As a low-lying island, the rise in sea level poses the most immediate climate change threat to Singapore, according to Singapore’s Climate Action Plan. The authorities have been preparing early to safeguard Singapore through shoreline restoration works and raising the minimum land reclamation level.
While lauding the efforts, experts have pointed out various ways in which these can be boosted.
Associate Professor of Geography at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Wong Poh Poh, believes that the use of amphibious architecture and utilising mangroves are other cheaper alternatives. He also advocates that more open discussion should be held and more people have to be trained to gain expertise in climate change adaptations.
Assistant Professor Winston Chow, also from NUS’ Department of Geography, pointed out that few other countries have “similar constraints” like Singapore in terms of preparing for climate change. He advocates that more can be done to “address the root cause of climate change” by relying more on non-fossil fuel energy sources.
Ms Helena Hulsman, associate director of Singapore operations at Deltares suggested looking into coastal protection solutions through “building with nature”, giving examples of successful pilot studies of ecologically optimised coastal protection solutions in the Netherlands, using natural processes to increase wave dampening, reduce erosion and enhance soil stability.
Architecture such as the Maeslant storm-surge barrier in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, augments a system of levees and dikes already in place, and the Thames Barrier in London’s River Thames, a movable flood barrier, are examples that Singapore can learn from, added Dr Aron Meltzner of Nanyang Technological University’s Earth Observatory of Singapore.
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Source: The Straits Times, 28 May 2017