Singapore Case Study

Using Singapore as a case study can cover a range of different sections of the syllabus - it not only can be used for this section...

Disparities in exposure to climate change risk and vulnerability, including variations in people’s location, wealth, social differences (age, gender, education), risk perceptionDetailed examples of two or more societies with contrasting vulnerability

but it can also be used in the resources section of the syllabus when looking at NEXUS responses

How pressure on resources affects the future security of placesThe implications of global climate change for the water–food–energy nexusDetailed examples of two countries with contrasting levels of resource security

Confronting Climate ChangeAs climate change poses a growing threat to our future existence, environmental journalist Jessica Cheam explores the impact of rising seas in India, drought in Malaysia and green innovations in Denmark. She learns what Singapore is doing to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Watch the video above - very good - start 12mins 17 secs -

Then 30 mins 40 secs to end... adaptation/mitigation

Singapores National Climate change Document - big but important - choose right sections.

Task: You will be creating a case study poster in small groups to provide information on the following inquiry questions. - you must use second side of this document - to get notes together

How has Singapore been affected by Climate change so far?
What are the predictions for future change.
What are some of the expected impacts: Social, Economic, Environmental,
Mitigation - how is Singapore reducing emissions.
Watch example of mitigation (video) - reducing the urban heat island effect.
Adaptation: How is Singapore adapting/ planning to adapt - give some examples
What is the role of Corporations in combating climate change?
What is the role of Civil Society in Singapore?

Resources: - all the videos and links on this page - however if you want a 1 stop shop good article with most of the information - go through this. https://energytracker.asia/climate-change-singapore/

The vid above is about Singapores 2030 Green plan - all things sustainable - very good resource.

Straits Times: Heat and the City - great article on the urban heat island effect.

Straits Times: Land Reclamation and sea level rise: Long island to be reclaimed off east coast.

Part 2: Corporate Response - A Singaporean Banks approach to Reducing consumption.

Here you need to focus on at least one Company and describe its corporate response to climate change.

Singapore Case Study - DBS Bank

Resource 1: DBS and Net Zero- make notes using the video and other resources as to how DBS is moving towards net zero.

Resource 2: DBS creates its own community farm -

Resource 3: DBS becomes first Asian Bank to back coal phase out financing.

Part 3: The role of Civil Society.

Civil society plays a different role in Singapore compared to other locations. In areas such as Bangladesh, civil society is directly responding to the challenges faced by people to rising sea levels - for example the Pumpkins against poverty project run by the NGO - Practical Action

Task: To be able to compare Place responses make a short note on this case study. It also can be used in many other areas of the syllabus as it is aimed at women, and improving access to food.

Civil Society in Singapore: -

Singaporean citizens have become accustomed to the Government making any decision in regard to climate change action. However, the government does work with some Environmental groups to help in its target of producing a greener city to help reduce the problem of a city whose temperature is rising rapidly. It also works with groups to encourage changes in consumption such as https://repairkopitiam.sg/ who encourage people to repair and not throw away goods.

The Singapore Government has a very top down approach but it needs community groups to enact these ideas. For example the National Parks Board provides areas for urban community gardens. - however local community groups need to set up together to make them workable - therefore this is civil society that is supported by government. What is the school doing???

Interestingly although Singapore does not allow protests, the first student led Climate Change protest as a result of the "Greta effect" occurred in Sept 2019. in 2023 over 1400 attended the climate change rally.

Articles essential to read:

Red Hot Red Dot: The Climate Crisis and Singapore - New NaratifHow will the climate crisis affect the city-state of Singapore? A comic explainer produced in collaboration with IdeasCity.

Other Civil Society groups working on the climate crisis in Singapore: (click for links)

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