Lessons from the EU

What the students have learnt from the EU and hope to propose as solutions to problems in the South-east Asian region:

LIVEABLE URBAN SPACES

• The creation of green zones within the city. Vehicles which emit a higher than desirable level of carbon dioxide will not be allowed to enter these zones.

   

• Encouraging people to take public transport by getting them to exchange their drivers' licences for free public transport for a month.

WATER SECURITY

• Setting up a system of trading water permits. Industries which have excess water could sell it to other industries facing a deficiency, hence earning profits from the sale of water.

   

• Getting the EU to extend financial aid to countries such as the Philippines to assist in the building of modern sewage systems. This would greatly reduce the extent of water pollution in the country. In exchange, countries receiving such aid could reduce taxes on European imports.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

• Formation of non-governmental organisations or tapping existing ones to tackle the issue of human trafficking head on, by educating potential victims so that they do not fall into the cycle of exploitation.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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