The rising sea level due to climate change is beginning to affect millions especially in cities across Southeast Asia. Yet governments are not directly tackling the impending risks ahead. Some delay has also been noticed in implementing adaptation solutions due to economic trade-offs or prioritisation of other issues while many countries are still reeling from the impact of a global pandemic in the past two years.
Singapore exigencies
Climate change is impacting lives and livelihood greatly and will continue to pose even more threats and challenges. In Singapore, the population is dealing with a continual rise in temperature, more intense rainfall and the rising sea level.[i] Climate change poses multiple challenges and the rising sea level is the most immediate concern because it is a low-lying island.
Although the country accounts for around 0.11 per cent on the global scale of carbon emissions,[ii] the government has committed to reduce carbon emissions significantly. Domestically, plans such as switching from carbon-intensive fuel oil to natural gas, improving energy efficiency, adopting low-carbon technologies and implementing carbon tax have been put in place. Other than carbon reduction, Singapore must prepare to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. To build a sustainable future that will help in the longer term, the focus should also be on mitigation and measures because with increasing climate change, comes extreme weather conditions.
Living in Singapore, the rising temperature largely translates to greater use of air-conditioning to “survive” the heat. But this becomes a greater demand for energy[iii] which can exacerbate climate conditions. For a country that is already identified to most likely be water-stressed by 2040[iv], extreme weather condition like a longer dry spell is also a threat it cannot afford to ignore.
In tandem to dry spells comes the other extreme condition; intense rainfalls. On 24 August 2021, rainfall hit its newest high in August since 1983[v] here. With it, comes the threat of flash flood occurrences, especially when the city drainage systems are overwhelmed in this dense metropolis. Singapore has at least 30 per cent of land area, including the central business district, less than 5 metres above sea level[vi].
Tackling the “Super Wicked”
The economic impact of rising sea level will be severe if appropriate adaptation measures are not implemented in a timely manner.[vii] To tackle rising sea level and possible flooding, Singapore has put in measures to protect the coast, protect reservoirs from saltwater intrusion, improve drainage and prevent flooding.
Rising sea level due is a “super wicked” problem[viii] because in many parts of the world, governments are not addressing this issue centrally and robustly. While some countries may delay implementing adaptation solutions due to economic trade-offs or prioritisation of other issues (e.g. COVID pandemic),this cannot be a problem for the next generation to solve because the economic cost will be too high and too late (refer to Figure 1 diagram shown).
Figure 1: Overview of impact of sea level rise
Across Southeast Asia, millions will be affected by rising sea level[ix]. Homes, farmland, cities may be lost and millions may be displaced. And countries are not well prepared for the impact of rising sea level. It is not simply a matter of building sea walls. Adaptation measures need to be location specific and this requires knowledge.
Strengthening Regional Initiatives
The Singapore government recognises that it is critical to understand climate science and adaptation options. Realising as well that policy initiatives can be better integrated through research evidence to deepen the depth and breadth of decision-making and planning strategies, extensive investment has been spent on research related to rising sea level and adaptation measures. Coastal protection programmes, including nature-based solutions, have been implemented in Singapore. This approach to dealing with rising sea level should be shared with other countries. Similar to recent awareness linked to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives[x], there is a need to bring awareness of coastal protection across Southeast Asia (SEA). To do so, one needs to understand what governments need, so that appropriate platforms for cooperation and alliances can be created and strengthened to address the “super wicked” threats.
A three-pronged approach towards combating rising sea level is a good start for a blueprint towards addressing the challenges ahead. With significant interest established through public education and mindset change, governments can build on the raised awareness to forge greater capabilities. This will better facilitate policy formulation derived from deeper understanding and result in greater support during implementation. At the same time, it will be the ideal nexus for governments to have and expand on a network of technical experts, who can enhance knowledge as well as accumulate turnkey evidence for planning and design, through cooperation opportunities.
A three-pronged approach that reinforces across each phase as shown in Figure 2:
Figure 2: Helping SEA combat rising sea level
Within the region, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) or an equivalent set-up, can provide the knowledge and expertise needed for Southeast Asian countries to combat the treats from rising sea level.
Taking reference from the three-pronged approach, unique examples IES can offer in Singapore includes:
1) Knowledge - Singapore is already home to a number of sustainability events such as Ecosperity Week and Sustainability Reporting Summit[xi]. IES can leverage the existing network to better contribute to raising awareness on the issue of rising sea level in Southeast Asia.
2) Capability Building – The LKYSPP/IES can tie up with PUB, Singapore’s national costal protection agency, to provide training to parties who wish to build up their own capability and at the same time learn from Singapore. To ensure programme sustainability, IES can leverage LKYSPP’s wide network of experts and research evidence to offer micro-modules.
3) Technical Advice – The IES can serve as a consultant and collaborate with industry experts to provide expert technical advice to governments interested in implementing coastal protection programmes. Industry experts include government agencies, climate scientists in Singapore or private firms familiar with coastal protection projects.
This article has won first prize in the Institute of Water Policy Essay Writing Competition 2022. It is written by Daphne Quek Yi Ching, a Master in Public Administration student at LKYSPP.
[i] ‘IPCC’s Latest Findings Suggest Increased Warming, More Changes In Extreme Weather Events With Higher Temperatures And Global Sea Level Rise’, accessed 25 March 2022, https://www.mse.gov.sg/resource-room/category/2021-08-09-press-release-ipcc-findings-more-changes-in-extreme-weather-events/.
[ii] ‘Climate Change’, accessed 25 March 2022, http://www.mfa.gov.sg/SINGAPORES-FOREIGN-POLICY/International-Issues/Climate-Change.
[iii] Audrey Tan, ‘2019 Was Singapore’s Joint Hottest Year on Record; and 2010-2019, the Hottest Decade Ever’, The Straits Times, 16 January 2020, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/2019-was-one-of-the-hottest-years-on-record-in-singapore-and-2010-2019-the.
[iv] Richard Hoo, ‘Managing Water Demand in Singapore through a Systems Perspective’, International Journal of Water Resources Development 36, no. 6 (1 November 2020): 879–87, https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2019.1684245.
[v] ‘Rainfall on Aug 24 Surpasses Previous Record for Same Month in 1983’, TODAYonline, accessed 26 September 2021, https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/heavy-showers-aug-24-surpass-previous-record-same-month-1983.
[vi] ‘Impact of Climate Change and Adaptation Measures’, accessed 25 March 2022, https://www.nccs.gov.sg/faqs/impact-of-climate-change-and-adaptation-measures/.
[vii] ‘Economic Costs of Rising Seas Will Be Steeper than We Thought, Unless We Prepare’, Science News (blog), 21 February 2020, https://www.sciencenews.org/article/climate-economic-costs-rising-seas-will-be-steeper-than-thought.
[viii] Kelly Levin, Benjamin Cashore, Steven Bernstein, Graeme Auld, ‘Overcoming the Tragedy of Super Wicked Problems: Constraining Our Future Selves to Ameliorate Global Climate Change’, Springer Science, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-012-9151-0.
[ix] ‘Millions More in Southeast Asia Face Sea Level Rise Risks than Previously Thought: Satellite Imagery Study’, CNA, accessed 29 April 2022, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sustainability/sea-level-rise-southeast-asia-satellite-imagery-climate-change-1989406.
[x] ‘PwC Launches Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainability Excellence in Singapore’, accessed 29 April 2022, https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/about-edb/media-releases-publications/pwc-launches-asia-pacific-centre-for-sustainability-excellence-in-singapore.html.
[xi] ‘Sustainability - Visit Singapore Official’, accessed 29 April 2022, https://www.visitsingapore.com/mice/en/plan-your-event/sustainability/.