Your Journey Counts, Your Actions Matter

Every day, we make hundreds of small decisions, either consciously or subconsciously. Most of the time, we do not realize the impact that choices can have. Should we take the bus or book a ride? Bring a reusable bottle or buy another plastic drink? These decisions may seem insignificant at the moment, but over time, they can greatly influence our lifestyles and even the environment around us.

Over the course of several months or even years, these tiny choices can add up and create a massive impact on both our lives and the environment.

The good news? Many environmentally friendly habits are already part of our daily routine. Even better, these habits often help us save money, improve our health, and make our cities greener and more sustainable

As such, one habit you can adopt to make a positive impact on the environment is to choose public transport instead of relying on private cars. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint. In Singapore, the use of public transport has been steadily increasing over the past few years. According to reports by The Straits Times, MRT and LRT ridership in 2024 even surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time, reflecting how many Singaporeans are already playing their part in contributing to a cleaner environment.

Now, why does this matter? If a person chooses to take the MRT or bus instead of driving just four times a week, they could prevent hundreds of kilograms of carbon emissions in a year. This is equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed annually by several mature trees. More importantly, when millions of people collectively choose public transport, the positive environmental impact is further amplified. Individual efforts may seem small, but together they can lead to meaningful and lasting change.

Another simple yet impactful way would be to walk or cycle short distances instead of driving. According to Cycling UK, replacing short car trips with cycling can significantly reduce yearly carbon emissions. Short car journeys are often the least fuel-efficient because engines consume proportionally more fuel during start-up and slow-moving traffic, whereas walking or cycling produces no emissions.

In conclusion, no individual action alone can “save the planet,” but collectively, small actions, repeated consistently by a large number of people, can shape a more sustainable future. Your journey counts because your actions matter. And sometimes, the smallest habits create the biggest change.

Writer: Victor Cephas Emmanuel

Published: 08/06/2026

References:

Grab Singapore. (2024, December 23). What Grab’s data reveals about upcoming travel trends. Grab. https://www.grab.com/inside-grab/stories/travel-trends-report-grabads-tourism-insights/

Tjoe, L. N. (2025, January 31). MRT, LRT ridership surpasses pre-Covid-19 levels for first time in 2024. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/mrt-lrt-ridership-surpasses-pre-covid-19-levels-for-first-time-in-2024

Cycling: the easy way to save fuel. (n.d.). Cycling UK. https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-easy-way-save-fuel