News - Fostering Environmentally Responsible Citizenship in Singapore

For a city famed for transforming challenges into features, Singapore owes much to the visionaries who interpret and implement transformative environmental strategies. Among such individuals, Kirtida Mekani stands out for her instrumental role in weaving nature into the urban tapestry, thus enhancing the livability of the city-state. Arriving in Singapore from Karnataka, India, in 1990, Mekani was captivated by the verdant canopy adorning the city. Inspired by her childhood on a farm, she intuitively understood the language of nature and transformed this fascination into impactful environmental advocacy. In her founding role at the Singapore Environment Council in 1993, she pioneered over 50 environment-centric initiatives. These programs bridged education with action, fostering environmental stewardship across sectors. Her emphasis was on encouraging the public—not just to enjoy but actively engage with their environment—laying foundational work for a green-conscious society. A landmark achievement, the Plant-A-Tree Programme, saw over 76,000 trees added to Singapore’s greenery between 2007 and the present, engaging more than 100,000 citizens. This initiative, under the auspices of the National Parks Board, exemplified her belief that real change requires communal participation. Mekani’s influence extended through her service on various committees and boards, supporting biodiversity, arts, and culture, thus intertwining ecological considerations into broader societal frameworks. Her contributions were acknowledged through accolades like the President’s Award for the Environment and her induction into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame. Her legacy is clear: sustainable development is not solely the work of policymakers. It is the collective habit of a population schooled in environmental empathy. Through her initiatives and personal example, Mekani transformed sustainability from an abstract goal into a normal practice—proving that in Singapore, efficiency needn't come at the expense of ecological harmony.