Owners of coastal land in Singapore will soon be legally required to prepare for a projected 2.15-meter sea level rise by 2150. The country’s new Coastal Protection Code will take effect in 2028, with non-compliance carrying penalties that include fines and imprisonment.
The requirements are tied to the remaining duration of a property’s lease. Landowners with more than 30 years left on their leases must design coastal protection measures based on the worst-case climate scenario—a 2.15-meter sea level rise by 2150. Those with 30 years or less remaining must plan for a 0.7-meter rise by 2050. All protective infrastructure must be designed to last at least 120 years, with annual declarations confirming its condition.
In practice, seawalls and other coastal defenses are expected to be significantly higher than the projected sea level rise alone. During storm surges and high tides, coastal water levels could reach up to 5 meters, compared with an average projected sea level rise of 1.15 meters by 2100. Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, plans to launch an online calculator to help architects and engineers determine the required protection levels.
The new rules will affect approximately 100 coastal landowners, primarily shipyards, ports, oil and gas facilities, and manufacturing sites in Jurong, Tuas, and Senoko. While the government owns around 70% of Singapore’s coastline, the remaining coastal areas are largely industrial properties. These landowners will be expected to share the costs of constructing large-scale coastal embankments stretching for kilometers. The government must provide 10 years’ notice before construction begins.
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