About a third of Singapore is located less than 16 feet above sea level, and with rising seas affecting shorelines around the world, government officials are taking action to protect more than $50 billion worth of property real estate.
“We don’t plan to lose a single inch of land permanently,” Ho Chai Deck, deputy director of government agency PUB, told Bloomberg. “Singapore will build a continuous line of defense along our coast. This is something we take very seriously.
The iconic Marina Bay waterfront is said to be an area that could be affected by the effects of sea level rise caused by heat-trapping gases produced by human activities, as is Jurong Island, home to several oil and petrochemical companies which, if affected, could release hazardous chemicals into the environment.
“This is a country more exposed to sea level rise than virtually any other country in the world,” said Benjamin Horton, a professor at Nanyang Technological University.
As Bloomberg explains, Singapore uses a multi-pronged approach to success.
With land reclamation using accumulated sand, the use of the Marina Barrage – a dam with large pumps that drain extra water during heavy rains and high tides – and the help of mangroves , Singapore would have added more than 45 square miles. of land while preparing for the future.
The country, like other companies and initiatives, is also turning to computer technology for help, collaborating with the Institute of Hydroinformatics and the National University of Singapore to build a model to predict which areas are the most exposed to flooding in order to protect not only the real. real estate but also human life.
“The Singapore Armed Forces and defense against climate change are existential. These are matters of life and death,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in 2019, acknowledging the challenges presented by Earth’s changing environment, according to Bloomberg.
As Singapore plans to spend around $73 billion over the next century on coastal and flood protection, the country’s multi-tiered approach also includes long-term commitment and vision, one achievable step at a time .
“Singapore wants to see if the technology is safe and make sure everything works well before taking the next step,” added JanJaap Brinkman, director of the Deltares water research institute and an adviser in Singapore.
Join our free newsletter to good news And actionable information this makes it easier help yourself while helping the planet.