Singapore monitoring impact of global warming

27 February 2007 (CNA)

SINGAPORE: Singapore is monitoring the localised impact of global warming on the country.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan gave the assurance in Parliament on Tuesday in response to a concern raised by MP Lily Neo over the impact of global warming on parts of the island which are made up of reclaimed land.

Noting that the most pessimistic scientific predictions indicate that the sea level would rise by at most 70cm to 80cm, Mr Mah pointed out that land reclaimed in Singapore is some 120 centimetres above sea level.

Even so, he said there is a need to further understand what is going is.

Mr Mah said: "So several agencies including the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, National Environment Agency, and the National Development Ministry are studying the localised impact of climate change on Singapore.

"But we also have another inter-agency task force which is led by MND - their job is to review the existing infrastructure development in Singapore to see how we can adapt to any changes in sea level."


- CNA/so