From melting ice to rising seas: How Singapore is tackling climate change
CDL unveiled the fourth edition of its Climate Action Exhibition series, focusing on the impact of climate change on the Arctic (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
On paper, the Arctic seems a world away from the sunny, tropical shores of Singapore. And yet, the climate changes impacting the polar region have far-reaching consequences that threaten those even thousands of miles away. “Climate change does not respect distance. What cracks the ice in the Arctic raises water levels everywhere, impacting countries as distant as Singapore,” says Alvin Tan, Minister of State for National Development and Trade & Industry.
With about 30% of Singapore’s land lying less than 5m above sea level, he notes that the country is especially vulnerable to rising seas, with average sea levels around Singapore estimated to rise by up to 1.15m by 2100.
Underscoring the Arctic’s impact on equatorial cities like Singapore, Tan shared these insights as the guest of honour at the official launch of Melting Ice, Sinking Cities Climate Exhibition #2 – The Arctic Impact on Feb 5. The public exhibition marks the fourth edition of City Development Ltd’s (CDL) Climate Action Exhibition series,organised in partnership with the National Parks Board and Ocean Geographic.
The exhibition is located at the CDL Green Gallery within the Singapore Botanic Gardens (Photo: CDL)
The Melting Ice, Sinking Cities series aims to demonstrate the impacts of climate change and rising temperatures. The first instalment of the series, held in 2023, focused on the Antarctic Climate Expedition – a 10-day expedition to Antarctica led by world-renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle that was designed to raise public and government awareness on global warming.
The latest instalment takes viewers through the lens of the Bears, Ice, Glaciers — Arctic Climate Expedition (BIG ACE), which was also led by Earle. Held in June 2025 over the span of nearly two weeks, the expedition brought participants to the Arctic to observe glaciers and wildlife along the Arctic ice shelf.
Combating climate change
Earle was also present at the exhibition launch event, sharing insights from the BIG ACE, including the accelerating impacts of Arctic warming. Arctic temperatures have risen nearly four times faster than the global average over the last four decades, while global glaciers have lost more than 6.5 trillion tons of ice, resulting in sea levels rising by nearly 2cm.
Against this backdrop, Tan outlined several of Singapore’s ongoing initiatives to address what he describes as the “existential threat” posed by climate change. He notes that national water agency PUB has been conducting site-specific studies since 2021 to develop tailored coastal protection, with conceptual designs for areas such as the Greater Southern Waterfront having recently been completed.
Alvin Tan, Minister of State for National Development and Trade & Industry, and world-renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle, shared their insights at the exhibition’s official launch on Feb 5 (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
These efforts have been reinforced by policy measures. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment introduced the Coastal Protection bill on Feb 3, which establishes a new law requiring both private and public landowners to implement and maintain coastal defence measures, such as seawalls, barrages and coastal barriers.
Tan also highlighted Singapore’s role in advancing green finance. Ongoing efforts by the Monetary Authority of Singapore in building green finance solutions — such as working with multilateral development banks to crowd in concessional finance — aim to support transitions such as the shift away from coal-fired power plants.
In 2019, Singapore also introduced the carbon tax — the first carbon pricing scheme within the Southeast Asia region — as part of its broader strategy to price emissions and encourage decarbonisation across the economy.
Through these various initiatives, Singapore aims to play its part in the global effort to combat climate change. “Singapore might be small, but we try to use our hub status, our strengths in finance, in economics and science, to make a bit of a difference,” says Tan.
Raising climate awareness
For Sherman Kwek, CDL’s group CEO, climate change is no longer a distant threat. “What is unfolding in the Arctic today has direct consequences for cities, communities and economies around the world, including here in Singapore,” he says.
To that end, the Melting Ice, Sinking Cities Climate Exhibition #2 – The Arctic Impact aims to educate the public on the Arctic climate emergency and its global implications. Featuring five immersive zones, visitors will learn about the fragility of the Arctic region, including a showcase of the experiences documented by BIG ACE participants. The zones also illustrate the interconnectedness between the Arctic and urban centres in the tropics, including the impact of rising seas, shifting weather patterns and biodiversity loss.
At the same time, the exhibition highlights the need for cross-border collective action to tackle the climate crisis, alongside the importance of local collaboration to advance Singapore’s efforts to combat climate change and strengthen resilience.
CDL group CEO Sherman Kwek (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
“Through this exhibition, we aim to translate scientific urgency into public awareness,” says Kwek. He adds that the exhibition reflects CDL’s ongoing commitment to its ‘Conserving as We Construct’ philosophy and its belief that the built environment can play a role in raising climate awareness.
Melting Ice, Sinking Cities Climate Exhibition #2 – The Arctic Impact is set to run till July. It is free to the public, with the exhibition located at the CDL Green Gallery within the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Donated and developed by CDL in 2013, the CDL Green Gallery is the first zero-energy gallery in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region. Spanning 314 sqm (3,380 sq ft), the exhibition space incorporates eco-friendly features, including 105 rooftop solar panels and modular building blocks designed for future modification and reuse.
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