Singapore may build three artificial islands of 800 hectares.

Singapore is considering building artificial islands off its east coast to protect low-lying areas from rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Simulated view from East Coast Park looking out to Long Island. Photo: URA — Simulated view from East Coast Park looking out to Long Island. Photo: *URA*

Engineering and environmental impact studies for the "Long Island" artificial island project will begin in 2024 and are expected to be completed in five years, Singapore's Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said on November 28. The total area of reclaimed land in the project could reach 800 hectares, giving the country more space for housing, parks and industries.

In 2019, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that rising sea levels were a serious threat to Singapore and that coastal protection measures could cost $75 billion or more over the next 100 years.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is seeking public input on Long Island, a project that could take decades to develop. On its website, the URA says the artificial islands could be built higher than the mainland, creating a “line of defense” against rising sea levels.

Government agencies have studied building a 3-meter-high seawall along the entire coastline, supported by tidal gates and pumping stations. Lee said the wall was technically feasible but not ideal for East Coast Park because many areas of the park would have to be closed for long periods while the wall was built. If completed, the wall would also hinder people from accessing the beach for recreational and sporting purposes. In addition, the pumping stations would take up an area of up to 15 football fields in the park.

Adam Switzer, a professor at the Asian School of the Environment at Nanyang Technological University, said more in-depth studies are needed on Long Island, including examining the project’s impact on coastal currents and the seabed. “The potential impacts on both the natural and built environments need to be carefully considered,” Switzer said.

However, Switzer also said that Singapore has experience with large-scale land reclamation, such as in the Changi Airport project, the Marina Bay financial district and the Tuas Port project. According to Koh Chan Ghee, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the National University of Singapore, natural solutions such as mangroves, marine vegetation and coral reefs should also be applied.

Thu Thao (According to AFP )

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