SINGAPORE: Singapore is designing effective heat mitigation strategies and scaling them up amid rising temperatures, said Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Tuesday (Aug 2).
Speaking in Parliament, Ms Fu stated these strategies fall into two broad categories: Measures to promote air conditioning in the urban atmosphere, as well as measures to reduce heat generated from human activities.
“Although Singapore provides so far not experienced heat crises on the same scale as various other countries, it would not be possible to avoid the particular rise in temperatures due to global warming. We must continue to engage and co-create solutions using the community to enhance our resilience to climate change, ” said Ms Fu.
Also answering queries from Members associated with Parliament, Senior Minister of State pertaining to National Development Tan Kiat How observed that current ways of promote cooling within the urban environment consist of increasing greenery within industrial estates. Almost 90, 000 trees have been planted in industrial estates underneath the OneMillionTrees movement.
The Building and Design Authority also needs buildings to be designed to limit heat gain from the exterior.
For existing cities, he noted that this Housing and Growth Board (HDB) is certainly conducting a pilot study on cool paint that can absorb less heat and reduce the ambient temperatures of HDB blocks. The pilot will be expected to be designed in 2024.
A good islandwide network of sensors will also be deployed to monitor the chilling effects of tree growing efforts, said Mister Tan. The data gathered will support microclimatic research in Singapore and help the particular National Parks Plank to develop better greening strategies to cool Singapore.
In order to decrease heat generated from human activities, attempts have been made underneath the Singapore Green Plan to electrify the country’s vehicle population and also to increase the energy effectiveness of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, stated Ms Fu.