WWF Pandas, that is.
If you’re familiar with the work of our Pandas (yes, true to our iconic logo we call ourselves Pandas), you’d know that we protect the world’s precious resources and natural landscapes by sparking the change needed to do so.
So if every Panda could have a wish for 2019, what would it be? From people to businesses, rangers to tigers – here are some things on our wishlist for the planet.
P.S.: It’s so awesome, it needs to be on yours too!
More love for rangers
“To me, 2019 can be a game changer for rangers. We are hosting the world’s largest gathering of rangers in Asia for the first time. This year, I hope to see the public, our politicians and conservation groups recognise the sacrifices that rangers make so that our kids can enjoy the wilderness.”
Rohit Singh, Zero Poaching Lead, WWF
Be better connected with nature
“For people to connect to nature and understand how it’s linked to every aspect of our life. Nature not only provides us with all the things we need to live – the air we breathe and the water we drink, to the economy we rely on – but also makes our lives better. Its growing loss puts this all under threat. Earth Hour will always be a moment where we stop and reflect on our relationship with nature. In 2019, I hope millions of people will continue to take part in Earth Hour (Saturday, 30 March), and speak up on why nature matters to them.”
Sid Das, Director of Digital Engagement, WWF-International
Get cracking and fix our own problems
“I wish that 2019 will be the year we all acknowledge the crisis we are facing. To stop banking on future generations to fix our problems; to go way beyond just “doing our bit”; to accept responsibility for our planet. We are the last generation that can avert climate change and the loss of nature – so let’s start fixing the problem. I wish that governments – supported by businesses and people – will step up, get together and look beyond the short term to tackle problems at hand.”
Kim Stengert, Chief, Strategic Communication & External Relations, WWF-Singapore
Make sustainability a serious business
“For companies to commit to sustainability by tapping into proven solutions. Firstly, for our palm oil alliance (SASPO) to grow in Asia, with primary focus on engaging Singapore upstream palm oil buyers. Secondly, for our Responsible Seafood Tool (RESET) to be a working solution for companies that want to source seafood sustainably. And of course, for PACT (Plastic ACTion) in Singapore to start a culture shift to reduce single-use plastics and rethink our over-dependence on plastics.”
Maggie Lee, Market Transformation Manager, WWF-Singapore
Bring climate impact down to zero
“The world is already seeing the worst of climate-related disasters at just above 1.1oC of warming above pre-industrial levels. Nearly 30 million people were impacted by extreme weather events and about 5,000 lost their lives last year. My wish for 2019 is to bring these numbers down to an absolute zero. All countries, companies and individuals must ramp up their climate actions and reduce absolute emissions, while not leaving the vulnerable behind.”
Sandeep Chamling Rai, Senior Advisor, Global Climate Adaptation Policy, WWF
A heart for conservation
“For massive local, regional and global recognition of Southeast Asia’s amazing biodiversity: How important it is, how imperilled it is, and how everyone – individuals, companies and governments – has the capacity and responsibility for positive change. We need to integrate conservation science and evidence into the very core of public policies, financial investment and corporate behaviour.”
Simon Attwood, Head of Conservation, WWF-Singapore
Help tigers thrive in the wild
“For the symbol of the wild – tigers – to live freely where they belong, and continue thriving in Asia’s remaining forests. Last year, we learned that less than 15% of tiger sites are truly protected. Alarmingly, most of them lack funding and rangers. But we know that when governments, communities and development partners come together, it is absolutely possible for tigers to recover in the wild. Nepal is a great example – the country has nearly doubled their wild tiger numbers in less than a decade!”
Khalid Pasha, CA|TS Manager, WWF Tigers Alive
Create change from within
“For more businesses to come forward, make protecting the environment a priority, and to realise that helping the environment is borderless. We’ve had some great partnerships in 2018 with very visionary companies. They saw that helping the environment goes beyond Singapore, and have regarded sustainability as a journey that needs to come from within, be it their employees and/or their supply chain. I hope for this to continue and for the vast majority to think the same.”
Mayj Tolentino, Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships, WWF-Singapore
Read more about our 2018 round-up, if we are doing enough for wildlife, and the whale stranding incident in Wakatobi waters.
