SINGAPORE: Five young environmentalists have been recognised for their efforts to protect the nature, but they are not the only Singapore youths who take the green message to the heartlands and beyond.

More than 500 youths are taking part in the first Green Torch Relay to promote Singapore's first Youth EnvirOlympics on Saturday.

The three-day torch relay travels 240 kilometres across Singapore, passing by Sentosa, the Merlion and Pulau Ubin.

Relay participant Lin Peisen from Raffles Junior College said: "We will be taking boats, MRT, buses and all sorts of public transport....we want to convey the message to the public to encourage them to take public transport so that we can cut down on carbon emissions."

Other young Singaporeans have been further afield to help the environment.

Last year's winners of the HSBC/NYAA Youth Environmental Awards – which recognise their outstanding contribution to the environment - got wet and dirty researching climate change in the rainforests in North Queensland, Australia.

Three of this year's five winners will help EarthWatch scientists survey butterflies in the protected Tam Dao National Park in Vietnam.

One of this year's winners, Regina Oon, said: "Hopefully I'll be able to come back to Singapore to contribute towards the climate change project that's currently led by National Parks and sponsored by HSBC to better study the biodiversity in Singapore itself."

More than 30 people have received the Youth Environmental Awards since 1998. - CNA/ac