Singapore Will Boost Spending to Protect Against Rising Sea Levels

(Bloomberg) -- Citing a risk of being engulfed by the sea, one of the world’s smallest countries is increasing spending to fight the threat of rising water levels.

Singapore will invest S$400 million ($294 million) over the next two years to upgrade its drainage systems, Masagos Zulkifli, minister for the environment and water resources, said at a conference in the island city on Wednesday. That’s on top of about S$1.8 billion the country has already spent since 2011 to boost flood resilience, he said.

With almost one-third of Singapore just five meters (16 feet) above sea level, the city is trying to make sure its critical infrastructure remains safe. The country has built a new port in the western part of the island and a fifth terminal at Changi airport on higher platform levels, Zulkifli said.

“Climate change sets us a monumental, inter-generational task -- how to ensure that our Little Red Dot does not disappear below the waves,” Zulkifli said.

The country is also studying how to protect low-lying areas around its coast from disappearing if water levels rise. One way is to use polders, or dykes, to reclaim land.

Singapore Takes Action on Climate Change as Sea Levels Rise

The environment ministry will form a citizen workgroup in September to encourage people to make choices that are climate-friendly, such as recycling at home. The nation is also “on track” with a plan to increase adoption of solar power, Zulkifli said.

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.