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| Reef outside the seawall at Kusu Island |
Singapore to study measures to protect 8 offshore islands against rising seas
Pulau Tekong, the Southern Islands and Kusu Island are among the islands that will be covered in PUB's study.
Darcel Al Anthony Channel NewsAsia 27 Jun 2025
SINGAPORE: A study on the impact of rising sea levels on some of Singapore's offshore islands is expected to start by 2026.
This risk assessment study will also explore potential coastal protection measures and timelines for these measures to be developed and implemented, said national water agency PUB on Friday (Jun 27).
A tender for the study has been launched.
The study was first announced by Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu at the opening of the Singapore International Water Week on Monday.
"Strengthening flood adaptation and resilience is an urgent priority," said Ms Fu in a prerecorded message at the event.
Singapore has over 60 offshore islands. PUB said on Friday that it had selected the eight based on its preliminary assessment of how sea level rise may impact them.
The islands are:
Pulau Tekong
Southern Islands (St John's Island and Lazarus Island)
Kusu Island
Sisters' Islands (Pulau Subar Laut and Pulau Subar Darat)
Pulau Bukom
Pulau Hantu
Pulau Pawai
Pulau Senang
Offshore islands not included in the study will be evaluated by agencies as part of their development plans or upcoming studies.
PUB added that Pulau Ubin and Pulau Ketam will be included as part of its future site-specific study for the north-eastern coast, consisting of Punggol and Pasir Ris.
Similarly, Semakau Landfill will be analysed by the National Environment Agency when it carries out a study on the island's development options.
The third National Climate Change Study, released in January 2024, projected that mean sea levels around Singapore could rise by up to 1.15m by 2100.
Based on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's sixth assessment report, it also predicted a mean sea level rise of up to 2m by 2150 under a high carbon emissions scenario.
PUB said that site-specific studies have commenced progressively on mainland Singapore, with four ongoing - at city-east coast, Jurong Island and both sections of the north-west coast. Studies for Sentosa Island and the south-west coast are due to start by 2026.
Director of PUB’s coastal protection department Hazel Khoo said: "Rising sea levels will pose risks to Singapore's offshore islands. Some are home to rich biodiversity and heritage, and are spaces enjoyed by many, while others serve industrial and defence purposes."
"Through the (risk assessment study) and in collaboration with other public agencies and stakeholders, we aim to better understand the vulnerabilities of each island, so that we can plan forward and develop appropriate coastal protection measures. This will ensure that we preserve these precious spaces for current and future generations."
Results from the study will guide the planning of future site-specific research on offshore islands, PUB said.
Study to find out how sea level rise can impact 8 Singapore offshore islands
The islands have specific purposes such as military use, marine research and conservation, recreation and petrochemical works.
Shabana Begum Straits Tines Jun 27, 2025, 02:12 PM
SINGAPORE – The authorities in Singapore will be carrying out a study to find out how rising seas could impact eight of the country’s offshore islands, and suggest ways to protect them.
The islands are Pulau Tekong, Kusu Island, Sisters’ Islands, Pulau Bukom, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Pawai, Pulau Senang and Southern Islands (comprising St John’s Island and Lazarus Island, which are linked by a causeway).
On June 27, national water agency PUB launched a tender for this two-year study, which is expected to begin by 2026.
The study will gather data through field surveys, assess flood risks and recommend flood protection standards.
It will explore possible measures to protect the islands and indicate timelines to develop the solutions and put them in place, said PUB in a statement.
All the islands have specific purposes such as military use, marine research, heritage, recreation and petrochemical works. While Pulau Tekong is located north-east of the Republic, the others lie south in the Singapore Strait.
A quick getaway for leisure seekers, many of the islands in the southern waters are also biodiversity havens, home to most of the country’s remaining intact coral reefs.
Pulau Senang and Pulau Pawai serve as military live-firing areas.
“The offshore islands are rich in biodiversity and may have very different terrain profiles compared to mainland Singapore,” added PUB, noting that solutions have to be tailored to accommodate their unique characteristics.
Experts said the elevation of the islands is similar to Singapore’s, and parts of their coastal areas and reclaimed portions are generally low-lying.
Singapore’s average sea level is projected to rise by up to 1.15m by 2100, according to its third national climate change study released in 2024. This could further jump by 4m or 5m when sinking land, storm surges and daily tidal activity are taken into account.
Mr Matthijs Bos, who assesses flood risk for global engineering consultancy Haskoning, noted that the offshore islands will mostly be exposed to extreme storm surges that can cause coastal flooding when seawater flows over land. Impacts can be worsened if intense rain happens at the same time, affecting assets on the islands and land use.
Sea-level rise can drown shallow habitats like coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows, said marine biologist Huang Danwei, deputy head of the NUS Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.
“Mangroves, seagrasses and their associated flora and fauna may not be able to tolerate the increasing depths as seawater submerges the intertidal zones deeper and for longer durations,” he added.
