People sit on the steps near the Merlion statue near the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore on January 3, 2024. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)
Scorching heat, extreme rainfall, and rising sea levels will bring growing challenges to Singapore if climate change intensifies, according to a report issued by the Center for Climate Research Singapore.
The Third National Climate Change Study of Singapore shows that the city-state is expected to become warmer, with its annual mean temperatures rising to 0.55°C per decade by the end of the century under the high emission scenario.
Singapore’s annual mean temperatures increased at a rate of 0.24°C per decade in the past 40 years, the report added.
Noting that Singapore’s rainfall is highly variable at seasonal scales, the report warned that the rainfall will be increasingly unbalanced due to severe climate change.
Total rainfall during the dry season could fall significantly below the historical low of 314mm around once every three years by the end of the century, the document said, while the seasonal total rainfall in the wet season may exceed the historical high of 1,507mm.
Describing rising sea levels as a major challenge for Singapore amid climate change, the report said the mean sea level around the state is projected to rise by 0.23 to 1.15m by end century, and by up to around 2m by 2150 under the high emission scenario, the report noted.
Scientists also provided an outlook on climate change results under the low and medium emission scenario. — Xinhua
