quiz here.