Asia's coastal protection: Your own Long Island against the rising sea level

Asia's coastal protection: Your own Long Island against the rising sea level

water -logged parks, flooded underpasses and streets that sink into knee -deep water - the low Singapore is confronted with what experts call "interference flood". Although this represents a burden, it does not directly endanger people or property. In a small island state that is proud of long -term plans, however, the latest floods are viewed as a sign of far worse developments.

The threat from the rising sea level

The city state Singapore estimates that the surrounding seas could increase by 1.15 meters by the end of this century. In a "scenario with high emissions", the levels could rise by up to 2 meters by 2150, according to the latest state forecasts. Combined with extreme floods and storm surges, the sea levels could even be up to 5 meters higher in some cases than today - that would be higher than in around 30% of Singapore.

The planned solution: artificial islands

The solution? A 13 -kilometer chain of habitable artificial islands, which are also supposed to serve as a coastal protection wall for the entire southeast coast of the 50 kilometer wide country.

Under the working title "Long Island", the project is expected to take decades and billions of dollars. The plan provides for around 8 square kilometers of land (two and a half times as large as Central Park in New York) from the Singapore Strait.

long -term urban planning

The idea dates from the early 1990s, but has become more important in recent years. In 2023, Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority (Ura) presented a first draft, which comprises three land areas that are connected by tide buildings and pumping stations.

engineering and environmental studies are underway, which means that the shape and position of the islands can still vary. However, there is hardly any doubt among the officials that the plans will be implemented in some form later in the century.

beyond coastal protection

The Singapore authorities have considered a simple coastal wall, but wanted to receive the access of the residents to the coast. The plan of the Ura provides for the creation of over 20 kilometers of new water front park, whereby land should also be available for residential, leisure and trade uses.

Lee Sze Teck, a consultant of the Singapore-based real estate company Huttons Asia, explained that Long Island has the "potential to create between 30,000 and 60,000 apartments" in low and highly built residential projects.

self -sufficiency in the water sector

The country in Singapore, one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world, is notoriously rare. Therefore, the creation of living space ensures that the project "can serve the community in a variety of ways," says Ntus Switzer.

The project also helps to alleviate a further geographical vulnerability of Singapore: the lack of water. Despite its tropical climate and considerable investments in desalination plants, the country has long been on imported water is delivered via the border from Malaysias Joor-River. In view of the increasing dissatisfaction among Malaysian officials over the decades -old contract - and with the increasing water -conditions Singapurs until 2065 could double - is a geopolitical priority.

A big new water reservoir

The connection to the mainland at both ends of Long Island would create a huge new reservoir that would build fresh water, which would otherwise have been derived into the sea. Switzer, who advises governmental authorities, but is not directly involved in the project, explained that the proposal could make a "big contribution" to Singapore's increasing water needs.

"The government is looking for possible advantages where it can," he added. "It's not just about coastal protection."

Future securing of the state

The officials assume that Long Island will take “a few decades” to be planned, designed and implemented. As soon as the country is recovered, it will take years or even decades for it to sit down enough to build on it.

The Singapore government supports Long Island as an illustration of its long -term vision - a common topic in the country's politics. (The founding father and the first prime minister of the country, Lee Kuan Yew, once said: "I do not expect in relation to the next election ... I expect the next generation; regarding the next 100 years; regarding eternity.")

challenges of land acquisition

The land acquisition was always central to the efforts of Singapore to secure future. The total area of the country is now 25% larger than at the time of the colonial founder Sir Stamford Raffles when Singapore was founded as a commercial base for the British East India company in the early 19th century. In fact, the coast where Long Island is built, while the so -called " an estimate 240 million metric tons need ), which traditionally consists of imported sand. But the most important exporters in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam have temporarily banned the export of sand due to environmental concerns.

environmental and political concerns

Singapore is currently examining alternatives to reduce the dependency on his neighbors. It is currently being examined whether ashes from burned garbage can be used together with earth and construction waste.

The Nature Society Singapore meanwhile has a number of environmental loungers expressed , including the effects of land extraction on the domestic hair snails, fake karett tortoises and nesting Malaysian Plovers.

a larger overall picture

Various other low -located nations use or consider the use of land acquisition to alleviate the effects of climate change.

The proposal in Indonesia for a huge coastal wall to protect Jakarta is still characterized by violent political debates more than a decade after the first presentation. Thailand and the Maldives also proposed the construction of artificial islands in response to the increase in sea level.

in Denmark, the construction of a controversial 271 hectare artificial peninsula began in 2022, which is supposed to protect the capital Copenhagen from serious floods, although it is still the subject of continuing protests.

Although the concept may be considered the figurehead for coastal resilience, Switzer from NTU emphasized that the more comprehensive strategy could include everything from sediment cuts to "natural-based solutions", such as the construction of oysters or the expansion of mango and offshore reefs.

"Long Island is only part of a much, much larger overall picture," he added. "As a low country that depends incredibly on our coastline, this must be at the top of the thinking process."