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Seeking Ideas from Youths for Carbon-free Schools or Neighbourhoods in Singapore with Minecraft: Education Edition

Seeking Ideas from Youths for Carbon-free Schools or Neighbourhoods in Singapore with Minecraft: Education Edition

26 Feb 2021

1   The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is a whole of nation movement to advance Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development. Our youth play an important role in reducing carbon emissions and saving resources and energy. To support the objectives of the Singapore Green Plan 2030[1], the second edition of the Singapore Energy Grand Challenge (Youth) will garner ideas using Minecraft: Education Edition (M:EE) from secondary school and junior college students on the following topic – “How would your carbon-free school or neighbourhood in Singapore look like in 2050?”. The top three teams with the most innovative ideas in each of the two categories will be awarded up to $10,000 in cash prizes.

2   With registration starting 1 March 2021, the Challenge is a partnership between the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Microsoft Singapore, and supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). It is held as part of the Singapore Together movement where Singaporeans can partner the government and one another to co-create solutions and realise the Green Plan.

3   “As part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, Singapore is making the transition towards a carbon-free energy future. To achieve this, we need to change the way we produce and use energy. We encourage youth to envision how emerging low-carbon technologies like carbon capture and innovative energy efficiency solutions can make Singapore more sustainable in the future.” said Mr Ngiam Shih Chun, Chief Executive, Energy Market Authority.


4   To engage more youth on sustainability issues, this year’s Challenge has been expanded to include junior college students within the new Senior category, together with upper secondary students. Lower secondary students will be placed in the Junior category. Members of the public will also be invited to vote for the entry which best resonates with their ideas for a carbon-free Singapore.


5   The inaugural Singapore Energy Grand Challenge (Youth) was launched in March 2020 and invited secondary school students to co-create Singapore’s Energy Story with the question “How would your energy efficient school or neighbourhood in Singapore look like in 2050?”. 92 teams across 29 secondary schools took part in the Challenge. Teams from Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary), Bedok Green Secondary School and St Hilda’s Secondary School were crowned the top three winners and their submissions can be viewed online at https://go.gov.sg/segc-youth-winners.


6   Students interested to participate in this year’s Challenge may register online (https://go.gov.sg/segc2021) by 15 April 2021. Students must form teams of two to four schoolmates, and submit a three-minute video showcasing their idea for a carbon-free Singapore with their registration. Shortlisted teams will be contacted and invited to attend specialised workshops to help them with their final submissions. All submissions will be judged by a panel of representatives from EMA, IMDA, Microsoft Singapore and relevant industry players according to the criteria of relevance, creativity, and presentation. The top three teams from both the Junior and Senior categories will receive their awards in end-July 2021.


7   For more information on the Challenge and judging criteria, please refer to Annex A or visit the Powering Lives Portal (https://www.poweringlives.gov.sg). To learn about the Singapore Energy Story, refer to Annex B or visit www.BeyondTheCurrent.gov.sg.


[1] The Singapore Green Plan 2030 aims for at least 20% of schools to be carbon neutral by 2030. Media release is available at: https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/resource-room/2021-02-10-press-release-on-green-plan


Click here for media release



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