Studies on Socioeconomic Impact of Climate Mitigation Efforts and Effect of Heat Stress on Vulnerable Groups

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, in light of the Third National Climate Change Study which reported that annual mean temperatures are projected to rise by 0.55 degree Celsius per decade under the high emissions scenario, (a) whether the Ministry will commission studies of the effects of heat stress on vulnerable groups of the population, such as the elderly, children and outdoor manual workers in the construction industry; and (b) if so, what is the timeline for such studies.

Singapore's Third National Climate Change Study (V3) produced an updated set of climate projections for Singapore and the Southeast Asia region up to the year 2100 and beyond. V3 studied the three different emission pathways of high, medium and low greenhouse gas emissions to explore the range of climate outcomes for Singapore and the Southeast Asian region.

These updated climate projections enable the Government to develop and refine our climate adaptation plans to ensure that Singapore remains resilient to the impact of climate change. Agencies involved in the Resilience Working Group include the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), National Parks Board (NParks), Public Utilities Board and National Environment Agency, which are tasked to review and update the adaption plans in their respective areas.

One example is Singapore’s heat resilience efforts. Agencies including URA and NParks adopt a science-based and proactive heat resilience strategy to help Singaporeans cope with rising temperatures.

First, we are implementing national-level strategies to cool our urban environment, such as by infusing more greenery and scaling up the use of cool materials on buildings.

Second, we are strengthening the community’s resilience to heat. For example, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and NEA launched the Heat Stress Advisory last year for the general population. Working with the Ministry of Health, we advised the more vulnerable segments, such as the elderly and children, to exercise greater caution. The Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Education also issued sector-specific guidelines for outdoor workers and students respectively.

Third, we are deepening our understanding of the science behind how rising temperatures affect Singapore and our residents.

We are investigating the impact of heat on specific population segments. We have commissioned studies under the Cooling Singapore 2.0 project to investigate the impact of heat on different segments of the population. NEA has also launched the second grant call under the Climate Impact Science Research Programme for new research proposals in areas such as food security, human health and sea level rise.

MSE will continue to work with other agencies to better understand the effects of climate change in Singapore and our population and put in place the necessary adaptation and risk mitigation measures. We will ensure that the built environment is resilient and prepared for a range of climate scenarios and empower the community to take the necessary protective measures.