Saifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 12 Oct 11;
SINGAPORE: The Environment and Water Resources Ministry (MEWR) will raise the minimum levels for land reclamation by at least one metre, as an adequate buffer against a potential rise in sea levels.
This is one of the steps the MEWR will take to enhance Singapore's resilience against the potential impact of climate change, the ministry said in its addendum to the President's Address.
As a low-lying and densely populated island, Singapore is vulnerable to climate change. Experts said a rise in sea level can result in some coastal erosion and land loss.
Chairperson of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Environment and National Development, Lee Bee Wah, said: "The minister is looking long-term - the rise of the sea level perhaps in (the next) 100 or 200 years. We want to address it now and the cheaper way of doing it is to do it (during) the land reclamation by building up the additional one metre."
The ministry will also develop capabilities in climate science to improve its understanding of future localised climatic conditions. It will form networks with relevant experts and institutions at the forefront of climate research.
In a separate addendum, the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCSS) said the government will invest in infrastructure as well as in research and development of low carbon technologies for deployment in Singapore. In addition, it will enhance understanding and expertise in climate science, and build up Singapore's resilience and adaptability to climate change.
Singapore suffered one of the worst floods in June last year, which led to parts of the Orchard Road shopping belt being submerged.
The ministry said it takes a serious view of flooding in Singapore and is conducting an in-depth review of all flood protection measures to be implemented over the next decade. This is being done in consultation with a panel of local and overseas experts, and also through public consultation efforts.
The review will be completed by the end of the year.
In the meantime, it will continue to enhance the drainage system and work with the public to ensure adequate flood protection for their properties.
Separately, the ministry also pledged to raise the standards of public cleanliness and hygiene. The public can expect improved standards of cleaning services.
The MEWR said a quality living environment relies on more than tighter standards and cleansing regimes and that ultimately, it is the people who make the city beautiful. So citizens and visitors alike must do their part to reduce littering.
Eugene Heng, founder of the Waterways Watch Society, said: "Education is very important... perhaps (make it) a little bit more mandatory (for) schools to go through this kind of education programme. I believe it has to be hands-on, place-based... The students must come down and actually participate in this so that it gives a lasting impression and encourages them to change their social habits, wherever they are."
The smoking ban may also be extended to cover more places to reduce the impact of second-hand smoke on non-smokers. The ministry however did not give details on the areas being considered.
Dr Lee said: "Quite a lot of my residents are asking if we can ban smoking in the park. We can (also) ban smoking at the bus stop because, for example, in the early morning the bus stop is normally quite packed."
Another area under review is noise standards and guidelines to protect public health and minimise nuisance.
-CNA/ac
Expertise in climate science to be beefed up
Grace Chua Straits Times 13 Oct 11;
SINGAPORE will need to raise the minimum levels for land reclamation by at least a metre to cope with a potential rise in sea levels arising from climate change.
In addition, the Government will develop capabilities to better understand this global phenomenon and its other effects on the island.
These were some of the key thrusts put forward yesterday by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) in their respective addenda to the President's Address.
'We will enhance our understanding and expertise in climate science, and build up Singapore's resilience and adaptability to climate change in key areas such as coastal protection, water resources and drainage, biodiversity, public health as well as urban infrastructure,' said the NCCS, which is part of the Prime Minister's Office.
Assistant Professor Koh Tieh Yong of Nanyang Technological University's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences agreed with the need for more atmospheric scientists.
Tropical weather systems, which affect Singapore, is one area that is not well studied, he pointed out.
Most international expertise in weather forecasting is in temperate weather systems, which behave differently.
Forecasting of tropical systems has been studied for only the past three to four decades, he said.
Currently, the bulk of Singapore's expertise resides in its pool of government meteorologists as well as atmospheric scientists, who may belong to university geography, physics or earth science departments.
Government agencies have already started to beef up their climate science expertise. The National Environment Agency, for example, has placed job advertisements for a director for climate research, as well as for research scientists.
It is the result of such preliminary scientific studies that the ministry is recommending that the minimum levels for land reclamation be raised by a metre.
Reacting to the proposal, construction expert Ho Nyok Yong, who is president of the Singapore Contractors Association, asked what the extent of new regulations would be.
'Singapore has reclaimed a lot of land already, so does it apply to that or only recent or new projects?' he asked.
The change would not be a big deal if it applied only to recent projects, he said. But it would be difficult to apply to previously reclaimed land in many cases, because such land would have structures built on it.
The NCCS also emphasised that Singapore must do its part to alleviate the problem by cutting its carbon emissions, That means using more low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, and boosting energy conservation and efficiency in industry, transport, buildings and homes, it said.
And these initiatives will be bolstered by government investment in low-carbon technology and infrastructure.
Singapore Environment Council executive director Jose Raymond called the moves 'a promising indication' of the Government's commitment to addressing climate change.
But there must be adequate financial and technical support for small businesses and low-income households as they shift to these low-carbon technologies, he said.
Meanwhile, measures that remain 'inconvenient' or 'inaccessible' to Singaporeans must be improved, he added, such as increasing the number of compressed natural gas refilling stations, improving the public transport system and subsidising solar technology.
Plan for adequate buffer against rise in sea level
Esther Ng Today Online 13 Oct 11;
Based on preliminary studies, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources said reclaimed land will have to be raised "by at least one metre" to create an adequate buffer against any potential rise in sea level.
Reiterating its commitment to enhancing Singapore's resilience against the potential impacts of climate change, the ministry said the Government will develop capabilities in climate science to improve understanding of future conditions.
The Government is also committed to reducing Singapore's carbon emissions through greater use of less carbon intensive fuels and improved energy conservation and investment in research and development in clean technologies."The Government will invest in infrastructure as well as in research and development of low carbon technologies for deployment," said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on climate change. "Businesses and households will also have to change their practices and lifestyles respectively to be more environmentally sustainable."
1m buffer to keep the sea out
Gwendolyn Ng my paper AsiaOne 13 Oct 11;
RISING sea levels could lead to the loss of precious coastal areas used for residential and recreational purposes.
To thwart such a threat, preliminary studies here have pointed to a need to raise minimum levels for land reclamation by at least 1m to act as an adequate buffer.
This was highlighted in an addendum released by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR).
Professor Wang Chien Ming, director of the National University of Singapore's Engineering Science Programme, said that experts have predicted a rise in sea levels worldwide due to global warming which, in turn, leads to the melting of glaciers.
He said: "This is something we cannot ignore. If we don't do anything, the coast will be flooded, and you will have to pull back people and dwellings from the area. It's good that Singapore is prepared."
Together with the addenda of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), which is under the Prime Minister's Office, the addendum outlined the long-term strategic plans after President Tony Tan's opening address in Parliament on Monday.
MOH reiterated that it will provide affordable health care for Singaporeans, especially in the face of an ageing population.
In August, MOH announced that it will inject $73 million into a series of subsidies to cover medication and outpatient care.
MOH said: "We will assess our health-care financing framework to ensure Singaporeans can afford the medical care they require, in the appropriate and cost-effective setting, while striking a balance with fiscal sustainability."
To allow Singaporeans to live their senior years in the comfort of or near their homes, MOH will work towards providing more support by developing capabilities in community and home care.
MEWR said it is looking into ways to make Singapore less flood-prone by tapping on the expertise of an expert panel it had set up after heavy rains caused a flood in Orchard Road for the second year in a row.
MEWR will also continue to enhance the country's drainage system and work with the public to ensure adequate flood protection for their properties.
To provide affordable food and common social space, MEWR will build about 10 hawker centres over the next decade. It also said it is exploring an extension of the smoking ban to reduce the impact of second-hand smoke on non-smokers.
It will also review the standards and guidelines on noise to protect public health and minimise nuisance.
NCCS said it intends to reduce Singapore's carbon emissions by investing in research and development of low-carbon technologies.
Singapore to enhance resilience against climate change
Saifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 12 Oct 11;
SINGAPORE: The Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) is taking steps to enhance Singapore's resilience against the potential impact of climate change.
It'll raise the minimum levels for land reclamation by at least one metre to create an adequate buffer against a potential rise in sea level.
This is one of several priorities spelt out in its addendum to the President's Address released on Wednesday.
MEWR will also develop capabilities in climate science to improve its understanding of future localised climatic conditions.
It'll form networks with relevant experts and institutions at the forefront of climate research.
Setting the tone in its submission to Parliament, MEWR also pledged to raise standards of public cleanliness and hygiene.
The public can expect improved standards of cleaning services.
MEWR is considering extending the smoking ban to reduce the impact of second-hand smoke on non-smokers.
It'll also review noise standards and guidelines to protect public health and minimise nuisance.
To address the problem of vector breeding, the National Environment Agency will complement ongoing efforts with increased community education and outreach.
It'll also ensure that stringent levels of food hygiene standards are maintained with a robust regulatory and inspection regime for food operators.
The ministry is also looking at ways to better empower the community.
This is done through developing a more robust framework for environmental reporting by businesses, and making environmental information more open to the public.
The public will also be consulted more closely on policies, with more channels of communication.
The ministry said it takes a serious view of flooding in Singapore and is conducting an in-depth review of all flood protection measures to be implemented over the next decade.
This is being done in consultation with a panel of local and overseas experts and through public consultation efforts.
The review will be completed by the end of the year.
In the meantime, it'll continue to enhance the drainage system and work with the public to ensure adequate flood protection for their properties.
The ministry will build more hawker centres over the next few years as such centres play a valuable social role.
- CNA/cc
Govt to invest in low carbon technologies
Saifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 12 Oct 11;
SINGAPORE: The National Climate Change Secretariat (NCSS) said the government will invest in infrastructure as well as in research and development of low carbon technologies for deployment in Singapore.
In its addendum to the President's Address, NCSS stressed that climate change is a major challenge and as a responsible member of the global community, Singapore will also play its part to lower carbon emissions.
The secretariat, which is under the Prime Minister's Office, highlighted that businesses and households will also have to change their practices and lifestyles to be more environmentally sustainable.
It aims to reduce carbon emissions in two main ways - greater use of less carbon intensive fuels, and improve energy conservation and efficiency. This will require promoting energy-efficient design, equipment and processes in industries, transport, buildings and homes.
In addition, the secretariat will enhance understanding and expertise in climate science and build up Singapore's resilience and adaptability to climate change in key areas such as coastal protection, water resources and drainage, biodiversity, public health as well as urban infrastructure.
NCSS said Singapore's experience and expertise in addressing the challenges of climate change will generate new economic opportunities in emerging industries such as clean energy, carbon services and energy services, as well as in existing industries.
The secretariat will work with the business community to seek out and capitalise on such opportunities locally and abroad.
