Minister of State Sam Tan is Singapore's representative to the Arctic Council. The Arctic Council is a "high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic."
In a recent interview with TODAY, MOS Tan said that he had been "given first-hand information by scientists that if the current trend continues, sea levels may rise by half a metre within the next 50 years, and by a metre within a century... If this really happens, many nations around the world, including Singapore, would be at risk from having parts of their country submerged under the water."
Day After Tomorrow scenario for Singapore?
Before you start packing your bags for the mountains, MOS Tan shared that "(m)uch of Singapore lies only 15m above sea level, while 30 per cent of the island is less than 5m above sea level. If global temperatures continue to rise, many parts of Singapore could eventually be submerged under the water. Singapore has started making preparations to adapt to the impact of a rise in sea levels. For example, Nicoll Drive, which runs for 1km along Changi Beach, is being raised by up to 0.8m. In 2011, the minimum height for land reclamation projects was raised from 3-4 m above the mean sea level."
With sea-levels expected to rise one metre in a century's time, it does not seem bleak, yet, for Singapore, which is attempting to rise to the occasion.
Singapore's observer spot on the Arctic Council
If you cannot grasp the significance of tropical Singapore's spot on a council that is supposed to address issues faced by Arctic nations, you should really read this.
Long story short, the Arctic is plausible sea route which diverts traffic away from Singapore's port -- that means less business for us. Additionally, the untapped oil in the Arctic may also mean more potential to refine oil and Singapore being home to one of the largest oil refineries in the world must surely be shifting in its seat. Thus, Singapore's spot as an observer on the Arctic Council gives us valuable information and possible opportunities as the ice changes up north.
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