Planning for Sea Level Rise in Singapore : A study on how decision makers, planners and researchers are thinking and planning for future Sea Level Rise

World sea levels are rising because of increasing levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. This report aims to describe and analyze how the small, low-lying and vulnerable country of Singapore is planning for sea level rise (SLR). The ministries, authorities, agencies, secretariats etc. that are working with SLR questions are identified and the most important environmental documents with or without SLR are also studied. University and government researchers as well as other government personnel are contacted and asked questions in relation to SLR. The interview process was difficult because some people have signed agreements with the government that restrict them from participating in any activities. Planning for SLR is discussed from different points of view and numbers of possible sea levels are also discussed. Mostly they follow IPCC projections and they often refer to the assessment report 4 (AR4) where SLR is estimated to 0.18-0.59 m by 2100. They rarely refer to IPCC’s assessment report 5 (AR5), since the research for Singapore’s environmental documents was conducted before the release of AR5. The IPCC levels are mean sea levels and it is argued by one governmental researcher who is part of the study that these levels are not sufficient for planning purposes as it is the sea level extremes that are important to plan for. Seasonal wind, tides, waves and other factors all interact to affect sea level extremes at any particular location. Singapore is located in a particularly complex region and is therefore a complex country to plan for. The report concludes that Singapore needs a better strategy to share information, and authorities need to show their results in relation to SLR, and pass on their knowledge. This will help the whole world to reduce their impact and together, make it possible to create a sustainable world, minimizing climate change effects on Earth.