Color me confused with Singapore trying to stave off the inevitable to the point of buying land in China? Why not Malaysia? its just a few miles away. Or even Indonesia, a few more miles away. Am I missing something?
5
This article is a prime example of the insular American press refusing to see the world otherwise than through its own prism. Singapore's land reclamation has nothing to do with climate change. Singapore has been reclaiming land almost since its founding as an entrepot by Sir Stamford Raffles, long before climate change was a concern and even when global cooling was the fear rather than global warming. The driver has always been economic. The Singapore government's approach to climate change is one of rational pragmatism, not panic-stricken dogma which treats predictions and projections like immutable certainties.
18
We are not politically meek, just simplistically categorising us to fit into what the west wants..ever changing policies under ever changing administrations. We are small and we know it, cutting of our nose to spite our face ain't going to get us far. The margin for error does not exist for
4
I've read many of the comments with most people lauding Singapore. I disagree, and I'm no Luddite. I think their actions are mostly hubristic, thinking they'll outsmart Mother Nature, with climate change appended to her power. What happens when a Category 6 typhoon hits during a time of peak tides from the lunar cycle? (I know there are no category 6 hurricanes/typoons yet, but there will be with climate changing increasing the strength of storms!) On an island where most of the land is 18 feet above sea level? A storm surge there during a major typhoon would make Sandy look like a breezy day, storms are far more ferocious in that part of the seven seas.
But it will be an interesting experiment to follow. Unfortunately what we're going to find out is that climate change is going to present fierce challenges with poor solutions. Talk about being caught between a rock and hard place. Smaller nations in the Pacific are making plans to relocate their citizens, some to Australia. But Australia has been devastated by climate change with soaring temperatures and horrible wildfires.
Singapore is just shy of 6 million. Where do you relocate exponentially more folks living in parts of Africa and other continents devastated by drought? Climate change might mean America is no longer the breadbasket, perhaps unable to even feed itself let alone export agricultural products.
Pogo was right. We've been sold out by Big Oil and pathetic politicians, not realizing their kids will suffer 2.
But it will be an interesting experiment to follow. Unfortunately what we're going to find out is that climate change is going to present fierce challenges with poor solutions. Talk about being caught between a rock and hard place. Smaller nations in the Pacific are making plans to relocate their citizens, some to Australia. But Australia has been devastated by climate change with soaring temperatures and horrible wildfires.
Singapore is just shy of 6 million. Where do you relocate exponentially more folks living in parts of Africa and other continents devastated by drought? Climate change might mean America is no longer the breadbasket, perhaps unable to even feed itself let alone export agricultural products.
Pogo was right. We've been sold out by Big Oil and pathetic politicians, not realizing their kids will suffer 2.
7
You would disagree, an American that lives in California no less. Instead of downplaying how Singapore is at least addressing some of the issues they face, maybe you should be concerned with the fact that a lot of Cali is built on desert, just came out of a multiyear drought, wastes the water it does have growing thirsty crops and then you have the earthquakes, forest fires, mudslides and "big cats" and coyotes helping themselves to peoples pets.
The author said something about how a green-grassed park built on infilled land didn't seem natural or comforting. But meanwhile, foreign investors are breaking their necks to buy properties in FiDi, the financial district in NY, which, south of Wall Street and west of Greenwich Street is the same sort of infilled land as Singapore (and flooded during Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy). So it's fantastic in NY but kinda sad somewhere else. Yeah okay.
The author said something about how a green-grassed park built on infilled land didn't seem natural or comforting. But meanwhile, foreign investors are breaking their necks to buy properties in FiDi, the financial district in NY, which, south of Wall Street and west of Greenwich Street is the same sort of infilled land as Singapore (and flooded during Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy). So it's fantastic in NY but kinda sad somewhere else. Yeah okay.
8
There are very little natural disaster in this part of Asia. Singapore faces tropical storms almost every other day. Other than monsoon season there isn't even harsh winds. Americans seem to know nothing about any other cities/countries other than America itself.
6
The best solution to all nations in the world is to have a negative population growth that matches the reduced availability of land. This would reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. It does not matter how much innovative solutions we come up with, the mother nature will punish with one stroke the decades of innovations. The population growth and planet resources has to maintain the delegate balance. Right now, we are out step with the mother nature and can't dance tango.
8
Fifteen years ago when I lived in Singapore, my Australian colleagues joked that land reclamation was proceeding so quickly that it wouldn't be long before they could walk home to Sydney.
And it's not just sand. By also diverting its trash to land reclamation, Singapore kills two birds - it provides more territory while not wasting any precious space on landfills. Singaporeans can patriotically toss recyclable items into the garbage can guilt free.
And it's not just sand. By also diverting its trash to land reclamation, Singapore kills two birds - it provides more territory while not wasting any precious space on landfills. Singaporeans can patriotically toss recyclable items into the garbage can guilt free.
10
No such thing as guilt free... There is always a consequence
11
I can't help but be reminded of the end of "Blade Runner," when Roy tells his brief, tragic story to Decker. One sentence sticks out...
"That's what it' like to be a slave."
It seems we are at the beginning of the time when every state will become a slave state, where authoritarian rule really means the end of everyone not making above a certain income level and it goes up every year. Like in 5 years, the U.S. government will become totally oligarchic. Frightening but true. You can see it, can't you?
"That's what it' like to be a slave."
It seems we are at the beginning of the time when every state will become a slave state, where authoritarian rule really means the end of everyone not making above a certain income level and it goes up every year. Like in 5 years, the U.S. government will become totally oligarchic. Frightening but true. You can see it, can't you?
5
No... I can't really see that
8
I think I once took the stuff you're on right now. Good luck with it.
Now, if you can write this vision into a smash-bang movie script, you, too, could party with the Clooneys. A free-standing California will take - maybe 6 years? - to become your oligarchy.
We just completed an eight-year dance with authoritarians partnering with the media.
But the U.S. has a Constitution while Singapore has cash, so the security becomes long-term (ours) versus short-term (theirs.)
Now, if you can write this vision into a smash-bang movie script, you, too, could party with the Clooneys. A free-standing California will take - maybe 6 years? - to become your oligarchy.
We just completed an eight-year dance with authoritarians partnering with the media.
But the U.S. has a Constitution while Singapore has cash, so the security becomes long-term (ours) versus short-term (theirs.)
2
they could have saved themselves the trouble of reclaiming land if they stop accepting new businesses and just concentrate on what is their comparative advantage. build free economic zones in Malaysia and Indonesia so that new businesses will go there instead of reclaiming land. im sure building expressways/trains from Singapore to Malaysia is cheaper than reclamation.
5
They don't actually get along with those 2 very well. Singapore's creation is a direct result of Malay discrimation against Chinese and to a lesser extent - Indian minorities. They still have land disputes as well.
9
Singapore, along with the Malaysian government, is indeed planning to build a high speed train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. They're also doing everything else as indicated in the article.
7
The land area of Singapore--with most recent additions--is 721 Sq Km, that of NYC is 789 Sq Km. This means that Singapore is 91 percent as large as NYC, not, as this article asserts, 67 percent the size.
5
So Singapore is creating more land for itself. OK. I have a few questions though. Is it the same as China creating islands in the South China Seas? Also, a matter of logistics. Will the countries supplying the enormous amount of sand, become decrepit themselves? It is definitely not from Singapore itself because the island is totally built up. Do they just import sand because they can with their wealth, real money? and what with all the distortion of Nature and climate change, will these man-made structures fall on themselves and the island itself is destroyed as Tan said, Physics cannot be outfoxed. So what is in store for Singapore?
10
Global warming is caused by big countries. A city state like Singapore does not have other options but adapt to survive, does it?
2
Can you imagine how many years of Environmental Studies, lawsuits and NIMBY actions t would take to do one tenth of this in the USA.
19
With Republicans or Libertarians doing it, we're talking at least a generation.
With the Democrats and their media partners doing this, it wouldn't take any longer than their institution of the Ku Klux Klan to carry out the Jim Crow terrorism.
With the Democrats and their media partners doing this, it wouldn't take any longer than their institution of the Ku Klux Klan to carry out the Jim Crow terrorism.
3
that's because it shouldn't be done in the first place. They have destroyed the environment and will have to deal with the consequences...probably much sooner than they think.
Over the past twenty years span, I visited Singapore twice, each of which lasted about one week. I had plenty of time to tour the city state. The island was impressive and I liked it very much. Then suddenly I realized that she is pretty much a one-party country where the president or leader can do whatever he wants. And she holds the important waterway passage from Asia to Europe & Africa, and also she is the best alliance we have in Asia. No wonder we hear nothing but praise from our news media.
9
Nope. The Prime Minister and his government can't do anything they want. In the 2011, the ruling party's election results dropped 20%, forced the government to tighten immigration and employment laws.
There's some areas in Singapore where we are a lot more freer than the US.
E.g. Singaporeans complaining that businesses use personal data collected and spam consumers by frequent cold sale calls. It got to the point where it was extremely unbearable. I would receive at least 4 calls a week from banks and insurance companies. The SG government implemented a privacy law prohibiting businesses from sharing and using personal data without consumer consent. Businesses who break the law are fined....heavily.
So no. The leaders in Singapore cannot blindly do what they want.
There's some areas in Singapore where we are a lot more freer than the US.
E.g. Singaporeans complaining that businesses use personal data collected and spam consumers by frequent cold sale calls. It got to the point where it was extremely unbearable. I would receive at least 4 calls a week from banks and insurance companies. The SG government implemented a privacy law prohibiting businesses from sharing and using personal data without consumer consent. Businesses who break the law are fined....heavily.
So no. The leaders in Singapore cannot blindly do what they want.
10
If fighting spam is the best example of government policy, this says much about the state of Singapore.
1
It's not just the news media. People who have lived there and have vacationed there and have ventured all over the island are amazed by Singapore.
Their national airline, airport, the arrival and departure experience, trains, taxi service, roads, bridges, gardens, architecture, hotels, restaurants, shopping, tourist attractions, nature reserves, cuisine, race relations... ( I could go on...) ...would leave anyone landing back at La Guardia with a thud, well and truely depressed.
Having lived there twice over the last 30 years, and now a frequent visitor, "I still call Singapore home". Ok, my other home. Just go.
Their national airline, airport, the arrival and departure experience, trains, taxi service, roads, bridges, gardens, architecture, hotels, restaurants, shopping, tourist attractions, nature reserves, cuisine, race relations... ( I could go on...) ...would leave anyone landing back at La Guardia with a thud, well and truely depressed.
Having lived there twice over the last 30 years, and now a frequent visitor, "I still call Singapore home". Ok, my other home. Just go.
1
Just look across the river at Hoboken. It was a swamp. They dumped everything but the kitchen sink there. We were driving pilings there (40 foot) and one just disappeared into the ground. We figured it went through a sunken ship's hull.
7
There is plenty of land in neighboring Malaysia and Australia, not far, is virtually empty except for a few souls living on the coasts. Why not move there. What does Singapore actually do that they need so many people? It is a trading hub in a world that has probably moved past trading hubs. Its Pharma industry is mostly just a tax dodge for big pharma like Ireland. This may turn out to be another bubble courtesy of central bankers withe their 0 % rates.
4
Learning history would do you well. Singapore came about because Malaysia discriminated against the Chinese and Indian minorities.
8
"Buy land. They're not making it anymore." Perhaps Twain was wrong...
1
Buy sand. They're not making it anymore
5
Liquefaction is not a theory, it's a fact. While Singapore is not in a seismically active zone, it has been reported to be surrounded by an earthquake belt.
Having seen the destructive power of significant earthquake and tsunamis damage around the globe recently, the 2011 Japan Coast and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis, one has to wonder, what are the odds for Singapore's 5.6 million - million - inhabitants. Six years later, Japan still hasn't recovered with over 400,000 people still displaced.
Man acts as if he is not stronger than Mother Nature and Mother Nature behaves as an intractably stubborn creature, winning in the end.
Having seen the destructive power of significant earthquake and tsunamis damage around the globe recently, the 2011 Japan Coast and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis, one has to wonder, what are the odds for Singapore's 5.6 million - million - inhabitants. Six years later, Japan still hasn't recovered with over 400,000 people still displaced.
Man acts as if he is not stronger than Mother Nature and Mother Nature behaves as an intractably stubborn creature, winning in the end.
6
Terrific, in-depth reporting as usual - this is the type of story that helps us understand how countries are trying to fight back against climate change and the rise of sea water. As for Kiribati, once the sea level rises high enough to pollute the last of their clean drinking water, they will be a dead nation. $7-million to try to save a culture is a small price to pay.
6
Really excellent article, Samanth. I had to save this sentence:
“The most miserable truth about this moment of the Anthropocene is the inevitability of it all; even if the whole world switched to solar power and turned vegetarian tomorrow, we cannot remove the carbon we’ve released into the atmosphere.”
“The most miserable truth about this moment of the Anthropocene is the inevitability of it all; even if the whole world switched to solar power and turned vegetarian tomorrow, we cannot remove the carbon we’ve released into the atmosphere.”
6
Yea, but won't the trees and plants be so happy.
2
Singapore is the most unassailable proof that authoritarian, one party rule is the path to economic development and that the people is willingly accepting this political system in exchange for economic and financial security. That's is why nothing irritates East Asian governments more than being lectured by US State Department officials about democracy.
21
Bingo
1
Right, just like other authoritarian one-party governments that have realized tremendous economic growth, such as Zimbabwe or North Korea, or even the spectacular success of Libya or Syria.
"Unassailable proof" usually requires more than one observation.
"Unassailable proof" usually requires more than one observation.
3
Wonderful for citizens and wealthy ex patriots but much of the dirty and menial work done by an underclass of less well compensated migrants. As a one party system how big is the voice of the class within Singapore.
Citizens of Singapore might enjoy reading Jules Verne's "Propeller Island" as well as Clifford Simak's "Cities in Flight" series. Both writers recount the adventures of cities that have broken loose from their moorings, as Singapore is in the process of doing. We may well, within our lifetimes, see Singapore neighborhoods anchor within sight of New York City skyscrapers. A reminder to Americans of how well infrastructure can function, when managed by good government.
5
While this example of land reclamation is interesting, the Netherlands has been doing it for many centuries. Its iconic windmills were the pumps, and they reshaped the whole country.
17
over half the land mass of holland was \created by the dutch
theyve been building their dike system for 700 years
12
It wasn't all windmills. The Dutch also employed steam-powered pumps. One of them is a World Heritage Site.
4
True what you say about the Dutch. One should note though that China was doing things like taming massive rivers for thousands of years. They also had the most advanced tunneling and mining (such as extracting salt) for centuries. Singapore is mostly ethnic Chinese.
2
These guys from Singapore have a good business sense in that they already have a planned obsolescence for their airport; only 18 feet above sea level, which might be inundated within the next… two centuries, About the time when George Jetson type flying saucers will be transporting people to and from their articulated wheelchair – traveling vehicles
4
“In a world where the big fish eat small fish and the small fish eat shrimps, Singapore must become a poisonous shrimp,” he once said.
I'm always amazed at the agility of our minds to think it can work itself out of a jamb . . . but only as far as itself, and not beyond. Whatever the shrimp eats is probably thinking the same thing.
I'm always amazed at the agility of our minds to think it can work itself out of a jamb . . . but only as far as itself, and not beyond. Whatever the shrimp eats is probably thinking the same thing.
2
solves an oil spill problem in a heartbeat
4
Nothing new here. It's called a wetland fill. The city of Charleston, South Carolina did the same thing years and years ago and most coastal cities have also filled to expand.
8
I honestly wish the Times would run far more articles like this chronicling the end of civilization from a physical perspective rather than the banal an incessant political and intellectual coverage that usually tends to dominate the top of the page, as they just feel so much more real and almost comforting on a human level than all the contrived and meaningless nonsense such as the likes of Bill O Reilly's manners or Donald Trump's insecurities.
33
Yes Iver. I am burned out on Trump, O'Reilly, the little girl boxer, the athlete who hung himself, Arkansas executions, Syria, North Korea, etc., and such that dominates the NYT front page. And, of course, its not just the NYT.
4
"As a concept, underground reservoirs are not new. Sweden has been building them since the 1950s"
The US Navy did that in Hawaii before WW2, the Red Hill complex. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor could not have destroyed the fleet's oil. Each of the 20 tanks at Red Hill measures 100 feet in diameter and is 250 feet in height, and together hold 250 million gallons, which in WW2 was equal to a hundred large tankers full of oil.
The US Navy did that in Hawaii before WW2, the Red Hill complex. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor could not have destroyed the fleet's oil. Each of the 20 tanks at Red Hill measures 100 feet in diameter and is 250 feet in height, and together hold 250 million gallons, which in WW2 was equal to a hundred large tankers full of oil.
6
From the pictures, I feel like I'm watching ants at work. From that aspect, we actually do look kind of useful to the planet. The rest of our political and intellectual baggage, I doubt.
3
Makes one wonder if we (US) could pull this off today in our free market capitalism and adversion to spending money on infrastructure. Makes me kind of sad.
13
No ecosystem consequences? I thought Singapore were always on the right foot.
3
"When Kiribati bought its land in Fiji for $7 million, critics worried that the money was being squandered; "
So what is the alternative that these critics are proposing? Drowning?
Many questions jump out at me that weren't answered by the article. First, Who has sovereignty over this land? Will it officially be part of the country Kiribati or will Fiji retain sovereignty? If the latter, will Kiribatians who move there be guest residents or Fijian citizens? (The former is fraught with peril for the Kirabatians. Just ask immigrants in this country.) And finally, doesn't Kiribati, The Maldives et. al. have a legal case against the industrialized world for, in essence, destroying part of their country by creating the climate change that has put them in this situation?
For me, the last one is an easy one: Emphatically, yes.
So what is the alternative that these critics are proposing? Drowning?
Many questions jump out at me that weren't answered by the article. First, Who has sovereignty over this land? Will it officially be part of the country Kiribati or will Fiji retain sovereignty? If the latter, will Kiribatians who move there be guest residents or Fijian citizens? (The former is fraught with peril for the Kirabatians. Just ask immigrants in this country.) And finally, doesn't Kiribati, The Maldives et. al. have a legal case against the industrialized world for, in essence, destroying part of their country by creating the climate change that has put them in this situation?
For me, the last one is an easy one: Emphatically, yes.
6
"In the evenings, the tables heave with workers from the nearby financial district, much like Manhattan’s South Street Seaport and other ribbons of waterfront realty around the world."
Sorry. This made me laugh. The South Street Seaport hasn't been a place that heaves with workers from the financial district in more than 20 years.
Sorry. This made me laugh. The South Street Seaport hasn't been a place that heaves with workers from the financial district in more than 20 years.
10
What a beautifully written article.
As an American resident of Singapore of seven years, I recognize the city she paints. I also know that it is the canary in the global coal mine - as it goes, so do we all, and we better take heed.
As an American resident of Singapore of seven years, I recognize the city she paints. I also know that it is the canary in the global coal mine - as it goes, so do we all, and we better take heed.
32
Canary, what a brilliant analogy.
1
Fascinating article and extremely well written ! I hope it smacks in the face of idiots who disclaim the reality of climate change.
8
Only in the US are politicians in denial. We used to lead on environmental issues.
4
It's Bukit Brown. Not Bukit Batok. Really.
5
Climate change and rising sea levels will no doubt increase the demand for creating more land in some parts of the world; What Singapore is doing we will probably see done elsewhere. The other factor affecting climate change and the need for land for housing, hospitals, schools, and businesses is our rapidly increasing population. It is not only the specific actions we take as individual humans or businesses (driving cars, burning coal) that contribute to climate change, it is the vast numbers of us doing these things en masse. And even if we enact drastic measures to reduce carbon emissions, that step alone does not address how the energy requirements for the production of food, transportation, housing, water treatment, etc. for 8 billion people (12 billion by 2050) can be done in ways that will not harm the planet. Population growth is the elephant in the room; unless we begin to talk about and face the fact that we are overpopulating the earth, we will be confronted by shortages in other precious resources beyond land-namely, water, food, and clean air. For those in the West who say that population growth is not a problem because they don't see it around them, I say wake up-we can no longer feel protected here in the US from what happens in other countries. We are all connected and whatever happens to the planet and to others of our species will affect us all.
20
Beach Road got a mention, but my favourite example is the Chinese Swimming Club in Amber Road. It used to be on the coast, but hasn't seen water for many a year.
5
Seems nobody cares to know where the sand actually comes from:
„Sand mining has erased at least two dozen Indonesian islands since 2005. The stuff of those islands mostly ended up in Singapore, which needs titanic amounts to continue its program of artificially adding territory by reclaiming land from the sea. The city-state has created an extra 130 square kilometers in the past 40 years and is still adding more, making it by far the world’s largest sand importer. The collateral environmental damage has been so extreme that Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam have all restricted or banned exports of sand to Singapore.“
Sandmining is one the most dangerous exploitations done to this planet right now. Erosions everywhere do not come from nowhere it is from deep sea vaccuming of sand. Future generations will know beaches, as we do now, only from pictures.
https://www.wired.com/2015/03/illegal-sand-mining/
„Sand mining has erased at least two dozen Indonesian islands since 2005. The stuff of those islands mostly ended up in Singapore, which needs titanic amounts to continue its program of artificially adding territory by reclaiming land from the sea. The city-state has created an extra 130 square kilometers in the past 40 years and is still adding more, making it by far the world’s largest sand importer. The collateral environmental damage has been so extreme that Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam have all restricted or banned exports of sand to Singapore.“
Sandmining is one the most dangerous exploitations done to this planet right now. Erosions everywhere do not come from nowhere it is from deep sea vaccuming of sand. Future generations will know beaches, as we do now, only from pictures.
https://www.wired.com/2015/03/illegal-sand-mining/
22
You mean to say that if I dig out my entire back yard to sell the dirt, after all the rains come and levels everything out, my neighbor will be the one that pays as his backyard then disappears? Let's just not tell him.
3
Sandmining has been incredibly destructive for the surrounding Southeast Asian countries, not only ecologically speaking, but in terms of encouraging corruption and destroying the livelihoods of those dependent upon fisheries.
This is not even touching upon the activists who have been harassed and arrested for drawing attention to the damage it causes.
Just waving their losses and struggles off as "Several countries have tired of feeding Singapore’s endless appetite for sand..." is disingenuous at best, outright insulting at worst.
This is not even touching upon the activists who have been harassed and arrested for drawing attention to the damage it causes.
Just waving their losses and struggles off as "Several countries have tired of feeding Singapore’s endless appetite for sand..." is disingenuous at best, outright insulting at worst.
3
Sand is from erosion after all. Erosion also creates soil for agriculture; tunnels for waterways. Erosion is useful when viewed positively.
Icksnay Climate Change and rising sea levels. Let them build all the mirages they want, it's their time and money and it at least keeps people busy, which is important.
3
Not sure what the point of this comment is. Singaporeans are trying to meet the challenge of climate change which is largely due to massive polluters in other areas of the world. Would you rather they all walk into the sea?
10
Reading this, all I can think of is just how incredibly inefficient and expensive and wasteful and risky and filthy the whole petroleum biz.
6
I bet they got a few dollars of yours in their pockets, though.
4
Singapore is clearly a pioneer in environmental engineering. Its failures and successes will guide hundreds of cities through the slow motion catastrophe of the effects of climate change on the world's oceans. At the same time, the lessons are partly limited to highly centralized, semi-authoritarian, quasi-democratic states. How the world's more vibrant democracies will handle such massive undertakings remains to be seen.
Thank you, Ms. Subramanian, for bringing our attention to a vital topic with broad implications for humanity's future. An informative and fascinating essay, fluid prose, Ms. Yin's beautiful photographs (especially those aerials): this is the kind of high caliber writing that distinguishes the Times from its peers.
Thank you, Ms. Subramanian, for bringing our attention to a vital topic with broad implications for humanity's future. An informative and fascinating essay, fluid prose, Ms. Yin's beautiful photographs (especially those aerials): this is the kind of high caliber writing that distinguishes the Times from its peers.
40
Something like this is needed for New Orleans. Somehow I don't think we have the civic/governmental acuity to accomplish such a project in the current USA.
5
I can only imagine all the different studies needed and then all the lawsuits.
4
People are quick to give Singapore as an example of model "prosperity", advancement, accelerated development. But articles like these put its tiny-ness into perspective. A tiny nation, with diverse population, motivated to perform well, is just an "experiment" of possibilities, we humans could enjoy if we lived in a tiny state.
6
"Diverse"? Well yes they welcome expats - but for a city I wouldn't say it's that diverse. It is nearly 3/4 ethnic Chinese. Imagine NY or London with 3/4 of one ethnic group. That said - I think it's a great place.
3
I wonder what it's like to live in a place where elected leaders think past just the next election cycle.
74
Our land use master plan sets targets for year 2030. Government agencies must adhere to these targets when building anything, to get Cabinet's blessing.
1
How much land does a man need? In Tolstoy's cautionary tale the man is so exhausted from greed that he needs only six feet of land, in the end, as do we all.
6
The article might also have mentioned the enormous effort that has gone into the greening of Singapore, where forests are preserved in the island's center, the periphery is ringed with parks, and every street is tree-lined.
67
Excellent article , good comprehensive analysis.
These measures will work for some time.
Unless population explosion is contained fast , more forests will be eliminated, more carbon dioxide will be generated , global temperatures will rise, more polar ice will melt , more coastal erosions and flooding will ensue.
These are only temporary measures , a band aid covering a self expanding wound .
These measures will work for some time.
Unless population explosion is contained fast , more forests will be eliminated, more carbon dioxide will be generated , global temperatures will rise, more polar ice will melt , more coastal erosions and flooding will ensue.
These are only temporary measures , a band aid covering a self expanding wound .
10
Most of Singapore is low lying and will be underwater with the rising oceans. Long before that happens, companies will abandon Singapore leading to long term economic devastation. Soon after, it will cease to exist as a nation.
8
I live on high ground in Singapore. No. You are wrong. While only those on reclaimed land will be submerged, not the entire country. :-)
9
Actually no, most of Singapore is not low lying. I've been twice, absolutely love the place. Have been all over there, it is not all low lying. Have you ever been there, or looked at a map?
5
I find it mind boggling that this article doesn't mention the Netherlands and the technology which was developed by the Dutch...
7
As creative and nice as these projects sound, I think a lot of people miss the major issue about climate change.
While the increase in water level is obvious, and hence the belief in higher walls, the real issue is the energy that temperature changes inject into our climate ~ we may not have more hurricanes and typhoons as the earlier projections suggested, but they will get stronger and stronger.
As impressive as those photos look, mother nature has the habit of being one step ahead of us.
While the increase in water level is obvious, and hence the belief in higher walls, the real issue is the energy that temperature changes inject into our climate ~ we may not have more hurricanes and typhoons as the earlier projections suggested, but they will get stronger and stronger.
As impressive as those photos look, mother nature has the habit of being one step ahead of us.
15
Great article. If the U.S. contributes generously to the Green Climate Fund, it will be a big help to Kiribati, the Maldives, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands; Nauru, Solomon Islands, etc. Apparently Singapore can take care of itself.
5
Well, mother nature is the great equalizer. Singapore is in the middle of the volcanic ring. Good luck with that.
4
No. Singapore is nowhere near the volcanic ring. If it was, I would feel it every time there is an earthquake. So no. You are wrong. :-)
11
Yes, but it's earthquake-, tsunami-, hurricane- and volcano-free. What's your point?
2
Sounds like this was spoken from a bleating heart armchair for world Affairs; anyway nothing short of World War III is going to turn back The Clock on this infrastructure, which is conspicuously close to high noon/midnight, According to committee of concerned scientists.… Good night Dr. Strangelove
This is clearly an extremely expensive way to expand. What a waste of resources. Better off purchasing land from Malaysia.
4
Think Holland... an earlier project. Fascinating. Location, location, location. seems to separate rich from poor.
4
A better title would be "How Dutch experts are creating more land for Singapore"
It's Dutch expertise and dredging companies that are reclaiming land across the world.
Holland has been reclaiming land for centuries. It created a new province (state) not long ago, and could create several more, were it not for environmental concerns. The battle against the sea is an ongoing struggle that for now is being won. With climate change and rising sea levels that may end one day.
It's Dutch expertise and dredging companies that are reclaiming land across the world.
Holland has been reclaiming land for centuries. It created a new province (state) not long ago, and could create several more, were it not for environmental concerns. The battle against the sea is an ongoing struggle that for now is being won. With climate change and rising sea levels that may end one day.
9
yes you are right. The dutch are leaders in environmental engineering. As recent as last year, the dutch are involved in Singapore's land reclamation project. The minister even invited a dutch professor as a adviser. haha, maybe they should have a second part on the dutch.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-to-use-new-land-reclamat...
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-to-use-new-land-reclamat...
2
Thanks for writing. I spent some time in Singapore, and as an architect was struck by the boldness of the infrastasture and building projects. It harckens back to the nascent years of New York building the our own aquaducts, subways, and land reclamation projects.
One thing that is different is the people building (migrant workers from India and Bangladesh) and even designing the projects, will not get a share in the fruits of their labor. Many of the migrant workers are also treated as second and third class citizens.
One thing that is different is the people building (migrant workers from India and Bangladesh) and even designing the projects, will not get a share in the fruits of their labor. Many of the migrant workers are also treated as second and third class citizens.
11
What an excellent article. Truly a great series of essays leading up to Earth Day. Good job NYT.
19
I felt very out of place while presenting at a 2015 technical conference at @NUSingapore.
For example, I found out that only residents of Singapore can drive taxis, as well as many other incongruous things.
Thank you for laying out what bubbled below the surface there.
Best,
--Keith
@KeithDPatch
For example, I found out that only residents of Singapore can drive taxis, as well as many other incongruous things.
Thank you for laying out what bubbled below the surface there.
Best,
--Keith
@KeithDPatch
1
Driving taxis in Singapore is the only job protected for Singaporeans by the Singapore Government. Besides, foreigners driving taxis will have no idea how to get around Singapore. There are more than one way to get to a destination in Singapore. Only a local Singaporean will know.
Oh, and most of the Singaporean taxi drivers were replaced by foreigners when they were white collar workers. So to have foreigners driving taxis, Singaporeans will be out of work with no ways of supporting their families. There are many Singaporean taxi drivers who have put their children through to college.
Oh, and most of the Singaporean taxi drivers were replaced by foreigners when they were white collar workers. So to have foreigners driving taxis, Singaporeans will be out of work with no ways of supporting their families. There are many Singaporean taxi drivers who have put their children through to college.
10
It's nice to know they care about their citizens. One of my grandfather's drove a taxi for a few years. It was enough to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.
3
Very good article and the first I've read on aspects of a topic I'd never considered. Instructive on ways to deal with sea level rise when there are no political or economic constraints on the government, denial is not a factor but determination is, there is an identity to maintain, and creativity of a certain sort is unleashed. I wouldn't have expected most of these type of adaptations, so a vision of a certain type.
I also didn't know that the poorer island nations had proceeded this much in--a very different way--preparing for the inevitable by people leaving.
But jut how sustainable are Singapore's adaptation strategies, and if they're not also actively reducing their carbon emissions and urging U.S. policy to get back on track, they should be.
How risky is a strategy to off-load food production to other countries and to vertical farms? How about the ugliness of these adaptations? What is the price in clean water and access for swimming? How is fish production faring with the loss of wetlands? What will they do if they run out of sand?
How much of a viable model for other coastal areas are they? The discussion needs to begin. If there are more explicit critics within Singapore itself, they need to be heard.
I also didn't know that the poorer island nations had proceeded this much in--a very different way--preparing for the inevitable by people leaving.
But jut how sustainable are Singapore's adaptation strategies, and if they're not also actively reducing their carbon emissions and urging U.S. policy to get back on track, they should be.
How risky is a strategy to off-load food production to other countries and to vertical farms? How about the ugliness of these adaptations? What is the price in clean water and access for swimming? How is fish production faring with the loss of wetlands? What will they do if they run out of sand?
How much of a viable model for other coastal areas are they? The discussion needs to begin. If there are more explicit critics within Singapore itself, they need to be heard.
28
With regards to clean water, Singapore is top notch. There will be a water tax that comes into effect on July 1st. The tax will be used to curb water wastage and to also go into covering the costs of recycling and processing water.
Water in Singapore is precious. The water is so clean, anyone can drink it out of the faucet without boiling it. Singapore is at the stage where we are 85% self-reliant. Unlike the current US government with all the dismantling of regulations that protects and provide clean water, the Singapore government's goal is to provide clean and safe water for everyone living in Singapore. It's a given.
I don't agree with the Singapore government on every issue, but when it comes to water and food safety, I am 100% behind them because they provide the basic needs for everyone living in Singapore (safely) ahead of $$$$.
Water in Singapore is precious. The water is so clean, anyone can drink it out of the faucet without boiling it. Singapore is at the stage where we are 85% self-reliant. Unlike the current US government with all the dismantling of regulations that protects and provide clean water, the Singapore government's goal is to provide clean and safe water for everyone living in Singapore. It's a given.
I don't agree with the Singapore government on every issue, but when it comes to water and food safety, I am 100% behind them because they provide the basic needs for everyone living in Singapore (safely) ahead of $$$$.
26
Here is a link to an article in the local newspaper on cutting carbon emissions in Singapore:
http://str.sg/4enh
http://str.sg/4enh
2
What happens in the long term when the rebar's iron is in direct contact with the concrete? The first century will probably pass without any crises, but won't it become a liability later?
Do we know enough tectonic plate shifts to say these walls will remain stable?
If you could only harness lava into a controllable release system, you're only problem might be the iron content of the lava contacting seawater. Just ask the northern third of the East Molokai Volcano.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to just make real estate deals with Kuala Lumpur?
Do we know enough tectonic plate shifts to say these walls will remain stable?
If you could only harness lava into a controllable release system, you're only problem might be the iron content of the lava contacting seawater. Just ask the northern third of the East Molokai Volcano.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to just make real estate deals with Kuala Lumpur?
6
We aren't all that close to the nearest plate boundary. And really, buying land from our nearest neighbour, who we've had plenty of conflicts with, and in the past threatened to cut off our water supply over minor disputes? That's not particularly wise, I'd think.
12
Correct. Even epoxy-coated rebar eventually corrodes. A colleague mentioned that on the West Coast of the United States, some contracts now specify stainless steel rebar on bridges and road structures to fight the corrosion of the Pacific Ocean.
2
Re: Bukit Brown - it's probably Bukit Batok.
Fact-check please.
And you don't have to publish my feedback.
Fact-check please.
And you don't have to publish my feedback.
Bukit Brown is the correct name.
1
Bukit Brown is correct.
1
No, it's Bukit Brown. There's more than one Bukit B- in Singapore, you know.
1
Nice photographs.
7
Singapore's growth in area, by nearly a quarter, to 277 square miles is impressive; but not as much as what Macao has experienced over the last 100 years. Macao, a special administrative region of China since late 1999, has seen its area nearly triple in size, from 4.5 square miles in 1912, to 12 square miles in 2017. It plans to further expand to 13.7 miles over the next few years.
Despite the land expansion, it boasts the highest population density in the world, at more than 21,000, according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_popul...
Despite the land expansion, it boasts the highest population density in the world, at more than 21,000, according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_popul...
3
For years I worked as a New York State civil servant in the field of environmental protection. It is apparent that these people are not concerned about the natural nearshore productivity and have placed a much greater priority upon excavating and filling. I could never visit nor live at such a place. Sad commentary on what is happening to the natural ecosystems of the world in places like this.
33
Scientific American reports that Louisiana has lost over 2,000 square miles of wetlands in just the past 80 years. And that's just one state. Look at what has happened in the United States before criticizing tiny Singapore, which sits at the tip of some very large islands.
Americans seem to be infected with the "do as I say, not as I have done" disease, telling others how to live while suffering from (and regaling in the wealth from) their own actions. Environmentalism certainly needs to be considered everywhere and assistance provided wherever possible, but self-righteousness must be scaled back lest others point out the skeletons in our own closets.
Americans seem to be infected with the "do as I say, not as I have done" disease, telling others how to live while suffering from (and regaling in the wealth from) their own actions. Environmentalism certainly needs to be considered everywhere and assistance provided wherever possible, but self-righteousness must be scaled back lest others point out the skeletons in our own closets.
48
"I could never visit nor live at such a place"
If true, that means you have never visited most eastern US coastal areas. In the late 70's, a colleague and I analyzed with historical aerial photography development of coastal areas (late 40's to early 70's) in Virginia Beach and Accomack Counties, Virginia. We found that much of such development was preceded by filling and channelization of coastal wetlands. In many cases, 100's of acres of individual wetlands were converted for residential use. The ecological impacts of such wetland losses are far-reaching.
If true, that means you have never visited most eastern US coastal areas. In the late 70's, a colleague and I analyzed with historical aerial photography development of coastal areas (late 40's to early 70's) in Virginia Beach and Accomack Counties, Virginia. We found that much of such development was preceded by filling and channelization of coastal wetlands. In many cases, 100's of acres of individual wetlands were converted for residential use. The ecological impacts of such wetland losses are far-reaching.
8
Brilliant story by Samanth Subramanian, and magnificent photos by Sim Chi Yin/VII on Singapore's amazing reclaimed land projects. And yet the PRC's reclaimed and weaponized territories in the Spratly islands in the South China Sea are looked upon with anger, fear and scorn by China's neighbor's claiming rights to the South China Sea - Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan. One country's territorial increases from the sea are lauded and praised and encouraged - Singapore's! And another country's land increases, military territories, small man-made islands wrought from the sea - the PRC's - are vilified and the subject of a monumental dispute in South Asia.
3
As well they should be vilified. Singapore builds its lands immediately adjacent their own, while China reaches out past its territorial waters to build islands in order to claim sovereignty and military might over that a part of the planet which has never been theirs. Would you think it appropriate for the Castro regime to build an island right offshore from you, then claim Palm Beach as a part of Cuba?
8
And rightly so. China is a huge country, with no dearth of land and it's fake Islands are being built to serve as hubs of aggression and territorial control, executed by military muscle over smaller nations like the Philippines.
9
Your argument is propaganda with an obvious false equivalent at its center.
Comrade.
Comrade.
8
Thank you for this well researched and compellingly written article. If only our current administration were so far-sighted as the admittedly problematic but nonetheless inventive government of Singapore.
24
"we cannot remove the carbon we’ve released into the atmosphere."
Maybe " we" can't but trees can. Singapore, in its outsize ability to spend, should develop forest carbon projects around the world.
Plants currently take up about a third of our emissions of carbon dioxide. Avoiding deforestation and increasing forest size, age, and health would make a big difference. If we cut our emissions in half , forests would start bringing the ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere down quickly.
A recent Science Times article posited that trees are growing some 45% faster now than before the industrial revolution. This was due to higher CO2 levels and increasing rainfall.
Singapore, if any country can, could point the way to a greener, shadier ( in the good sense) future.
The fact that if cap and trade continues to develop,
Singapore could even make money doing it, shouldn't hurt.
Maybe " we" can't but trees can. Singapore, in its outsize ability to spend, should develop forest carbon projects around the world.
Plants currently take up about a third of our emissions of carbon dioxide. Avoiding deforestation and increasing forest size, age, and health would make a big difference. If we cut our emissions in half , forests would start bringing the ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere down quickly.
A recent Science Times article posited that trees are growing some 45% faster now than before the industrial revolution. This was due to higher CO2 levels and increasing rainfall.
Singapore, if any country can, could point the way to a greener, shadier ( in the good sense) future.
The fact that if cap and trade continues to develop,
Singapore could even make money doing it, shouldn't hurt.
63
The reality of the effects of planting trees and hopefully lowering CO2 levels in the atmosphere to significantly mitigate climate change is more complex than described above. Studies of forested areas so far indicate warming increases at some latitudes when you plant, and decreases at others. And the net overall effect is uncertain.
Most scientists understand that even if there is some lowering of CO2 by increasing forests, eventually the whole enlarged system will come into a new equilibrium where the world wide carbon sink has increased, but then photosynthesis, respiration and decay come into a new balance, and if humans don't cut emissions, CO2 will continue rising and warming will too, of course.
It is an appealing solution, but there are counterintuitive effects that come from planting more trees and increasing forests size. The article below by a Prof of Atmospheric Chemistry at Yale.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/opinion/to-save-the-planet-dont-plant...
Most scientists understand that even if there is some lowering of CO2 by increasing forests, eventually the whole enlarged system will come into a new equilibrium where the world wide carbon sink has increased, but then photosynthesis, respiration and decay come into a new balance, and if humans don't cut emissions, CO2 will continue rising and warming will too, of course.
It is an appealing solution, but there are counterintuitive effects that come from planting more trees and increasing forests size. The article below by a Prof of Atmospheric Chemistry at Yale.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/opinion/to-save-the-planet-dont-plant...
1