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Grace Fu and Tan Kiat How on strengthening heat resilience

29:42 Min

The Government is preparing for rising temperatures and helping all segments of the population cope with heat stress with a three-pronged science-based and proactive strategy. Firstly, it is deepening its understanding of the science behind how rising temperatures affect Singapore and its residents. Secondly, it is reviewing efforts to strengthen the community's resilience to heat. Thirdly, it is designing and scaling up effective heat mitigation strategies. Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu, along with Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How, outlined these measures in reply to MPs' questions in Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 2). Ms Fu said the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Manpower are studying how heat stress can affect the population. They are working with the Workplace Safety and Health Council to ensure that the guidelines on managing heat stress at workplaces are regularly updated, based on the latest scientific evidence. Mr Tan highlighted the policies and measures to cool the neighbourhoods and community spaces. He said the Housing and Development Board (HDB) optimises thermal comfort in the design of flats and estates to harness existing wind corridors and wind flow. For existing towns, HDB is conducting a pilot study on cool paints which can absorb less heat and reduce the ambient temperatures of the blocks. The Government is also pressing on to "green" the industrial estates. It aims to increase number of trees in the industrial estates from the current 180,000 to about 260,000 trees by 2030. Mr Tan said dealing with the impact of climate change requires collective action and community resilience.

The Government is preparing for rising temperatures and helping all segments of the population cope with heat stress with a three-pronged science-based and proactive strategy. Firstly, it is deepening its understanding of the science behind how rising temperatures affect Singapore and its residents. Secondly, it is reviewing efforts to strengthen the community's resilience to heat. Thirdly, it is designing and scaling up effective heat mitigation strategies. Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu, along with Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How, outlined these measures in reply to MPs' questions in Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 2). Ms Fu said the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Manpower are studying how heat stress can affect the population. They are working with the Workplace Safety and Health Council to ensure that the guidelines on managing heat stress at workplaces are regularly updated, based on the latest scientific evidence. Mr Tan highlighted the policies and measures to cool the neighbourhoods and community spaces. He said the Housing and Development Board (HDB) optimises thermal comfort in the design of flats and estates to harness existing wind corridors and wind flow. For existing towns, HDB is conducting a pilot study on cool paints which can absorb less heat and reduce the ambient temperatures of the blocks. The Government is also pressing on to "green" the industrial estates. It aims to increase number of trees in the industrial estates from the current 180,000 to about 260,000 trees by 2030. Mr Tan said dealing with the impact of climate change requires collective action and community resilience.

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