预算辩论 · 2026-03-03 · 第 15 届国会
2026环境可持续部供给委员会辩论：AI气候与天气预测
MSE Committee of Supply 2026 — AI for Climate & Weather Prediction
环境可持续部长傅海燕在供给委员会辩论中介绍AI在气候预测中的应用。MSE研究项目之一利用AI增强暴雨和强风的预测能力，提高预警准确性。这是政府在气候适应策略中系统性引入AI的具体案例。
关键要点
- • AI增强暴雨和强风预测
- • 提高气候预警准确性
- • 气候适应策略中系统引入AI
积极在气候科学中部署AI
AI在公共安全和气候适应中的具体落地
参与人员（2）
完整译文（中文）
Hansard 英文原文译文 · 翻译日期：2026-05-02
[(程序文本) 辩论继续。(程序文本)]
可持续发展与环境部长（傅海燕女士）：主席先生，我家今年迎来了新成员，我的孙女宁，大家都非常高兴。
她的到来让我对未来——她的未来以及她将生活的世界的未来——有了不同的思考。她改变了我的人生目标。我现在希望自己足够健康，可以和她一起玩耍。我希望能活着看到她大学毕业，她也为我在可持续发展与环境部的工作赋予了新的意义。
像2050年实现净零排放、2100年海平面上升可能达到1.15米这样的数字，不再显得那么抽象。宁在2050年将24岁。她将生活在怎样的世界？她会享受幸福与稳定，还是会在她人生的黄金时期经常面对混乱、损失和灾难？
你看，我们正面临两大强大且相互关联的挑战。首先是气候变化的加剧影响。近年来打破了多项纪录——最热年份、最强降雨、最严重暴雪、最长野火。预计到2050年，气候灾害将造成超过一万亿美元的经济损失。粮食生产和供水中断可能成为常态。
其次，全球气候行动正面临压力。经济不稳定和地缘政治竞争，如最近的中东冲突，正在模糊我们保护环境的焦点。主要排放国可能在应对安全、能源、贸易和投资的全球紧张局势时，退缩其气候承诺。在如此不确定的时期，环境不可避免地成为牺牲品，我们的星球将更早更严重地面临气候变化的影响。
新加坡也不会幸免于这些影响。我们的水和粮食安全将因供应中断和短缺而受到威胁。海平面上升，加上高潮和极端天气事件，威胁在本世纪末淹没我国大部分地区，可能造成重大财产、经济和人员损失。
我们的企业同样将面临气候风险，如基础设施受损、生产力下降和供应链中断。在其他地区投资的企业也将面临类似风险。我们的人民已经感受到影响。加剧的高温不仅使日常生活不适，还影响健康、安全甚至生活方式。这不是一个适合宁成长的美好世界。
但正如黄总理所说，我们不是被动的旁观者。你我都有能力。企业有能力。新加坡有能力。在日益动荡的世界中，我们必须优先建设一个气候适应力强的新加坡。我们必须今天就准备好我们的基础设施、企业和人民，以应对气候受损的未来。
正如傅丽珊女士和娜迪娅·萨姆丁女士指出的，加强韧性需要社会各界的集体行动。政府将领导国家气候适应工作，识别气候风险并制定长期适应策略。必要时，我们将投资基础设施保护。通过GreenGov.SG，我们将带头推动适应工作，并鼓励私营部门跟进。
私营部门将把气候适应纳入核心业务战略。通过进行气候风险评估、保护工人、投资基础设施、多元化供应链和投保气候灾害，公司可以避免更大损失，增强投资者信心。企业必须能够经受极端天气事件并尽快恢复运营。那些创新和适应的企业将在未来蓬勃发展。
社区各界将共同建设气候韧性。学校可以调整学生的服装和活动以及教室以适应高温。体育组织可以调整训练时间表并提升设施安全以应对极端天气。基层团体可以组织应对热浪、雾霾或洪水的应急演练，增强社区韧性。
我们每个人都可以在自己和家庭中建立韧性——在雾霾时关心邻居，管理家庭的食物和水供应并制定应急预案。我们必须共同努力，使新加坡尽可能与气候变化同步前进，并在极端天气事件中尽快恢复。
我们将把2026年定为气候适应年，以激励这一集体适应努力。这包括对关键领域如耐热、沿海和防洪韧性以及水和粮食韧性的适应措施进行全面审查。我们将与公民、企业和民间社会共同制定新加坡首个国家适应计划，这是我们建设气候适应国家的长期战略。
让我详细说明计划的关键领域。
首先是耐热韧性。我们将加强并协调全政府的耐热韧性工作。我们将加大研发投入，深化对高温影响的理解，开发创新冷却方案，识别有效的行为改变。高级国务部长贾尼尔将分享更多细节。
接下来是防洪韧性。傅丽珊女士问，如果未来降雨更强，我们的排水基础设施是否仍足够。我们定期审查排水设施的适用性，考虑最新的排水设计标准和气候预测。多个项目正在筹备中。
例如，我们将对勿洛第一支渠和实龙岗东、西支渠进行排水改善工程，以降低洪水风险。今年我们还将完成武吉知马运河900米区段（步枪场路至甘榜占德路）的排水改善。除了排水改善，建立共同责任和促进社区韧性仍是关键防洪策略。高级议员秘书稍后将分享更多。
第三是沿海韧性。为保护我们的海岸线免受海平面上升影响，我们将建造一条环绕新加坡的连续防线。我们很高兴地宣布，已完成从大士到林厝港西北海岸的概念研究。研究建议更换潮门并加高保护西部水库的堤坝——这是我们重要的水源。圣淘沙和西南海岸的具体场地研究将于今年启动。
本周标志着我们沿海保护旅程的重要进展。我们将提交《沿海保护法案》二读，该法案一旦通过，将赋予我们实施沿海保护计划的立法和监管权力。
在重塑未来海岸线的过程中，我们将与利益相关者携手共创解决方案，不仅保护海岸线，保存我们最珍视的空间和特征，还提供创造新空间的机会。
最后是水和粮食韧性。我们将继续创新并采取集体行动，确保即使在供应中断时，新加坡的基本需求也能得到满足。高级国务部长扎基和贾尼尔将详细说明。
我们已经谈到了适应的“为什么”和“什么”，现在谈谈“如何”。全面的适应计划必须以科学为基础并受其指导。
议员们问我们如何提升气候监测和预报能力，包括通过国际合作。去年九月，我们成立了新加坡气候与天气研究联盟（CAWRAS），推动新加坡及东南亚的热带气候和天气研究。
CAWRAS正在实施一项价值2500万新元的天气科学研究计划，将提升我们的天气预报和气候预测能力。该计划项目之一利用人工智能增强强降雨和强风的预测，提高我们预测苏门答腊风暴等天气现象的能力。另一项目将开发高分辨率历史天气记录，帮助新加坡和东南亚识别趋势，深入了解区域气候动态。这些努力使新加坡成为区域气候与天气科学的领导者，借助人工智能预测能力支持基于证据的政策制定。
我们与领先的气候和天气科学机构建立了合作关系。国家环境局是多边Momentum Partnership的核心合作伙伴，该联盟由主要的运营气象中心和气候研究中心组成。
国家环境局还与澳大利亚、英国和美国的主要研究机构签署了双边协议。这些合作使我们能够交流科学知识并合作开展气候科学研究。
我们将热应激传感器网络从2023年的9个扩展到现在的20个，并将在全岛安装更多传感器。这将增强我们的气候和天气监测能力，通过myENV应用向公众提供更准确的热应激警报，使每个人都能保护自己免受高温影响。
这些进展将帮助我们从气候灾害的早期预警、粮食多样化战略到长期适应计划做出更及时、更优决策。
气候变化影响每个人，因此让所有新加坡人都有机会参与制定国家适应计划非常重要。傅丽珊女士和李慧莹女士问我们如何计划与社区互动。今年，政府将开展一系列活动，包括焦点小组讨论和公众展览。我们将讨论气候适应为何对我们所有人重要，以及为何必须现在准备。
我们希望人们分享应对气候变化影响的经验，以及他们如何参与新加坡适应工作的想法。通过汇聚公民、企业和民间社会的集体智慧，我们将增强国家的气候韧性，保障我们的生活方式，包括老年人、年轻人和低收入家庭等更需要帮助的群体。
对于企业，我们将与行业合作，制定符合其业务需求的适应策略。今年晚些时候将提供更多细节，欢迎新加坡人积极参与。
晚上8点15分
政府充分意识到许多社区利益相关者热衷于气候行动并拥有创新的适应理念。为鼓励自下而上的倡议，SG生态基金将扩大资助范围，涵盖适应项目。让我分享一个鼓舞人心的例子。
本地设计机构Anak意识到我们在应对高温的着装方面存在巨大差距。因此，他们召集了来自世界各地的艺术家举办气候适应时尚展。他们举办工作坊，提高公众对城市高温挑战的认识，教参与者制作自己的降温配饰，将意识转化为行动，激发在变暖世界中新生活方式的灵感。
我今天穿着他们的作品之一——超纱笼。这条围巾改编自传统纱笼，暴露在阳光下时会从黄色变为橙色，给你紫外线暴露的视觉警示。我们欢迎社区更多此类精彩创意。高级议员秘书稍后将介绍政府如何支持。主席先生，请用中文。
（中文）：[请参阅方言发言。] 可持续发展与环境部已将今年定为气候适应年。我们面临的工作繁重。没有任何一个部门、机构或行业能独自完成。企业必须创新，社区必须互相支持，研究人员必须突破界限。
最重要的是，我们需要公众积极参与。无论是探索更好管理高温的方法，如何为突发洪水做好准备，还是如何在保护海岸休闲空间和生物多样性的同时实施措施，公众参与将决定我们长期计划的成效。
公众的意见将塑造我们的首个国家适应计划，我们将在2027年发布，并在未来几年实施。
主席先生，作为一名新晋祖母，我希望我的孙女能在和平稳定的环境中成长。然而，即使我国尽最大努力保护环境，其他地方发生的环境变化仍会影响我们。
在这个充满不确定性的世界里，我希望我的孙女能以韧性和信心迎接未来的挑战。气候适应不仅仅是沿海建造海堤，还包括增强人民和社区的心理准备和应对能力，使我们的国家在面对日益动荡和极端的天气事件时保持冷静和坚定。
（英文）：我想向宁展示，正如我们国家建设的前60年一样，在未来60年及更长时间里，我们可以凭借集体意志、坚定决心和永不被小国身份限制的战斗精神，克服困难，推动气候行动。最重要的是，作为新加坡人，我希望我们这一代成为未来新加坡人的骄傲，因为我们为他们做了正确的事，凭借勇气和远见，做出了正确的战略决策，为他们的未来建立了坚实的气候韧性基础。
我呼吁本院所有议员以及所有公民、企业和民间社会充分参与气候适应年国家适应计划的制定。现在是行动的时候。[掌声]
主席：可持续发展与环境部高级国务部长贾尼尔·普图切里博士。
可持续发展与环境部高级国务部长（贾尼尔·普图切里博士）：主席先生，我们今天正经历气候变化的影响。因此，我们必须采取果断行动，适应我们面临的新现实。因此，我们将2026年定为气候适应年。这需要多管齐下的方法，包括增强水韧性、耐热韧性和资源韧性。
所有适应工作的核心是集体行动的重要性。政府机构、企业、社区团体和个人，我们每个人都有责任。
李慧莹女士问及我们的水韧性工作。我们的水资源故事令人鼓舞。我们是一个自然水资源有限的小岛国。通过坚定的国家决心、长期规划和创新，我们几十年来建立了强大且多元化的供水体系，即四个国家水龙头：本地集水区水、进口水、再生水（NEWater）和海水淡化水。
联合国最近一份报告宣布，地球已进入全球水资源破产，许多地区的长期用水量超过了可再生水流入量。新加坡必须继续未雨绸缪，投资水务基础设施，确保水需求得到满足。我们已取得良好进展。
深隧污水系统第二阶段（DTSS 2）将扩大废水输送能力，这些废水是NEWater生产的原料。DTSS 2建设进展顺利，深隧道已基本完成。其终点处的大士水回用厂和大士NEWater厂计划于2027年分阶段投产。完工后，DTSS还将释放150公顷土地供其他用途。
我们已开始建设樟宜NEWater厂3号，预计2028年完工。公共事业局也在进行第六座海水淡化厂的可行性研究。面对气候变化，再生水和海水淡化水是关键的抗气候变化水源，特别增强我们的水韧性。
我们的供水网络仍是世界上最高效的之一，水损失约为8%。公共事业局通过定期维护和技术手段，如传感器早期检测和响应管道泄漏，实现这一目标。
在投资建设和维护水务基础设施的同时，我们也应坚持节水努力，控制用水需求增长。我们将继续与从家庭到企业的利益相关者密切合作，塑造行为，促进可持续用水。
为应对气温上升，我们制定了基于科学的多管齐下耐热韧性策略。如李慧莹女士所述，这是全社会的努力——学术界、政府机构和社区必须携手合作，确保新加坡继续成为充满活力、宜居和充满活力的城市。
黄世轩先生问我们如何协调标准并分享现有耐热韧性工作的最佳实践。政府一直在持续应对高温。例如，可持续发展与环境部通过热应激咨询和宣传活动提升公众对热应激预防的认识，国家发展部将冷却策略纳入城市规划和建筑设计，如风廊优化风流和沿主要步行路线及公共空间种植树木提供遮荫。我们还制定了涵盖30多个政府机构和部门的国家热浪应对计划。
随着气候变化影响加剧，炎热持续影响社会各个群体，我们需要加强全政府协调，提升我们的耐热策略，以全面应对炎热带来的所有影响，包括对经济和社会的影响。
我们很高兴宣布，贸易与工业部已成立新的耐热政策办公室。新的耐热政策办公室将汇聚多个部门的努力，包括国家发展部、卫生部、人力部和社会及家庭发展部，共同规划我们耐热工作的未来方向。我们将通过三大主要方式推进：协调行动、监督研究以及代表我们参与国际事务。
该办公室将制定涵盖基础设施、健康、经济和社会领域的耐热行动计划。行动计划将确定优先领域并制定应对措施，包括将已验证的解决方案推广至其他领域。这也将防止重复努力，确保我们的原则一致，同时与各负责不同项目的部门合作。我们需要处理的一些问题包括：哪些地区、行业或人口群体最易受影响？我们如何进一步支持这些群体？各行业还需要哪些额外研究以制定有效且针对性的措施？我们如何在增加制冷需求与实现减排目标之间取得平衡？
该办公室将与政府部门合作，动员企业和社区关注这些重要议题，共同探索如何在本地空间和社区中构建耐热能力。感谢黄世轩先生、李慧玲女士和何大卫先生的建议，这些建议务实且值得与相关部门深入探讨。我们将在与利益相关者沟通及制定行动计划时采纳这些意见。
我们还需要协调监督耐热相关的研究和技术工作，以持续提升能力和深化知识。这确保行动计划中的措施有科学依据。
我们将启动“研发创新2030耐热研发计划”，通过两个互补支柱推进耐热研究能力和投资——一个聚焦基础设施干预，另一个聚焦理解和管理热对社会的影响。作为该计划的一部分，我们将推出4000万新元的“适应热影响”资助计划，推动新兴领域的研究，如热影响和社区耐热能力。
何大卫先生询问我们的耐热计划如何照顾弱势群体。这将是新资助计划下的重点研究领域。我们将投入更多资源研究和保护更易受热影响的人群，如老年人、幼儿以及更易暴露于高温环境的户外工作者。我们的目标是更好地理解热对所有人的影响，制定针对性的指导和解决方案，帮助每个人在变暖的世界中茁壮成长。
这项新的研究工作建立在我们多年来的基础上，汇聚研究人员和部门共同创造创新解决方案。例如，在“冷却新加坡2.0”项目中，研究人员与政府部门合作开发了全岛数字城市气候孪生系统，用于模拟新加坡的城市气候并评估各种降温策略的效果。这将指导各部门测试和实施热缓解策略。
在“研发创新2030耐热研发计划”下规划下一阶段研究工作时，我们呼吁研究人员和产业界加入我们的行列。
该办公室还将主导耐热领域的国际交流与合作。我们将分享我们的努力并学习其他国家的最佳实践。这并非新事，但将更加协调。例如，继新加坡-苏黎世联邦理工学院中心成功开发数字城市气候孪生系统后，巴西地方政府正在试点该工具，用于模拟城市和区级气候变化情景。
该耐热策略也与现有工作协同推进，如“Go25”全国运动。该运动于去年启动，鼓励居民在家中、办公室及建筑物内将空调温度设定为25摄氏度，以促进行为改变。目标是解决过度制冷问题，减少能源使用，同时不牺牲热舒适度。
2025年的活动获得约200家行业合作伙伴的积极参与，他们承诺减少过度制冷，采用可持续做法，构建长期耐热能力。节能承诺预计每年节省至少640万新元。
这既是环境的胜利，也是长期成本节约，同时不影响热舒适度。我鼓励议员们参观我们的综合枢纽公共空间，如淡滨尼枢纽和芽笼士乃大厦，以及社区俱乐部，如裕华社区中心和加文峇鲁社区中心。这些场所已承诺参与Go25，并安装了混合制冷系统，结合风扇和空调，保持共享空间的舒适。
在适应气候变化的同时，我们也必须努力减缓对环境的影响。对于家庭，居民可通过“气候友好家庭计划”使用代金券购买节能节水的家用电器。苏涵怡女士询问该计划的未来安排。下个月，我们将扩大资格范围，纳入五级能效烘干机和电磁炉。
打造循环经济是气候减缓的另一关键推动力。通过转向理性消费和减少、重复使用及回收的可持续习惯，我们可以最大限度减少废弃物处理量。
晚上8点30分
感谢阿卜杜勒·穆海敏先生、李慧玲女士、傅丽珊女士和普里塔姆·辛格先生对废物减量和回收的关注。自2019年推出“零废弃主计划”以来，我们引入了分类回收以补充蓝色回收桶的混合回收。例如，2021年推出了新加坡首个生产者延伸责任计划，确保电子废弃物的妥善终端管理和回收。针对食物废弃物，2025年实施的“好撒玛利亚人食物捐赠法”促进剩余食物捐赠给受益者。此外，根据《资源可持续法》，产生大量食物废弃物的新商业和工业建筑须进行分类处理并报告。
包装废弃物是值得特别关注的废物流，其中塑料占很大比例。新加坡产生的包装废弃物占国内废弃物总量的三分之一。我们的整体回收率较低，塑料回收率仅约5%。
因此，我们正在加强包装的循环利用。苏涵怡女士和李慧玲女士询问我们应对该废物流的努力。2023年7月，我们实施了一次性购物袋收费。自实施以来，参与的超市报告结账时发放的购物袋数量减少了70%至80%。
丹尼斯·陈先生也询问是否会扩大生产者延伸责任计划以增强生产者在废物管理中的责任。我们最近在议会讨论了第二个EPR计划——饮料容器回收计划。该计划将在数周内启动，口号为“正确回收”。
“正确回收”起源于2019年“正确回收公民工作组”的建议。议会于2023年支持立法变更以实施该计划。随后，生产商联盟成立了BCRS有限公司以运营该计划。预计该计划每年可回收超过16,000吨材料。
通过“正确回收”，我们希望新加坡人更加关注所消费的包装，妥善处理废弃物，保持公共空间清洁，并养成良好的回收习惯，从而减少蓝色回收桶中的污染。
“正确回收”需要我们所有人做出调整——生产商、零售商、消费者、餐饮店等。根据其他国家的经验，计划需要时间才能稳定运行。
计划将于4月启动，带有计划押金标记的容器将在过渡期内逐步进入市场，预计今年8月至9月广泛可用。这将为大家提供适应新回收方式的时间。未来几周，我们将扩大与合作伙伴的宣传力度，加强线上推广，并在商店设置材料说明计划运作及回收地点。
主要超市运营商已联合为消费者提供更清晰的价格展示。他们决定货架上显示饮料价格时不含10分押金，押金将在结账时收取。我们将继续与业界紧密合作，确保价格透明。
我们还与BCRS有限公司合作，力求使回收尽可能便捷，同时保持运营成本合理。计划于4月1日前部署超过1,000台“正确回收”自动回收机（RVM），消费者可通过SimplyGo EZ-Link卡、优惠卡及DBS PayLah!获得10分押金退款。启动时将有流动大使协助消费者使用RVM。
随着更多带押金标记的容器进入流通，第一年内RVM数量将逐步增加至2,000台。部分新增RVM地点已确定，其余将根据回收模式及社区和其他利益相关者反馈选址。
我们认识到部分长者和残障人士可能需要额外支持以适应该计划。因此，我们将与社区伙伴如TOUCH社区服务、慈济基金会（新加坡）及新加坡环境理事会合作，帮助这些群体更好理解计划并解决回收饮料容器时遇到的困难。我们也与SG Enable合作改善回收体验。
我刚才谈及在超市或零售店购买饮料并在RVM回收。那么在餐厅用餐时点饮料怎么办？新加坡餐饮业态多样，运营模式各异。为此，我们确定了两种主要类型，便于消费者区分。
部分餐厅和食品店计划回收堂食饮用的饮料容器，因此不会向顾客收取10分押金。这些店铺称为“正确回收”餐饮点。因其承担饮料容器回收责任，不会将责任转嫁给顾客。堂食时，他们会使用无容器的杯子或玻璃杯，或使用带容器的饮料，顾客用后将容器留在桌上或托盘回收点，由店铺收集。为便于识别，这些店铺将显著展示标识和贴纸。
对顾客而言，这种安排类似当前用餐体验，但对餐饮经营者来说需额外努力和运营调整。我们将为每家食品店提供一次性500新元的支持，需申请。
未参与“正确回收”餐饮计划的餐厅和食品店，将适用默认安排——饮料容器销售时附带10分押金。简言之，押金随容器转移，责任由消费者承担回收。这种默认安排更适合某些场所，如熟食中心和大多数咖啡店。由于用餐区开放且多个饮料摊位共存，回收安排较为复杂。
大多数组屋咖啡店步行五分钟内可达RVM。熟食中心作为人流密集的社区聚点，RVM将设于场内或附近，待RVM全面部署后实施。
回收是共同责任，每个人都有角色。我们每个人都能为饮料容器回收贡献力量。虽需调整，但每点努力都重要，携手共建更绿色、更可持续的新加坡。
共享责任和集体行动精神也应体现在我们如何维护公共空间。感谢何大卫先生和李慧玲女士提出高层乱扔垃圾、二手烟和害虫管理问题，这些都是需要大家共同努力的重要议题。
为应对高层乱扔垃圾的持续反馈，国家环境局正试点与市镇理事会加强合作。该计划为每个市镇理事会每月提供两次监控摄像头部署，以便更快更有针对性地干预高层乱扔垃圾案件。自2025年10月试点启动以来，已部署39台摄像头，抓拍率达30%，显示合作成效显著。
为减少公众暴露于二手烟，国家环境局已逐步扩大禁烟范围，覆盖新加坡超过49,000个公共场所，较2021年的32,000个大幅增加。配合有针对性的执法行动，包括自2019年以来在组屋公共区域部署900多次热成像摄像头，约44%的部署有效检测到吸烟违规行为。
在病媒控制方面，国家环境局加强对老鼠相关违规行为的执法。2025年，国家环境局和食品局共对场所业主和管理者采取约1,200次执法行动，其中约560次涉及垃圾管理违规。国家环境局将继续支持有效的病媒控制，与利益相关者合作提升服务标准，并通过培训和信息共享增强能力。
为抑制蚊虫数量，国家环境局扩大了沃尔巴奇项目，预计到2026年3月覆盖74万个家庭，高于2025年4月的58万个家庭。
仅依靠法规和执法不足以解决问题。社区的集体努力对保障公共健康至关重要。吸烟者应考虑周围人群，场所业主和居民有责任防止蚊虫滋生和老鼠侵扰。
主席先生，气候适应需要集体努力。在加强水资源、耐热和资源韧性的下一阶段工作中，每个人都能发挥作用。这是今天和未来的愿景，刻不容缓。政府、产业界和社区都能助力建设宜居的新加坡，惠及当下及未来多年。
主席：傅瑾芳部长。
英文原文
SPRS Hansard 原始记录 · 抓取日期：2026-05-02
[(proc text) Debate resumed. (proc text)]
The Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) : Mr Chairman, my family welcomed a new member, my granddaughter Ning, this year with great delight.
Her arrival has made me think differently about the future – her future and the future of the world she will live in. She has moved my life goals. I now want to be fit enough to play with her. I hope to live to see her graduate from college, and she brings new meaning to my work in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
Numbers like net-zero at 2050, mean sea level rise by up to 1.15 metres in 2100, no longer seem so abstract. Ning will be 24 in 2050. What kind of world will she live in? Will she enjoy bliss and stability, or will she confront chaos, losses and disasters regularly in the prime years of her life?
You see, we are confronting two powerful and interconnected challenges. First, the intensifying effects of climate change. Records are being broken in recent years – the hottest year, most intense rainfall, heaviest snowstorm, longest wildfires. Climate hazards are projected to cause economic loss of over a trillion dollars by 2050. Disruptions in food production and water supply may become frequent occurrences.
Second, global climate action is under strain. Economic instability and geopolitical contestation, like the latest conflict in the Middle East, are clouding our focus on protecting our environment. Major emitters may backslide on their climate obligations as they grapple with the global tensions on security, energy, trade and investments. In such uncertain times, the environment becomes an inevitable casualty, and our planet will face the impacts of climate change more severely and sooner.
Singapore will not be spared from these impacts. Our water and food security will be threatened by more frequent supply disruptions and shortages. Rising sea levels, coupled with high tides and extreme weather events, threaten to submerge a significant part of our country by the end of this century, potentially causing major losses in property, our economy and human lives.
Our businesses will likewise face climate risks such as damaged infrastructure, reduced productivity and supply chain disruptions. Businesses that have invested in other parts of the world will face similar risks. Our people are already feeling the effects. Intensifying heat not only makes daily life uncomfortable, but affects our health, safety and even our way of life. This is not a pretty world to bring Ning into.
But as Prime Minister Wong said, we are not mere passive bystanders. You and I have agency. Businesses have agency. And Singapore has agency. In an increasingly volatile world, we must prioritise building a climate-ready Singapore now. We must prepare our infrastructure, businesses and people today to be resilient in a climate-impaired future.
As Ms Poh Li San and Ms Nadia Samdin have pointed out, strengthening our resilience requires collective action of all segments of society. The Government will lead in our national climate adaptation by identifying climate risks and developing long-term adaptation strategies. Where necessary, we will invest in infrastructure protection. Through GreenGov.SG, we will spearhead adaptation efforts and encourage the private sector to follow.
The private sector will include climate adaptation as part of their core business strategy. By conducting climate risk assessments, protecting workers, investing in infrastructure, diversifying supply chains and insuring against climate hazards, companies can protect themselves from larger losses and reassure their investors. Businesses must be able to ride through extreme whether events and resume operations as quickly as possible. Those who innovate and adapt will thrive in the future.
All segments of the community will build climate resilience. Schools can adapt their students' attire and activities and their classrooms to the heat. Sports organisations can adjust training schedules and enhance their facilities for safety during extreme weather. Grassroots groups can organise emergency preparedness drills for heatwaves, haze, or floods to strengthen community resilience.
Each of us can build resilience in ourselves and in our family – look out for our neighbours in times of haze, manage our household's food and water supply with contingency and familiarise ourselves with emergency response plans. Together, we must keep Singapore going as much as possible in step with the changing climate and recover as quickly as possible in the face of extreme weather events.
We will designate 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation to galvanise this collective effort on adaptation. It involves a comprehensive review of our adaptation measures across key domains such as heat resilience, coastal and flood resilience, and water and food resilience. Together with citizens, businesses and civil society, we will formulate Singapore's first National Adaptation Plan, our long-term strategy to build a climate-ready nation.
Let me elaborate on the key domains of the plan.
First, heat resilience. We will strengthen and coordinate heat resilience efforts across the whole-of-Government. We will invest more in research and development (R&D) to deepen our understanding of heat impacts, develop innovative cooling solutions and identify effective behavioural changes. Senior Minister of State Janil will share more details.
Next, flood resilience. Ms Poh asked whether our drainage infrastructure will still be sufficient if rainfall gets heavier in the future. We regularly review the adequacy of our drainage infrastructure, taking into account the latest drainage design standards and climate projections. Several projects are in the pipeline.
For example, we will be carrying out drainage improvement works to Bedok First Subsidiary Drain and Sungei Serangoon Eastern and Western subsidiary drains to reduce flood risks. We will also complete drainage improvements to 900 metres of the Bukit Timah Canal between Rifle Range Road and Jalan Kampong Chantek this year. Besides drainage improvements, building shared responsibility and fostering community resilience will remain key flood resilience strategies. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary will share more later.
Third, coastal resilience. To protect our coastlines from rising seas, we will build a continuous line of defence around Singapore. We are pleased to share that we have now completed conceptual studies for the North-west Coast from Tuas to Lim Chu Kang. The studies recommended replacing tidal gates and raising the dykes that are protecting our western reservoirs – a significant source of our water supply. Site-specific studies for Sentosa and the Southwest Coast will commence this year.
This week marks an important step forward in our coastal protection journey. We will table the Coastal Protection Bill in Parliament for Second Reading, which, when passed, will give us the legislation and regulatory powers to implement our coastal protection plan.
As we reshape our coastlines for the future, we will work hand-in-hand with stakeholders to co-create solutions that not only protect our shores and preserve the spaces and features we value most but provide opportunities to create new spaces.
Lastly, water and food resilience. We will continue to innovate and take collective action to ensure Singapore's basic needs are met even in times of disruption. Senior Minister of State Zaqy and Senioe Minister of State Janil will elaborate.
We have touched on the "why" and "what" of adaptation. And now, on the "how". A holistic adaptation plan needs to be grounded in and guided by science.
Members asked how we are enhancing climate monitoring and forecasting capabilities, including through international partnerships. Last September, we established the Climate and Weather Research Alliance Singapore (CAWRAS) to advance tropical climate and weather research for Singapore and Southeast Asia.
CAWRAS is implementing a $25 million Weather Science Research Programme, which will raise our capability in weather forecasts and climate projections. Of the programme's projects, one covers the use of AI to enhance predictions of heavy rainfall and strong winds, improving our ability to forecast weather phenomena like Sumatra squalls. Another will develop a high-resolution historical weather record, allowing Singapore and Southeast Asia to identify trends and provide insights into regional climate dynamics. These efforts position Singapore as a regional leader in climate and weather science through AI-powered forecasting capabilities that enable evidence-based policy-making.
We have forged partnerships with leading climate and weather science institutes. NEA is a core partner in the multilateral Momentum Partnership, a consortium of major operational weather centres and climate research centres.
NEA also has bilateral agreements with major research organisations in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. These partnerships allow us to exchange scientific knowledge and collaborate on climate science research.
We are expanding our heat stress sensor network from nine sensors in 2023 to 20 today and will install more sensors island-wide. This will augment our climate and weather monitoring capabilities and give the public more accurate heat stress alerts through the myENV app, enabling everyone to protect ourselves from heat.
Together, these advancements will help us make more timely and better decisions from early warning of climate hazards, our food diversification strategy to our long-term adaptation plan.
As climate change affects everyone, it is important for all Singaporeans to have the opportunity to shape our National Adaptation Plan. Ms Poh and Ms Lee Hui Ying asked how we plan to engage communities on this. This year, the Government will conduct a series of engagements, including focus group discussions and a public exhibition. We will discuss why climate adaptation is important to all of us and why we need to prepare now.
We hope people can share their experiences dealing with the impacts of climate change, and their ideas on how they can also play a part in Singapore's adaptation efforts. By tapping on the collective minds of citizens, businesses and civil society, we will enhance our nation's climate resilience to safeguard our way of life, including those with more needs – the elderly, the young and the low-income households.
For businesses, we will engage and partner our industries in developing adaptation strategies that are tailored to their business needs. We will provide more details later this year and welcome Singaporeans' active participation.
8.15 pm
The Government is fully aware that there are many community stakeholders who are passionate about climate action and have innovative ideas on adaptation. To encourage ground-up initiatives, the SG Eco Fund will broaden its funding scope to include adaptation. Let me share an inspiring example.
Anak, a local design agency, realised that there is a huge gap in how we dress for the heat. So, they brought together artists from around the world for a showcase on climate-adaptive fashion. They ran workshops, raising awareness about urban heat challenges and teaching participants how to create their own heat-mitigating accessories, turning awareness into action and inspiring new ways of living in a warming world.
I am wearing one of their pieces today, the Ultra Sarong. This scarf, adapted from the Sarong, changes colour from yellow to orange when exposed to the sun, giving you a visual alert to UV exposure. We welcome more of such brilliant ideas from the community. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary will share more about how the Government will support. Mr Chairman, in Chinese, please.
( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] MSE has designated this year as the Year of Climate Adaptation. Our work ahead is substantial. No single Ministry, agency or sector can do this alone. Businesses must innovate, communities must support one another and researchers must push boundaries.
Most importantly, we need active public participation. Whether in exploring ways to better manage heat, how to be prepared for flash floods or how we can implement measures while preserving recreational spaces and biodiversity at our coastlines, public participation will determine the effectiveness of our long-term plans.
Inputs from members of the public will shape our first National Adaptation Plan, which we will publish in 2027 and implement in the years to come.
Chairman, as a new grandmother, I hope that my granddaughter can grow up in a peaceful and stable environment. However, even though our country does its utmost to protect the environment, environmental changes occurring elsewhere will still affect us.
In this world full of uncertainties, I hope that my granddaughter can grow up with resilience and confidence to meet the challenges ahead of her. Climate adaptation is not merely about building sea walls along our coasts. It is also about enhancing the mental preparedness and response capabilities of our people and communities, so that our nation can remain calm and steadfast when facing increasingly volatile and extreme weather events.
( In English ): I want to show Ning that as in the first 60 years of our nation building, we can, in the next 60 years and beyond, beat the odds by our collective will, sheer determination and the fighting spirit to never be constrained by our small size in our climate action. Most of all, as a Singaporean, I would like our generation to be a source of pride for the future generations of Singaporeans, that we have done right by them, that with g umption and courage, we have the foresight to make the right strategic decisions to build a strong foundation for climate resilience for their future.
I call on all Members of this House and all citizens, businesses and civil society to participate fully in the formulation of our National Adaption Plan in the Year of Climate Adaptation. This is the time to act. [ Applause. ]
The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Dr Janil Puthucheary.
The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Janil Puthucheary) : Mr Chairman, we are experiencing the effects of climate change today. We must therefore take decisive action to adapt to the new realities we face. Hence, we designated 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation. This requires a multi-pronged approach, which includes enhancing water resilience, heat resilience and resource resilience.
At the heart of all our adaptation efforts is the importance of collective action. Government agencies, businesses, community groups and individuals, all of us have a part to play.
Ms Valerie Lee asked about our water resilience efforts. Our water story is an inspiring one. We are a small island nation with limited natural water resources. Through strong national determination, long-term planning and innovation, we have built a robust and diversified supply of water over decades with our four national taps: local catchment water, imported water, NEWater and desalinated water.
A recent UN report has declared that the planet has entered global water bankruptcy, with long-term water withdrawals exceeding renewable inflows in many regions across the world. It is crucial that Singapore continues to plan ahead and invest in water infrastructure, so that our water needs continue to be met. We have made good progress.
The second phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS 2) will expand the conveyance of used water, which becomes feedstock for NEWater production. Construction of DTSS 2 has progressed well, with the deep tunnels substantially completed. At its terminus, the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant and Tuas NEWater Factory are scheduled to commission in phases from 2027. When completed, the DTSS will also free up 150 hectares of land for other uses.
We have commenced construction of Changi NEWater Factory 3 and expect works to be completed in 2028. PUB is also carrying out a feasibility study of a potential sixth desalination plant. With climate change, NEWater and desalinated water are key weather-resilient sources that especially strengthen our water resilience.
Our water distribution network also remains one of the most efficient in the world, with water losses at about 8%. PUB achieves this with regular maintenance and technology, such as sensors to detect and respond to pipe leaks early.
As we invest in building and maintaining our water infrastructure, we should also persist with our water conservation efforts to moderate the growth in water demand. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders, from households to businesses, to shape behaviours and promote sustainable water use.
To address rising temperatures, we have developed a science-based, multi-pronged heat resilience strategy. As mentioned by Ms Valerie Lee, this is a whole-of-nation effort – academia, Government agencies and the community must come together so that Singapore continues to be a vibrant, liveable and dynamic city.
Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked how we will harmonise standards and share best practices across existing heat resilience efforts. Tackling heat has been an ongoing work of the Government. For example, MSE has been enhancing public awareness on heat stress prevention through the Heat Stress Advisory and communication campaigns and the Ministry of National Development has been incorporating cooling strategies into our city's urban planning and building design, such as wind corridors to optimise wind flow and trees to provide shade along key pedestrian routes and public spaces. We had also prepared the national heatwave response plan involving over 30 Government agencies and Ministries.
As climate change impacts intensify and heat continues to affect all segments of the society, we need to tighten whole-of-Government coordination and enhance our heat resilience strategy so that we holistically address all impacts of heat, including those to the economy and society.
We are happy to announce that MSE has established a new Heat Resilience Policy Office. The new Heat Resilience Policy Office will bring together efforts across various agencies, including the Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, to chart the way forward for our heat resilience efforts. We will do so in three main ways: coordinate action, oversee research and represent us internationally.
The Office will develop a Heat Resilience Action Plan across the infrastructure, health, economic and social sectors. The Action Plan will identify priority areas and develop measures to address them, including by extending proven solutions to other sectors. This will also prevent duplicative efforts and ensure that our principles are aligned, while working with individual agencies leading the various initiatives. Some issues that we will need to deal with include, which areas, sectors or population segments are most at risk and how can we further support these groups? What additional research is needed for sectors to develop effective, tailored measures? How do we balance the need for additional cooling against the need to meet our emission targets?
The Office will work with Government agencies to engage businesses and communities on these important issues and explore how we can build heat resilience in our local spaces and communities together. I thank Mr Ng Shi Xuan, Ms Valerie Lee and Mr David Hoe for their suggestions. They are practical and worth taking a closer look with the relevant agencies. We will take these onboard as we engage our stakeholders and develop our Action Plan.
Coordinated oversight of our research and technology efforts for heat resilience is also needed so that we continue to build capabilities and deepen our knowledge. This ensures that the measures under the Action Plan are backed by science.
We will launch the RIE2030 Heat Resilience R&D Programme, to advance capabilities and investments in heat resilience research through two complementary pillars – one focusing on infrastructure interventions and the other on understanding and managing impact of heat on society. As part of this programme, we will launch a $40 million "Adapting to Heat Impacts" Funding Initiative, which will step up research in emerging areas, such as heat impact and community heat resilience.
Mr David Hoe asked how our heat resilience plans will cater to vulnerable groups. This will be a key area of our research under the new Funding Initiative. We will devote more resources to study and protect those who are more vulnerable to heat, such as the elderly and the very young and those who are more exposed to heat, such as outdoor workers. We aim to better understand how heat affects us all, and develop tailored guidelines and solutions to help everyone thrive in a warming world.
This new bound of research builds on work that we have done over the years, bringing together researchers and agencies to co-create innovative solutions. For example, under the Cooling Singapore 2.0 project, researchers have worked with Government agencies to develop an island-wide Digital Urban Climate Twin to simulate Singapore's urban climate and assess the effectiveness of various cooling strategies. This will guide agencies in testing and implementing heat mitigation strategies.
As we chart out our next bound of research efforts under the RIE2030 Heat Resilience R&D Programme, we call for researchers and industry to join us on this journey.
The Office will also lead international engagements and collaborations on heat resilience. We will share our efforts and learn from other countries' best practices. This is not new, but will now be more coordinated. For instance, following the success of the Digital Urban Climate Twin by the Singapore-ETH Centre, local authorities in Brazil are piloting the tool to simulate city- and district-level climate change scenarios.
This heat resilience strategy also works alongside existing efforts, such as the Go25 national movement. Launched last year, Go25 encourages behavioural change by getting residents to set the indoor air-conditioning temperature at 25 degrees in their homes, offices and buildings where possible. The aim is to tackle overcooling and reduce energy use, without sacrificing thermal comfort.
The campaign in 2025 saw strong participation from around 200 industry partners who committed to reduce over-cooling, adopt sustainable practices and build long-term heat resilience. The energy efficiency pledges will translate to at least $6.4 million in annual savings.
A win for the environment and long-term cost savings, without compromising on thermal comfort. I encourage Members to visit the common spaces of our integrated hubs, such as Our Tampines Hub and Wisma Geylang Serai, as well as our community clubs, such as Yuhua Community Centre and Kebun Baru Community Centre . They have pledged to Go25 and installed hybrid cooling systems, which include a combination of fans and air-conditioning, to keep our shared spaces comfortable.
As we adapt to climate change, we must also work to mitigate our impact on the environment. For households, residents can use vouchers under the Climate Friendly Households Programme to purchase energy and water efficient household appliances. Ms Hany Soh asked about our plans for this programme. Next month, we will expand its eligibility to include five-tick clothes dryers and induction stoves.
Creating a circular economy is another key enabler of climate mitigation. By shifting towards mindful consumption and sustainable habits of reducing, reusing and recycling, we can minimise the amount of waste disposed of.
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I thank Mr Abdul Muhaimin, Ms Lee Hui Ying, Ms Poh Li San and Mr Pritam Singh for their interest in waste reduction and recycling. Since launching the Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019, we have introduced segregated recycling to complement mixed recycling through the blue bins. For example, we introduced Singapore’s first Extended Producer Responsibility scheme in 2021 to ensure proper end-of-life management and the recycling of e-waste. For food waste, the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which commenced in 2025, will facilitate the donation of surplus food to beneficiaries. In addition, under the Resource Sustainability Act, new commercial and industrial buildings that generate large amount of food waste are required to segregate them for treatment and reporting.
One waste stream that deserves particular attention is packaging waste, of which plastics is a significant component. The amount of packaging waste generated in Singapore forms one third of our domestic waste generated. Our overall recycling rate is low, and for plastics, it is only around 5%.
This is why we are strengthening circularity for packaging. Ms Hany Soh and Ms Lee Hui Ying asked about our efforts to tackle this waste stream. In July 2023, we implemented the Disposable Carrier Bag Charge. Since then, participating supermarkets have reported a 70% to 80% reduction in the number of bags issued at checkout.
Mr Dennis Tan also asked if we will expand our Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to enhance producer accountability in managing waste. We had recently discussed in the House our second EPR, the Beverage Container Return Scheme. In a few weeks, the scheme will launch with the tagline “Return Right”.
Return Right began as a recommendation by a Recycle Right Citizens’ Workgroup in 2019. This House supported legislative changes to enact the scheme in 2023. Subsequently, a consortium of producers came together to form BCRS Ltd to operationalise the scheme. With the scheme, we expect to recover over 16,000 tonnes of material every year for recycling.
Through Return Right, we hope that Singaporeans will also become more mindful of the packaging they consume, dispose of waste properly to keep our shared spaces clean and practise good recycling habits, which will reduce the contamination in our blue recycling bins.
Return Right would require all of us to make some adjustments – producers, retailers, consumers, food shops and more. Based on the experiences in other countries, it will take time for the scheme to settle into a steady cadence.
While the scheme starts in April, containers bearing the scheme’s deposit mark will gradually enter the market over the transition period, with widespread availability by August and September this year. This will give everyone some time to transit to a new way of recycling. In the coming weeks, we will expand outreach efforts with partners, scale up online publicity and see materials at stores explaining how the scheme works and where to recycle.
Major supermarket operators have come together to provide greater clarity in price displays for consumers. They have collectively decided to display beverage prices on shelves without including the 10-cent deposit, and reflect that the deposit will be charged at checkout. We will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure transparent pricing for consumers.
We are also working with BCRS Ltd to make recycling as practical as possible, while keeping the cost of operations reasonable. Efforts are underway to deploy over 1,000 Return Right reverse vending machines (RVMs) by 1 April, where consumers can get their 10-cent deposit refunded via SimplyGo EZ-Link cards and concession cards and DBS PayLah!. At launch, there will be roving ambassadors to assist consumers in the use of the RVMs.
We will progressively increase the RVMs deployed to 2,000 within the first year as more containers with the 10-cent deposit mark enter circulation. Some of these additional RVM locations have already been identified and the remaining ones will be located based on return patterns, and feedback from the community and other stakeholders.
We recognise that some seniors and persons with disabilities may require additional support to adapt to the scheme. We will therefore work with community partners such as TOUCH Community Services, Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) and the Singapore Environment Council to reach out to these groups, to better help them understand the scheme and address any challenges they may face in returning their beverage containers. We are also working with SG Enable to improve the return experience.
I have spoken about purchasing beverages from the supermarket or a retail shop and returning them at the RVMs. But what happens when we order a beverage while dining outside in a restaurant? The F&B landscape in Singapore is very diverse, with different settings and operating models. To address this, we have identified two main typologies, which will be clearly differentiated for consumers’ ease.
Some restaurants and food shops have indicated that they plan to collect back the containers of beverages consumed during dining-in and hence they will not charge their customers the 10-cent deposit. These establishments will be known as Return Right F&B outlets. Because they will take care of the beverage containers, they are taking on the responsibility and so, they will not transfer that responsibility on to their customers. They will not be charging their customers the 10-cent deposit when you are dining in. They will either serve the beverages in cups or glasses without containers or serve the drinks with the containers, with the understanding that customers leave them behind or at the tray return point after consumption for collection by the outlet. To help diners easily identify these outlets, they will display signages and decals prominently.
For the customer, this arrangement is similar to the current dining experience. However, it will require additional effort and some operational adjustments for F&B operators. We will therefore provide a one-time support of $500 per food shop on application.
For restaurants and food shops not participating in the Return Right F&B scheme, the default arrangement will apply – beverage containers will be sold with the 10-cent deposit. In short, the 10-cent deposit follows the container, and the responsibility then to deal with the container and recycle it. This default arrangement is also more suitable for certain settings, such as hawker centres and most coffeeshops. In these settings, takeback arrangements could be quite challenging due to the porous nature of the dining areas and the presence of multiple drink stalls within the same area in the case of hawker centres.
Most HDB coffeeshops will be within a five-minute walk from an RVM. For hawker centres, which serve as high-footfall community gathering points, an RVM will be placed either within the premises or nearby once the RVMs are fully deployed.
Recycling is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play. We can each do our part in making beverage container return work. This does require some adjustments. But every small effort counts, and together, we can build a greener and more sustainable Singapore.
The spirit of shared responsibility and collective action must extend to how we take care of our common spaces. I thank Mr David Hoe and Ms Lee Hui Ying for raising the topics of high-rise littering, second-hand smoke and pest management as these are important issues that require everyone to play their part.
To address persistent feedback on high-rise littering, NEA is piloting an enhanced partnership with Town Councils. Under this initiative, each Town Council is provided with two surveillance camera deployments per month to enable faster and more targeted intervention for high-rise littering cases. Since the pilot started in October 2025, 39 cameras have been deployed with a 30% catch-rate, an encouraging result from our closer collaboration.
To reduce public exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, NEA has progressively expanded smoking prohibitions to over 49,000 public places across Singapore, up from 32,000 in 2021. These measures are supplemented by targeted enforcement, including more than 900 thermal camera deployments in HDB common areas with persistent feedback since 2019. These cameras effectively detected smoking offences in about 44% of deployments.
On vector control, NEA has tightened its enforcement against rat-related lapses. About 1,200 enforcement actions were taken by NEA and SFA against premises owners and managers for rat-related lapses in 2025, of which about 560 were for refuse management lapses. NEA will also continue to support effective vector control, working with stakeholders to raise service standards and enhancing capabilities through training and information sharing.
To suppress the mosquito population, NEA has also expanded Project Wolbachia, which will cover 740,000 households by March 2026, up from 580,000 households in April 2025.
Relying on regulations and enforcement alone is not enough. Collective effort by the community remains critical in helping us safeguard public health. Smokers should be considerate of those around them when they smoke. Premises owners and residents have a responsibility to prevent mosquito breeding and rat infestation.
Mr Chairman, climate adaptation requires a collective effort. As we chart our next-bound efforts in strengthening our water, heat and resource resilience, everyone can play their part. This is a vision for today and for the future. There is no time to waste. Everyone, from Government to industry to the community, can help build a liveable Singapore today and for many years to come.
The Chairman : Minister Grace Fu.