As rising tides inch closer to its shores, Singapore is sketching out an unusual plan: a massive “Long Island” made of reclaimed land, designed to stand between the sea and its densely populated east coast. The plan, revealed earlier this year, aims to shield the city-state from worsening climate threats while creating new space for homes and recreation.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, said the government is studying the development of a 7-km “Long Island” project along the east coast that could serve as a buffer against sea level rise and house new homes in the future.
“We will need to invest a significant amount, perhaps $100 billion (in Singapore dollars) or more over the long term, to protect ourselves against rising sea levels,” Wong said as per CNN, echoing estimates first made by the government in 2019.
What would the island include?
The “Long Island” would include a reservoir protected by a sea wall, similar to existing reservoirs like Marina and Punggol, turning part of the open sea into a controlled freshwater system. Authorities are also exploring the possibility of building housing estates above the reservoir.
The project remains in its early planning stages, and no detailed timeline or cost has been announced.
The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment has said it will consult the public before proceeding. A series of engagement sessions are already underway to gather feedback on coastal protection options.
Singapore, a low-lying island nation, is especially vulnerable to climate change. About 30% of its land lies less than five metres above sea level. According to Singapore’s Centre for Climate Research, the country could see sea levels rise by up to 1 metre by 2100.
Story continues below this ad
Engineering and environmental assessments are currently in progress, so the final design and placement of the artificial islands may still evolve. However, officials seem confident that some version of the project will move forward later this century.
“It’s a very ambitious proposal,” said Adam Switzer, professor of coastal science at the Asian School of the Environment at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), as per CNN. “And it’s really a testament to the way that Singapore takes long-term planning into consideration for almost everything that it does.”
(With inputs from CNN)
