Coastal Protection

COASTAL PROTECTION

As a highly urbanised, densely populated and low-lying coastal city with abundant rainfall, it is a priority to strengthen Singapore's resilience against both inland and coastal flooding.

According to the Third National Climate Change Study, mean sea level is expected to rise up to 1.15 metres by 2100. Coupled with storm surges and high tides, sea levels could rise up to 5 metres. Singapore is particularly vulnerable to the threat of sea level rise, as around 30 per cent of our island is less than 5 metres above mean sea level.

PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency manages both inland and coastal floods holistically and leads and coordinates whole-of-government efforts in ensuring coastal and flood resilience.

Since 2021, Singapore has progressively commenced site-specific studies (SSS) at various sections of the coastline to develop tailored coastal protection measures. The SSS for City-East Coast, which covers the Greater Southern Waterfront, Changi and the East Coast, was completed in 2025.

Overview of site-specific studies in Singapore
Source: PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency

The SSS for City-East Coast has recommended building coastal barriers at the Greater Southern Waterfront, as well as a mixture of raised structures and tidal gates at Changi. These measures will be multi-functional spaces and protect Singapore from coastal flooding. Further studies will be carried out to develop a detailed design of the measures.

Proposed measures for Greater Southern Waterfront
Source: PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency

Proposed measures for Changi
Source: PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency

The ‘Long Island’ project announced in 2023 will protect the entire East Coast area. The project entails reclaiming about 800 hectares of land off the East Coast, potentially in the form of ‘islands’. It will protect the low-lying areas from sea level rise, strengthen Singapore’s flood resilience, enhance water supply resilience with a new reservoir, and create additional land to meet future development needs.

In tandem with the SSS, new coastal protection legislation and a Code of Practice are also being developed to support the effective implementation, operation and maintenance of new coastal protection measures.

Strengthening capabilities
In 2023, PUB launched the Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme (CFRP) to develop innovative, integrated, sustainable, and smart solutions.

Under the CFRP, PUB, in partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS), launched the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) Singapore. It is Singapore’s first Centre of Excellence dedicated to strengthening local capabilities and expertise in coastal protection and flood management research and solutioning.

In addition to CFI Singapore, the CFRP will accelerate the translation of technologies for application and facilitate test-bedding of new solutions through its Applied Research and Living Lab components respectively.