The world is changing for the better, thanks to the next generation of pioneers building a sustainable way of living with eco-friendly innovations
According to science, we can avoid climate catastrophe and still have a planet to live on if we can limit the rise in global temperature to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. We are already 1.1°C above, and with emissions rising, the gap continues to narrow.
To stop this, the Paris Agreement highlights that emissions need to be reduced by 45 percent by the year 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Read more: Listen: Why it’s dangerous to think you can’t tackle climate change locally
To do so, many are leveraging technology, creativity and collaboration to create sustainable solutions for their communities and others. From restoring degraded land with bamboo to upcycling fabric for creating new fashion, here are seven young Leaders of Tomorrow from across Asia who are leading the charge toward a greener future.
Lucas Loo
Founder and executive director, Sead Industries
Lucas Loo of Sead Industries is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative to transform sustainable bamboo harvesting. Through his impact enterprise Sead Industries, which comprises Sead Build and Sead Plant, uses the renewable benefits of bamboo to tackle the sustainability crisis in the construction industry.
Sead Industries is currently working towards gaining certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This significant step not only demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to sustainable sourcing practices that benefit both forests and people but also unlocks access to international markets such as the United States and Europe.
Loo’s ambitions for this year don’t stop there. He plans to consolidate over 4,000 hectares of forestry assets and establish two Bamboo Villages. Each of these villages will cover an impressive 2,000 hectares, fostering a regenerative economy for the 210 Orang Asli families living in the area. A single village’s monthly bamboo yield can absorb up to 100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere annually. Trained Orang Asli villagers harvest the bamboo, which Sead then purchases for use in construction projects and other applications.
Read more: “Offsets aren’t enough”: One company’s race to net zero goes beyond buying carbon credits