Floating structures enable climate adaptation, urban dynamism for Singapore
Singapore stands at a critical juncture as it grapples with the challenges posed by the climate emergency and the pressing need to prepare for the future. To effectively address these issues, Singapore should adopt and implement floating infrastructure as a key component of its urban planning.
Not only does this approach capitalise on Singapore’s status as a global maritime centre and property hub, but it also presents a meaningful response to rising sea levels and the climate emergency, opening a new avenue of urban dynamism for the city-state. The city-state has all the potential to be a world leader in this, with elements such as its finance centre, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and status as a global maritime hub can synergise to enable such developments.
Its governments recognises the existential threat that Singapore faces. In 2019, the city-state articulated the need for Singapore to allocate S$100 billion over the next century to fortify itself against rising sea levels. Subsequently, the government has already committed S$5 billion to a dedicated coastal and flood protection fund.
A recent Bloomberg report noted how with approximately one-third of Singapore at an elevation of less than 5 metres above sea level. With an estimated 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, prime urban real estate valued at S$70 billion in 2023 faces a heightened risk of flooding, based on data from real estate consultancy at CBRE Group.
But realising such an ambitions are inhibited by public sector regulations and licensing; a lack of risk appetite and literacy amongst its venture capitalists towards backing infrastructure startups; and fundamentally an apparent lack of imagination and risk appetite amongst its technocrats.
Coastal cities worldwide have long relied on land reclamation as a means of expanding their territories. However, the growing risks associated with sea-level rise and environmental concerns have highlighted the urgency of exploring alternative solutions.
Very large floating structures (VLFS) offer a promising and sustainable approach to address these challenges, providing a resilient, flexible, and cost-effective means of coastal development. In fact, urban development of Singapore’s offshore islands that incorporates floating towns have been proposed as one solution to its urban development and population needs.
Cities like Dubai, Shanghai, Colombo, and others have extensively reclaimed land for tourism and economic purposes, leading to significant coastal expansion. However, this approach has brought about problems such as erosion and the loss of reclaimed land. For example, Shanghai alone has reclaimed 350 square kilometres, while Colombo built 100 square kilometres of reclaimed land in just four years.
Similar trends can be observed in other coastal cities, including Japans capital, Tokyo, coastal metropolises in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia. These examples underscore the scale of land reclamation and the pressing need for alternative solutions like floating structures.
Dubai, for instance, has successfully utilised reclaimed land to enhance its global reputation through the development of luxury hotels, shopping areas, and high-end living spaces. Similarly, Singapore can leverage its maritime stature and embrace floating structures to achieve a harmonious blend of urban development and sea estate, tapping into the vast economic potential and employment opportunities that currently under-utilised water spaces offer.
While land reclamation has been a popular method for expanding coastal cities, it is not without its drawbacks. A 2023 study by Dhritiraj Sengupta at England’s University of Southampton revealed that a significant amount of reclaimed land is at risk of being submerged by rising sea levels.
Additionally, the creation and maintenance of reclaimed land are expensive endeavours, heavily reliant on finite resources like sand, with the world facing a global shortage of the commodity. Subsidence, changes in coastal currents, and the need for constant maintenance further compound the challenges associated with land reclamation. Moreover, the environmental impacts, including coastline erosion, pollution, and habitat loss, cannot be overlooked.
Floating structures offer an alternative approach that mitigates some of the risks associated with land reclamation amid rising sea levels. Materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS)-concrete hybrids and graphene-reinforced concrete play a vital role in their construction.
For instance, EPS has a lower carbon footprint compared to concrete and steel, making it an environmentally friendly choice. Meanwhile, the incorporation of graphene in concrete significantly reduces the carbon footprint while enhancing strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. These materials offer cost reductions, lower maintenance requirements, and improved resilience compared to traditional steel and concrete structures.
The adoption of these materials into floating structures permits their development at scale. And it can bring about significant economic and environmental benefits. Conrete composite and hybrid materials can used in such structures enables substantial cost reductions, providing an affordable and sustainable alternative to marine steel construction.
The reduced carbon footprint, lower maintenance costs, and recyclability of EPS contribute to the overall lifecycle efficiency and environmental friendliness of floating structures. Moreover, the high buoyancy and lower carbon footprint of EPS-concrete hybrids and othe concrete composites reduces cost and weight, translating to greater sustainability and longevity.
For a city-state like Singapore, which grapples with limited land resources, floating structures offer a compelling solution to accommodate its growing population and support sustainable urban development. Notable projects in jurisdictions like the Netherlands and Bahrain have already proven the viability of floating structures, while a floating city has been proposed for development in the South Korean port city of Busan.
In light of the escalating concern, it is essential to highlight that more than 800 million individuals living in 570 cities worldwide may confront potential risks stemming from sea level rise by 2050, as reported by the C40 network of global cities. The C40 network also forecasts that the financial consequences of rising sea levels and inland flooding could surge to approximately $1 trillion by the mid-point of this century.
By embracing this innovation, Singapore can address its own land scarcity challenges while simultaneously promoting urban resilience and safeguarding its coastal communities from the impacts of climate change. Additionally, it allows the city-state to reduce its overall carbon footprint.
Floating structures offer versatility for various applications, including housing, hotels and resorts, aquaculture farms, and floating solar farms. The Dutch have successfully implemented floating housing and agriculture, while other countries have explored the potential of aquaculture farms, benefiting from reduced environmental impact and increased productivity.
For instance, floating solar farms and offshore wind farms contribute to land use reduction and can reduce the overall carbon generated by an energy grid. Such examples demonstrate the viability and potential of floating structures in different contexts.
In conclusion, floating infrastructure presents a sustainable, resilient, flexible, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to land reclamation. As the risks associated with sea-level rise and environmental concerns intensify, the adoption of floating structures becomes increasingly relevant, especially for coastal cities like Singapore.
By embracing these innovative solutions, Singapore can overcome land scarcity, foster urban resilience, and ensure a sustainable future for its coastal communities. The potential economic and environmental benefits make floating structures an attractive proposition for coastal development worldwide. It is time for Singapore to take the lead and embrace this transformative approach to shape a brighter future for generations to come.
