S1E102: Understanding rising sea-level threat to Singapore in 2023 and beyond

Is it feasible to build a sea wall around the island of
Singapore? 


Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits
Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from
biodiversity conservation to climate change.


To celebrate the 5th anniversary of ST Podcasts, we had our first
podcast recordings in front of a live audience of 60 youths at
the intimate Temasek Shophouse along Orchard Road recently.


One topic of the rising sea-level threat to Singapore was done
for our Green Pulse Podcast series, and the other was about
speaking up on youth mental challenges for our Health Check
Podcast (which will be out in two days' time - see link below).


Sea-level rise in Singapore is expected to reach 1m by 2100, but
this could go up to 5m during heavy rainfall and storm surges,
when there is an abnormal rise of water. About 30% of Singapore's
land is less than 5m above sea level. 


For this episode, we had two guests - science content creator Ms
Kong Man Jing, better known as BioGirl MJ in her YouTube and
Instagram channels Just Keep Thinking, and Ms Audrey Tan, science
comms & outreach lead at the NUS Centre for Nature-based
Climate Solutions and the Tropical Marine Science Institute.


Highlights (click/tap above):


1:25 Breaking down youth and general awareness of the sea-level
rise threat to Singapore; progress of key solutions


7:45 Making sea-level science and overall climate issues
relatable to youth and the wider public in general


13:26 From 2023 onwards, national water agency PUB will explore
feasibility of using an underground drainage and reservoir system
to combat inland and coastal flooding; how will it work?


16:10 Is it feasible to build a hard 'sea wall' structure around
Singapore to protect the island? 


20:00 Nature-based solutions: Recently, in June, Singapore
announced reef restoration plan for 100,000 corals to be planted
and grown in local waters from 2024


Listen to our other live recording at Temasek Shophouse for
Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/iwkc


Produced by: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg), Hadyu Rahim &
Teo Tong Kai


Edited by: Hadyu Rahim


Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us:


Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf


Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY


Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag


Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV 


Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg


---


Discover more ST podcast channels:


In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt


Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7


Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN


Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf


Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m


ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE


#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad


Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX


Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL


---


Special edition series:


True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T


The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps):
https://str.sg/wuZ2


Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn


Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB


Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa


---


Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!


#greenpulse


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.