Meltdown in Singapore?

Climate change could hit us hard, but we can do something about it
Teh Jen Lee, The New Paper 6 Aug 09;

IMAGINE Sentosa's Palawan Beach being swept away by a violent storm.

Far-fetched? The scenario could happen and is one of the potential impacts of climate change on Singapore.

This and other projections were shared by Dr Elspeth Thomson, a senior fellow at the National University of Singapore's Energy Studies Institute (ESI), at a seminar yesterday.

Dr Thomson's presentation was based on ESI's Singapore chapter submission to an April 2009 publication by the Asian Development Bank on the economics of climate change in South-east Asia.

Much of the impact, such as increased flooding and erosion, is the result of changing weather patterns.

For example, there will be an increase in the frequency of extreme warm and wet seasons.

There will also be an increase in extreme rainfall and winds associated with tropical cyclones.

For each of the potential impacts faced by Singapore, Dr Thomson elaborated on measures that the authorities are taking to counter them.

She said: 'Singapore could be seriously affected by climate change. It is adopting a combination of incentives and legislation to raise energy efficiencies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

'Singapore is also taking multi-dimensional steps to protect itself from the potential impacts of climate change.'

The steps include forming the National Climate Change Committee and the Energy Efficiency Programme Office - made up of eight government agencies such as the Energy Market Authority and the Land Transport Authority.

There's also the inter-agency National Adaptation Taskforce, led by the Ministry of National Development, that will review existing infrastructural adaptation measures.

Will all this be enough to fight climate change?

Sociology student Alvin Kiang, 24, who attended the seminar, said: 'Compared to other countries, we may not be doing as much. But with the mandatory energy labelling scheme that kicked in last year, we're off to a very good start.'