Meet Five Young Environmentalists Doing Things Their Way

As the World Meteorological Organisation warned in late March, the global climate is growing increasingly out of balance. With the past decade being the warmest in human history and greenhouse gas emissions climbing continuously, the climate crisis continues to weigh heavy on the minds of this generation’s youths. Yet, they’re determined to make a change in ways that are anything but. This Earth Month 2026, we spotlight five young environmentalists doing things their way. From hosting fish market tours to making a rock album about rocks, they’re making sure their voices are being heard.

Young environmentalists reshaping climate advocacy in Singapore

Nikki Tan, 27, Conservation Filmmaker

What she does: Nikki creates films centering climate issues and human relationships with the natural environment. Looking at her most recent work, it’s clear she has a keen eye for uncovering hidden connections between us and the natural world. See her most recent film, Madame Margaux, which brings together an unlikely combination: drag, indigenous voices and birds. It almost sounds as if it were conjured from an ecologist’s fever dream, but as Nikki shows us, our relationship with the environment is much more symbiotic than we may think. The film centres Margaux, a tourism officer who’s a drag queen by night. What inspires her drag? The T’boli leaf warbler, a newly identified species of bird found in the South Cotabato province of the Philippines, where she lives and works. 

“While we intended to do a story on the bird, we also got to know and fell in love with the T’boli community. This story essentially is a simple celebration of the success of an indigenous community, with this newly identified species of bird as the testament of their work,” says Nikki. “What drew me to this story was how it was a reflection of what it would look like when indigenous communities are left alone to sow seeds into their own land. It is very much a party, a celebration, an explosion of culture in every aspect – nature, heritage, tribe and drag.”

Having previously worked in the commercial film industry, Nikki says a quarter-life reset left her wanting to merge both her passions for storytelling and the environment, allowing her craft to become a medium for advocacy. Today, she works full-time at a foundation focused on ocean protection and climate action, pursuing filmmaking on the side. 

“Environmental issues can often feel distant or confined to echo chambers, making it hard for people to connect or care deeply,” says Nikki. “I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I believe film can help bridge that gap by engaging audiences emotionally and making these stories feel more immediate, human, and relatable.”

What she’s currently working on: A short narrative documentary that uses food as a medium to explore Singapore’s mangrove ecosystems. Her big goal is to create a body of work that encapsulates the diversity of our local marine environments. Nikki adds that the team behind Madame Margaux is exploring a potential return to T’boli, where they’ll work with local artists to spotlight the community there. Apart from these films, she’ll also be taking on a new role as an underwater filmmaker with a Bali-based coral restoration organisation in the near future. 

Advice for those interested in this field: “You never know what you can do, and nothing is too small! Wildlife filmmaking is still a niche path in Singapore, and pursuing it can feel daunting (it still does for me). But you don’t know until you try! So you take every shot, write the story treatments again and again, even if they don’t get made, apply for the grants, and keep going. Most importantly, you find a community that supports and believes in you along the way.”

Where to find her: Instagram, or watch her films Madame Margaux and Murk! on YouTube.

Elliott Ong, 30, Founder of Pasarfish

What he does: He teaches Singaporeans about local biodiversity in ways that they truly care about. You can often find him in the fish sections of wet markets like Tekka, Boon Lay Place or Ang Mo Kio 628, giving guided tours and introducing participants to various species of fish that can be found there. More than that, Elliott aims to also incorporate a cultural appreciation for these markets as indispensable community hubs and heritage spaces. For Elliott and his business partner, Kenny Lek, it’s about meeting people where they’re at. In Singapore, there’s arguably no better avenue to connect with others than through their stomachs, and that’s exactly what Pasarfish aims to do. 

“We wanted to see whether we could approach sustainability from a more digestible and interesting manner,” says Elliott. “People often switch off when it comes to science and statistics, but Singaporeans love food, culture and heritage – so we used that as a hook to get people interested.” 

Sticking with the theme, they also host seafood-centred cooking workshops, along with an ever-evolving roster of unique fish-related experiences. Elliott tells us that Pasarfish only began this full slate of programming in March of last year, but the idea seems to have been long in the works for him. Much like all budding environmentalists, he grew up visiting green spaces and idolising Steve Irwin, though he never imagined it would be a viable career path in Singapore. It was only after a stint at NParks after he’d completed his national service that he saw the careers available in this field, which sparked his interest in pursuing all aspects of wildlife conservation: filming documentaries, hosting guided tours and nature walks, working on regional restoration and conservation projects, all of which he says built up towards the creation of Pasarfish.

BTW, he also runs Greyscale Prints, which taps on gyotaku, a tradition carried out by Japanese fishermen whereby fish are stamped onto paper for documentation. It’s an artistic endeavour of Elliott and his girlfriend, who aim to use the art form to educate others about the diverse species of fish found in Singapore. 

What he’s currently working on: At the moment, Elliott is running Pasarfish full-time while working for an environmental consultancy that conducts impact assessments of local development sites. You can also catch him on NParks’ podcast, “That’s Wild”, with episodes being released over the course of this year. Most excitingly though, he’s expecting to pursue a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Management at the University of Hawaii this fall. 

Advice for those interested in this field: “The biggest misconception is that you have to pursue a degree that’s related to this field. A lot of people come into this space providing skills that are also highly necessary, in areas such as communications, marketing or even history – the biggest push we need now is more education and new ways to communicate information. Another misconception is that you can’t earn a decent salary or be comfortable in the green sector. It’s developed a lot in the past five years! So just network widely and grab all the opportunities you can. You never know which one will lead to your big break.” 

Where to find him: Instagram or his website, pasarfish.com.

Noelle Ong, 26, Ecologist

What she does: As an ecologist at The Untamed Paths, which offers a diverse slate of wildlife-centric programmes and activities to educate the public on Singapore’s rich ecology, Noelle does it all. She plans and leads environmental programmes that bring people into the country’s natural environments -- an intertidal walk to spot sea urchins, sea stars and even octopi, anyone? -- and hosts introductory sessions on how ecosystems function and why they matter. 

On the side, she does scientific illustration for education, outreach and documentation too.  “As someone with dyslexia and struggles with learning in a mainstream school, drawing was a way for me to make sense of concepts. Nature was the most accessible lab out there to apply what I have learnt,” Noelle shares. 

To her, it’s about bridging the gap between science and the people – more than just research, it’s important that the masses take notice of and adopt a care for the environment. 

“I was always curious about animals and spent a lot of time observing birds, marine life, snakes and anything I could find outdoors,” she says. “Over time, that curiosity became more intentional. As I got more involved in fieldwork, guiding, and illustration, it became something I wanted to pursue more seriously. Now, it’s both something I care deeply about and something I get to do professionally.” 

What she’s currently working on: Developing educational, short-form videos and programmes that facilitate the learning of local biodiversity for the public. Noelle says she’s always working on making things more accessible, so there’s a constant work-in-progress: refining species ID materials, creating visual guides, improving her teaching of ecological concepts. 

Advice for those interested in this field: “Start by getting curious about what’s around you. You don’t need to travel far – some of the best learning happens just by observing common species closely.”

For those who truly wish to get into it, Noelle shares a few practical tips. First, to spend time in the field regularly, even if it’s just a nearby park. Here, you can learn to identify species and build a strong foundation of knowledge. Next, join guided walks so you can learn from others too, and don’t forget to take pictures of what you see! This helps you build your observational and identification skills. Last, combine your creative skills with scientific knowledge. A much underrated learning method, she says. 

The most important trait of all though? Patience. “Ecology is something you build over time through experience, not just theory,” she adds. “The more you observe, the more everything starts to connect.”

Where to find her: Instagram and The Untamed Paths

Manisha Saigal, 24, and Ethan Chan, 26; the duo behind rock band Emperor Niño 

What they do: If you haven’t heard of them, it’s time to get acquainted. Their band’s name might sound familiar, and that’s because it is – a play on El Niño, the climate pattern that so dearly affects the weather here in Singapore. Just last month, the Meteorological Service of Singapore reported that we should be expecting higher temperatures in July thanks to it. Identifying themselves as subcontractors of Emperor Niño (a faceless entity who’s the very ruler of this weather pattern, one would assume) and part of the “Emperor Niño Propaganda Office”, Manisha and Ethan take their roles very seriously. The pair’s entire concept and discography are based on this premise: communicating complex environmental issues to the public through their music. 

Last July, they released their debut album, Sedimentary Blues. It’s presented playfully as a “rock album about rocks”, yet beneath all of that wit lies an expansive exploration of environmental destruction in all its multitudes. From start to end, the album traces the impact of human activity on landscapes and ecosystems. From the sinking of the Mekong River Delta in the opening tracks “Nine Dragons Hold Their Breath” and “Sedimentary Blues,” to the environmental costs of copper mining in “Chuquicamata,” each song unpacks a different facet of ecological strain. “Royal Moon” speaks of mountaintop removal mining in the Appalachian region, which the pair imagine to be a mountain’s final lament as it is slowly stripped away. In all, the album is a poignant reflection on the irreversible nature of environmental degradation.

The pair even went on a mini tour this March, putting on three shows at indie music studios across the country – what they call Shareholders’ Meetings – of which two completely sold out. Perhaps a testament not only to the cause, but also the music itself. Though their commitment to Emperor Niño is clearly undisputable, their environmental work extends beyond him. By day, Ethan is completing his Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies, and Manisha is working as a marine ecologist at an environmental consultancy.

What they’re currently working on: A sophomore album that’s all about the ocean, set to be released by the end of this year. “We like to think of it as a voyage through coastal areas, coral reefs, and the pitch-black abyss. To complement the ocean’s incredible diversity, we’re drawing on more musical genres and traditions than we did on our first album,” they tell us. “This album has been in the development pipeline for several months, and we already played three songs from it during our Singapore tour this year. Thankfully, everyone loved them, so we suppose we’re sailing in the right direction.”

Where to find them: Instagram and their website, emperornino.rocks