Debated in Parliament on 5 Aug 2026.
Mr Alex Yeo asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment regarding forecasts of El Niño bringing warmer and drier conditions in the second half of 2026, how will the Heat Resilience Policy Office coordinate measures to strengthen heat preparedness.
The Heat Resilience Policy Office (HRPO) coordinates Singapore's heat resilience strategy to address the impact of heat, spanning both shorter-term preparedness and longer-term systemic resilience.
HRPO works with agencies to increase public awareness of heat stress risks. This includes promoting awareness of the Heat Stress Advisory, which provides guidance on managing prolonged outdoor activities based on prevailing heat stress levels. This is complemented by sector-specific operational responses across agencies, such as the Ministry of Manpower's heat stress framework for outdoor work, the Ministry of Education's guidelines for schools to ensure the safety and well-being of students amidst the hot weather, and the Ministry of Health's heatwave response framework for healthcare institutions and eldercare facilities.
HRPO also works with agencies through an inter-agency task force on the national heatwave response plans that each agency would undertake for their respective sectors.
In the longer term, HRPO leads the development of a Heat Resilience Action Plan, which identifies priority areas and develops measures across the infrastructure, health, economic and social domains. This is supported by research through the RIE2030 Heat Resilience Research and Development Programme, to develop infrastructural interventions to mitigate urban heat, and improve understanding and management of the impacts of heat on different segments of society.
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