Earth Day 2020
– A poignant time of the decade

The name - Earth - has its roots from the eighth-century Anglo-Saxton word, Erda, which means ground or soil. Throughout human history, it has picked up several other aliases, with the Greeks calling it Gaia and the Romans, Terra. Regardless of background or culture, one unanimous fact remains. Earth is our home.

22 April has been designated Earth Day to celebrate all things Earth. It is indeed a useful initiative to remind us to reevaluate the habits we inculcate as part of our daily lives and to relook at improvements we can adopt in order to create tangible, positive and lasting change. However, we can't detach from the idea that every day is, and should be, recognised as an Earth Day of sorts.

In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, where this glaringly faceless virus has claimed over 200,000 lives, people and governments around the world round clam down all activities, making a hard pill to swallow for many. We see toilet paper and food flying off shelves leaving close to nothing for others. Once-crowded streets and landmarks now stand in absolute silence, as everyone begins to grapple at the gravity of this common enemy. And it is in this great time of darkness, polluted cities see a new light due to the reduced or entire stoppage of industries, bringing back the once familiar clear-blue skies to its people.

This somewhat unexpected outcome has served as a rude awakening for humankind and is a poignant reminder on the need for environmental conservation and memories of yesteryears. With the rampant spread of this coronavirus amongst communities, celebrities, politicians and global citizens alike are joining hands to raise awareness around the implications, and how a concerted effort down to the individual level will be vital to turn the tide.

Looking at the momentum the climate conversation has gained in these few short years, it is indeed heartening to witness governments around the world spearheading initiatives aimed at accelerating adoption of more green-backed initiatives. We're also seeing increasing levels of private sector participation in the creation of sustainable technologies and solutions, with renewable energy receiving a particularly strong boost due to the focus on reducing carbon emissions.

Zooming in to Asia, the confluence of monetary grants, favourable regulations, and the decentralisation of energy markets are creating opportunities for a seismic shift in the region's energy sector. Singapore, for instance, has made significant progress on its vision to introduce solar energy into its energy mix, reaffirming in the latest Budget announcement that the country is on track to achieve its solar goals. With similar initiatives underway in major economies such as Malaysia and Thailand, we're working to position Electrify at the centre of Asia's energy revolution, with peer-to-peer energy trading playing a pivotal role in setting the stage for more efficient energy models across the continent.

Peer-to-peer energy trading can help galvanise renewable energy efforts on an individual level, and it is our hope that this will empower individuals to play a part in the climate fight. Despite the looming negativity and uncertainty on the global stage, we're here to send a message that the onus lies not only on governments and large corporations, but ordinary people like you and I can too, make a difference in building a better tomorrow.

And of course, this shouldn't be limited to the energy sector. Whether it's replacing plastic straws with metal ones, carrying a reusable shopping tote in favour of plastic bags, carpooling with your buddies, I hope you remember that every one of us has a part to play and that our individual efforts will determine the type of world we one day pass down to future generations.

It is in this dark time, we see a possibility once imagined as impossible, giving us new hope to push us forward and through this worldwide crisis.

From all of us at Electrify, Happy Earth Day.