The government will hold focus group discussions and a public exhibition this year to gather feedback on the National Adaptation Plan. To support ground-up initiatives, the SG Eco Fund will broaden its funding scope to include climate adaptation projects.
Extract from From heatwaves to rising seas: Singapore lays out climate adaptation plan
Singapore's first National Adaptation Plan signals how the country is preparing for a warming world.
Koh Wan Ting Channel NewsAsia 03 Mar 2026 08:18PM
SINGAPORE: Singapore has laid out its inaugural National Adaptation Plan, addressing heat resilience, flood protection, coastal defence, and water and food security.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who designated 2026 the Year of Climate Adaptation, outlined the key pillars of the strategy – to be published as a formal plan next year – while presenting her ministry's budget in parliament on Tuesday (Mar 3).
COASTAL RESILIENCE
"To protect our coastlines from rising seas, we will build a continuous line of defence around Singapore," Ms Fu said.
Singapore's mean sea level is projected to rise by up to 1.15m by the end of the century, while extreme weather events such as high tides and storm surges could push sea levels up by as much as 5m. Around 30 per cent of Singapore's land sits less than 5m above mean sea level.
Conceptual studies for the northwest coast stretching from Tuas to Lim Chu Kang have been completed. Recommended measures include replacing tidal gates and raising dykes to protect four coastal reservoirs – Tengeh, Poyan, Murai and Sarimbun – which are critical freshwater sources for Singapore.
National water agency PUB said in a joint press release with the ministry that the elevated dykes will double as maintenance roadways and incorporate design features to preserve ecological connectivity with the sea.
For other stretches of coastline, the continuous line of defence will draw on existing high ground, integrate coastal protection into future developments, and replace tidal gates at reservoir dykes, PUB added.
Detailed engineering designs for the recommended measures are being developed, with construction targeted to begin from the mid-2030s, subject to further studies. A separate study covering a 15km stretch of the northwest coast from Lim Chu Kang to Woodlands is on track to be completed this year.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
The government will hold focus group discussions and a public exhibition this year to gather feedback on the National Adaptation Plan, Ms Fu said.
To support ground-up initiatives, the SG Eco Fund will broaden its funding scope to include climate adaptation projects.
Extract from S’pore sets up heat resilience office, invests $40m in heat research as part of new adaptation efforts
Shabana Begum Straits Times Mar 03, 2026, 08:19 PM
SINGAPORE – Protecting Singapore from climate impacts will be a major focus for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) in 2026, with a suite of new initiatives to address threats ranging from unbearable heat to rising seas.
These initiatives include girding coastlines against rising sea levels and strengthening Singapore’s food security, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on March 3.
Ms Fu said MSE will be designating 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation, and outlined the various initiatives that will be implemented on this front.
“It involves a comprehensive review of our adaptation measures across key domains such as heat resilience, coastal and flood resilience, and water and food resilience,” she said.
These measures will be formalised in Singapore’s inaugural national adaptation plan – a report that the country aims to publish in 2027. Countries party to the Paris Agreement are obliged to submit these plans to the UN.
Shielding coastlines
In her speech, Ms Fu gave the House updates on Singapore’s coastal protection measures.
She said coastal protection studies for the north-western stretch of coastline between Tuas Checkpoint and Lim Chu Kang, where four reservoirs are located, have been completed.
The studies recommended replacing tidal gates and raising existing dykes at the reservoirs to prevent seawater from seeping into them, she said.
The elevated dykes will double as roadways for maintenance, and incorporate features to maintain ecological connectivity to the sea, national water agency PUB and MSE said in a separate statement.
Some of the northern section of the 24km coastline is already on higher ground, while the remaining areas can incorporate coastal protection measures in future developments, they said.
Construction of the measures for the north-west coastline is targeted to start from the mid-2030s.
Ms Fu added that Parliament will soon debate a proposed coastal protection law, which requires private landowners to implement measures to shield their coastal areas from rising seas or face penalties.
“As we reshape our coastlines for the future, we will work hand in hand with stakeholders to co-create solutions that not only protect our shores and preserve the spaces and features we value most, but also provide opportunities to create new spaces.”
Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West) – who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Sustainability and the Environment – asked how MSE intends to engage the public on long-term adaptation measures and build climate literacy within the community.
Ms Fu said: “As climate change affects everyone, it is important for all Singaporeans to have the opportunity to shape our national adaptation plan.”
Before the measures are finalised, the authorities will engage the public through group discussions, and also hold an exhibition, she said.
“These engagements cover why climate adaptation is important to all of us, and why we need to prepare now,” she said. “We hope people can share their experiences dealing with the impacts of climate change, and their ideas on how they can also play a part in Singapore’s adaptation efforts.”