Singapore is allocating an additional S$135 million to advance coastal protection and flood resilience efforts as part of its ongoing strategy to address climate change impacts. The new tranche of funding was announced on October 21 by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanzon during the annual symposium of the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) Singapore.
The recently introduced Coastal and Flood Resilience Funding Initiative will support research targeting three core areas: improving construction efficiency for future coastal infrastructure, optimizing tidal gates and pumping stations suited to Singapore’s dense urban environment, and enhancing digital technologies for predictive maintenance and early warning systems. These efforts aim to develop solutions that are compact, energy-efficient, and suitable for Singapore’s limited waterfront spaces.
Goh emphasized the urgency of preparing for inland flooding linked to climate change, noting that the combination of heavy rainfall with elevated sea levels or storm surges could hinder stormwater drainage and cause flooding to extend further inland. She highlighted the need for wider drains and more effective tidal gates and pumping stations to manage these challenges. Additionally, authorities intend to integrate flood protection infrastructure with green spaces and public amenities to ensure these measures serve multiple community functions beyond flood control.
Beyond digital innovation and infrastructure optimization, the initiative will fund research into construction methods that reduce manpower requirements, shorten project timelines, minimize land use, and incorporate sustainable materials such as recycled waste. PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, plans to invite research proposals under these themes beginning in 2027.
This new funding is part of Singapore’s broader Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan, which designates S$37 billion for research activities from 2026 to 2030. It supplements a prior S$125 million investment made in 2023 to establish the Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme. To date, PUB has supported 46 projects under this programme, eight of which were awarded contracts at the symposium.
Among these projects are initiatives combining traditional coastal defenses with natural ecosystems like mangroves and corals, which offer both shoreline protection and ecological benefits. Another project explores modular coastal barriers that can be rapidly deployed during emergencies or while permanent seawalls undergo repair.
Adrian Law, executive director of CFI Singapore, underscored the complexity and scale of climate adaptation challenges, stating that no single institution or discipline can address them alone. Goh echoed this sentiment, describing coastal protection as an ongoing process requiring continuous research and adaptation as conditions evolve.