image: https://cna-sg-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/q_auto,f_auto/image/8135578/16x9/670/377/f79f5f666cd2fe1d50b48272a8f1cb3b/mh/aye-flood---803226.jpg
File photo of a flood in Singapore. (Photo: Hsann Aung Naing)

SINGAPORE: As part of efforts to boost flood resilience, Singapore will spend an additional S$400 million to upgrade and maintain drains over the next two years, announced Environment and Water Resources Minister  Masagos Zulkifli on Wednesday (Jul 17).

Speaking at the 2019 Partners for the Environment forum, Mr Masagos  said Singapore remains vulnerable to the effects of climate change, despite previous efforts to protect the environment and improve resilience.
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&ldquo We can thank our pioneer leaders for putting us in a better position, but the urgency of environmental challenges cannot be understated ... we must remain clear-eyed about Singapore&rsquo s vulnerability as a small, low-lying island with no natural resources and no hinterland to retreat to if sea levels rise,&rdquo he explained.

As such, there is a need to plan, invest and implement solutions for the long haul, said Mr Masagos.

READ:  &lsquo Time is running out&rsquo : Tackling climate change a priority for Singapore, says Masagos

Singapore has already spent around S$1.8 billion on drainage improvement works, and this includes the Stamford Diversion Canal and the Stamford Detention Tank, which were completed last year.  Advertisement
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&ldquo Singapore has always prided ourselves on our foresight and long-term planning. By planning early, we can phase in the necessary measures in a timely manner whilst spreading out the costs over many years,&rdquo said Mr Masagos.

Giving the example of a 1953 storm surge in the North Sea which overwhelmed dykes in the Netherlands and resulted in 1,800 deaths, Mr Masagos called it an &ldquo unfortunate&rdquo incident, as scientific studies years before had warned that its existing dykes were inadequate.

He said: &ldquo We must be prepared to make the necessary investments to protect Singapore against sea level rise and, for critical infrastructure, against the &lsquo perfect storm&rsquo .&rdquo  

READ:  Singapore opens first seed bank to protect regional plant diversity against climate change

EVERY EFFORT COUNTS 

Mr Masagos also pointed out that there needs to be collective action, and that " we need to partner businesses, individuals and organisations to come up with creative and effective solutions" .

&ldquo The Government has initiated the momentum for action. But we cannot do this alone,&rdquo he said. &ldquo As Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said last month, we believe in expanding our democracy of deeds, where Singaporeans contribute not just their ideas, but also their efforts to build our future.&rdquo

This includes people making climate-friendly choices such as reducing single-use plastics and purchasing appliances which have less environmental impact, said Mr Masagos.

READ:  Singapore, KL among major cities to face ' unprecedented' climate shifts by 2050

In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources will convene a Citizens&rsquo Workgroup by September to get 50 Singaporeans to work with them to come up with solutions to improve the way recycling is done, said Mr Masagos.

The workgroup will include Singaporeans from different backgrounds and will be given access to policy-relevant information, such as household recycling surveys.

&ldquo We need everyone to play their part and as one nation, overcome the existential challenge that climate change poses, which can threaten our way of life,&rdquo said Mr Masagos.

&ldquo If we put our heads, hearts and minds together, we will come out of this for the better and will leave behind a more resilient and prosperous Singapore for our children, grandchildren and many generations to come.&rdquo