Singapore Topic 1
Explain how decreasing birth rates can cause increasingly diverse society
decreasing birth rate=local population decreases
Singapore becomes more dependent on foreign manpower to maintain the workforce=increasingly diverse society
Describe how a Volcanic eruption can disrupt Singapore’s economy.
Explain how integrated master planning helps to achieve sustainable development, with the use of one named example.
- this approach allows trade-offs to be objectively discussed, ensuring decisions would serve overall national interests
- since planners will take a long-term approach to ensure sustainable development, the demands of both the current and future generations of Singaporeans can be met.
- It also balances economic, social, and environmental developments to create a sustainable Singapore. This provides Singapore's residents with job opportunities, and a clean and green environment.
- e.g. In the 1970s, integrated master planning was created for the Marina Bay area to meet basic economic and infrastructural needs, making it balance work, play, culture and commerce.
- e.g. Instead of reclaiming the whole Marina Bay area to maximise available land for development, emphasis was placed on environmental aspects and it was retained to create a picturesque waterfront.
Describe some ways Singapore is affected by tectonic hazards in the region
Sea level rise due to land sinking post-EQ leading to flooding
Countries that Singapore is dependent on may be affected by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions -> resource price increases
Ash clouds from volcanic eruptions can reduce visibility resulting in more planes being grounded
Study Fig. 1, which shows a poster by the Public and Utilities Board (PUB) in Singapore to educate Singaporeans on what to do in the event of a flash flood.
Poster by PUB Singapore
Explain how posters such as Fig. 1 can allow Singaporeans to have increased emergency preparedness.
Through this poster, Singaporeans can stay educated about actions to take during flash floods. During a flash flood, Singaporeans will be prepared to take action. As they would have seen this poster daily, this allows more Singaporeans to be more informed increasing emergency preparedness.
Why is Singapore vulnerable to external shocks and global uncertainties?
social uncertainties such as change in the social make-up of Singapore may result in issues related to equality, inclusiveness, and quality of life because of singapore’s greatly diverse society that have differences that could cause misunderstandings and disagreements
economic uncertainties such as record fiscal deficit globally and geopolitical tensions can affect international trade and goods and services supply
environmental uncertainties include climate change as failure of countries’ collective decarbonisation efforts will result in environmental deterioration and climate related disasters that will have severe consequences for Singapore
Explain how Singapore partners with countries on Disaster Response and Recovery for Tectonic Hazards.
Why are detailed, thorough systems and processes from public service and government institutions important to achieve Singapore's sustainable development?
- The Singapore public service has well-thought-out systems and processes based on accountability, transparency, and incorruptibility.
- The Public Service Division (PSD) leads the way in promoting good governance. It runs public organisations and meets citizens' needs.
- Emphasis on good governance and upholding Public Service values has helped Singapore maintain a high level of trust and confidence in its government, both domestically and internationally.
Using a named example, explain how limited land and natural resources make Singapore vulnerable.
Difficulty in Achieving Sustainable Urban Development. When Dover forest was zoned for residential development in 2020 it sparked concerns and appeals from nature enthusiasts to highlight the conservation value of the forest. Subsequently the plan was revised to set aside the western half of the forest to be safeguarded as a nature park while the eastern half would be used for public housing.
Singapore imports 34% of its chickens from Malaysia, most of which are imported as live chickens. Singapore faced a shortage of fresh chickens in 2022 when Malaysia halted the export of live chicken to Singapore.
Increase in energy demand after the Covid-19 pandemic and supply disruptions due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to energy price increase in Singapore, making necessities more expensive.
Study Fig. 2, which shows the monthly visitor arrivals to Singapore from November 2019 to August 2020.
Monthly visitor arrivals
Fig. 2
With reference to Fig. 2, describe how pandemics have impacted the economy in Singapore.
from figure 2, the pandemic has resulted in a significant decrease in monthly visitor arrivals from 2019 to 2020. For example, the largest decrease in monthly tourist arrivals was from 1.69million in January of 2020 to 732.97 thousand in February 2020, nearly reduced by half. Additionally, while both November and December of 2019 have had minimally 1.5 million monthly visitors, their total number of visitors far surpass that of the combined number of monthly visitors of April 2020 to august 2020
Explain how Singapore survives National Crises with reference to an example
tapping on its expertise, social unity, financial wealth and diplomatic relations
ensuring ministries and statutory boards work together to strengthen responsiveness to challenges
NEA provided regular updates on air quality+MOH provided guidance on how to protect oneself from haze+People’s Association(PA) worked with grassroots organisation to distribute masks to vulnerable groups like the elderly in 2013 during one of the worst haze episodes in Singapore due to forest fires in Indonesia
How may Singapore benefit from a Growing Asia? Give reference to one example in your answer.
With a named example, explain how adaptation efforts in environment and climate resilience help Singapore cope with climate change.
Describe the economic, social and environmental impacts on tourism activity on Singapore
Economic (positive)
Tourism has resulted in positive economic impacts in Singapore.
Tourists spend the most on shopping, accommodation, sightseeing, entertainment and gaming, supporting about 160,000 jobs in the tourism sector.
E.g. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism receipts and international visitor arrivals grew by 28% year-on-year between 2015 and 2019.
Economic (negative)
Tourism is vulnerable to disruptions by natural disasters, war, disease outbreak, recession, and other crises, which deter people from travelling for recreation.
Social (positive)
Singapore’s strict law enforcement is widely publicised. This publicity deters violent crimes against tourists and clashes between tourists and locals.
E.g. Singapore is regularly ranked top in Gallup’s Law and Order Index, with more than 95% of people feeling safe walking alone at night.
Tourism helps to justify the preservation of historic places in the face of stiff competition for land in Singapore.
E.g. A team from the Singapore Institute of Technology had proposed integrating Singapore’s last remaining village, Kampung Lorong Buangkok with the park-connector network, creating opportunities for guided tours.
Social (Negative)
Balancing the interests of different stakeholders as historic places are redeveloped for tourism.
E.g. The redevelopment of Chinatown in the 1990s was criticised for putting too much emphasis on mandarin Chinese elements, neglecting the neighbourhood’s multi-ethnic residents and diverse dialect groups.
Environmental (positive)
Environmental efforts may be boosted by the growing number of environmentally conscious tourists who are looking for more sustainable recreational options.
E.g. Recognising this potential, the government invested $68.5 million in the Tourism Development Fund, which businesses can apply for to launch sustainable tourism products and experiences.
Environmental (negative)
Eco-tourism development in Singapore also raises concerns among environmental groups because of the probable impact on natural areas.
E.g. In 2016, the Nature Society (Singapore) raised concerns about he addition of new nature-based attractions to complement the Night Safari, River Safari, and Singapore Zoo. It highlighted the potential loss of secondary forest and disruption to wildlife movements.
Study Fig. 3, which shows…
With reference to Fig. 3, explain how climate change leads to more vector-borne diseases. Explain briefly how Singapore adapts to this issue.
As seen in Fig. 1.3, climate change leads to warmer temperatures, which could shorten egg incubation, resulting in a larger Aedes mosquito population. This can cause more vector-borne diseases such as Dengue fever, which is caused by a virus transmitted to humans via the bite of Aedes mosquitoes. Singapore adapts to this issue by increasing innovation in health resilience, which lowers the risk of dengue transmission.
Compare how Singapore adapts to food insecurity and sea level rise, with the use of named examples
ADAPTATIONS TO FOOD INSECURITY
Three “food baskets”
Importing food from multiple countries reduces dependence on any singular supply source. Eg. Despite having more than 90% of it’s food imported, the government ensures food security by importing food from over 170 countries today
growing local produce serves as a critical supply source when there are disruptions in regional and global food supplies. Eg. Local fisheries such as Eco-Ark/The Fish Farmer raised production to meet demands when operations at the Jurong Fishery Port were halted for two weeks following a deep cleaning following a COVID-19 cluster
Growing overseas produce helps Singapore overcome land, water, energy and manpower constraints, therefore Singapore. Supports local companies to expand and grow produce overseas to be imported back home. Eg. Barramundi Asia in Australia/Sky Greens in Thailand and China
ADAPTATIONS TO SEA LEVEL RISE
Strengthening coastal protection and storm water management. Eg. The Building & Construction Authority commissioned a Coastal Adaptation Study in 2013 to better understand potential impacts of rising sea levels
How may trialling Sustainability Solutions help mitigate the impacts of tourism activity in Singapore? (Hint: How is Singapore pursuing sustainability via tourism)
Trialling sustainability solutions contributes to Singapore’s commitment to UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda:
Describe and explain the importance of sustainable development in terms of Singapore’s economy.
Using an example, explain how political leadership sets clear direction for different government agencies.
The Singapore Green Plan (SGP) 2030 which is a nation-wide movement to support sustainable development, is jointly led by 5 government agencies. Doing so helps to reap synergies as people and resources from these agencies combine to achieve a common goal.
Study Fig. 5, which shows some natural hazards that have occurred in Singapore.
With reference to Fig. 5, explain the economic and environmental Challenges of Tectonic Hazards in Singapore.
Economic:
-Figure 5 shows that a tectonic hazard Singapore experiences is shaking from nearby earthquakes. This could lead to damages and destruction of buildings and infrastructure, such as residential buildings and transport infrastructure as seen in the figure. Resultantly, this requires money to help rebuild, strengthen the losses in property and infrastructure, and even for recovery for people.
-Figure 5 shows that another hazard is flooding. Floods could sweep away and destroy buildings, property and people. This would require money to rebuild broken infrastructure and in disaster relief afterwards, such as search and rescue.
Environmental:
-Figure 5 shows that a hazard Singapore may face is volcanic ash. Volcanic ash could harm diverse biodiversity in Singapore, such as causing eyelids of birds to be gummed, and thick layers of ash suffocating and killing plants, preventing them from photosynthesising and thus withering.
-Figure 5 shows that a hazard Singapore may be affected by is flooding. Floods may pollute rivers, killing aquatic life. Floods may also cause tree death and wash away vegetation that may be habitat to land animals.
Explain how building a liveable and sustainable city achieves a competitive economy and a sustainable environment.
building a liveable and sustainable city= people enjoy employment and economic security=attracts global investment and talents to contribute to economic prosperity
building a liveable and sustainable city=prudent resource management and sustainable urban practises that consider the environment by planning for clean air, green cover along with industrial, transport, housing and commercial needs
OEQ: ”Discerning visitors are a larger challenge affecting tourism development as compared to an Ageing Population in Singapore.” How far do you agree? [Hint: discerning means ‘picky’]
Discerning Visitors:
are a large challenge affecting tourism development because it is making it harder to sustain growth of tourism industry as more resources, manpower is required to appeal to them. Singapore needs to appeal to increasingly discerning visitors like Gen Z and millennials to remain competitive in the tourism industry. Singapore does so through providing extensive travel material through a variety of online sources, making tourists feel encouraged to share their experiences online, which can motivate tourists to have a desire to travel to Singapore, and thus attracting more tourists.
For example, the income of Asian millennials grows alongside the economic growth in Asia, and hence contributes a lot to Asian expenditure on international travel. However, they prefer and dislike different aspects of tourism, such as disliking standard tour package guides, but they prefer novel travel experiences. Thus, Singapore needs to invest a lot of time in planning elaborate itineraries, and promoting deals on multiple different online platforms.[https://tinyurl.com/visitsingaporeMTs]
Ageing Population:
Is a large challenge affecting tourism development as it causes manpower constraints. Increasing median age, and increasing restrictions on foreign workers in Singapore is slowing the growth of Singapore’s workforce. This makes it difficult for businesses in the tourism sector to recruit workers. The challenge will be disproportionately worse when foreign inflow of workers are affected as tourism largely depends on them to fill many jobs. The tourism sector also faces the challenge of redesigning jobs to meet career aspirations of millennials and attracting them to gain manpower.
For example, WorkForce Singapore has a Hotel Job Redesign Initiative. Their aim is to help counter the impacts of an ageing population, such as appealing to millennials and smaller manpower, through allowing hoteliers to become manpower lean and create heightened sense of job satisfaction among employees.
‘Economic considerations are the most important consideration for Singapore’s sustainable development.’ How far do you agree?
Economic considerations: Economic considerations are an important consideration for Singapore’s sustainable development, as we must harness the ability of Singapore society in order to advance our economy and remain competitive globally. For example, Jurong Island is a world-class destination today for oil refining that is being transformed into a sustainable energy and chemicals park. This supports the continual growth of our petrochemical industry, enhancing sustainability without affecting residents’ quality of life. Hence, achieving consistent economic growth is needed to enable a high quality of life for Singapore residents, which ensures sustainable development.
Social considerations: Social considerations is an important consideration for Singapore’s sustainable development, as commitment and contribution from all stakeholders is required to respond to greater public interest and awareness of sustainability issues. The government creates programmes and lends support in order to involve different stakeholders in planning for sustainability successfully. For example, the JC Corporation set up a $6 million fund in 2021 to support researchers and businesses in developing clean energy solutions that would boost Jurong Island's sustainability efforts, hence helping to achieve greater sustainability for Singapore overall.
Political considerations: Political considerations is an important consideration for Singapore’s sustainable development. This is because Singapore must continue to have good governance with strong political willpower, which maintains its commitment to continually develop and improve long term sustainable development plans. For instance, the government had used about $40 billion of Singapore’s national resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022. The usage of our national reserves enables the government to mount decisive and effective responses to pandemics, natural calamities, wars, or economic crises. Thus, having political willpower ensures sufficient resources are dedicated for Singapore to develop sustainably in the face of competing needs.
Environmental considerations: Environmental considerations is an important consideration for Singapore’s sustainable development. This is because maintaining the life-support systems of the global environment is crucial for our continual survival and daily lives, as nature plays an important role in providing ecosystem services. To ensure essential ecosystem services continue to support life on Earth, we need to consider how best to protect our biodiversity and sustain ecosystem functions in Singapore. For example, from 1980 to 2020, our annual mean temperature has increased from 26.9°C to 28.0 °C due to climate change. The worsening of the urban heat island effect in Singapore significantly affects economic development and liveability. Hence, it is necessary to mitigate and adapt to the growing impacts of climate change, which is why environmental considerations are important for sustainable development in Singapore.
Conclusion (Disagree, w/ environmental considerations, using interdependence): Therefore, I agree with this statement to a small extent. There is no singular most important consideration for Singapore’s sustainable development, as both economic as well as environmental considerations are equally as significant and they are interdependent on each other. Economic considerations are important as they are necessary to ensure we remain globally competitive in terms of our economy and finances, which in turn allows people in Singapore to have a high quality of life and aids the country’s sustainable development. Meanwhile, environmental considerations are also important since they are needed to maintain Singapore’s liveability and people’s survival, driving sustainable development overall.
How may Climate Change result in Floods and Water Insecurity, and how does Singapore adapt to these challenges? With reference to examples.
Challenges:
Singapore's drainage system may not be able to cope with more intense rainfall that arises because of climate change. This can result in the occurrence of flash floods.
There is a likelihood of severe damage during a flash flood as there is very little response time.
E.g. Flash floods in Orchard in 2010 caused much damage to several buildings including Lucky Plaza and Liat Towers.
How does Singapore adapt:
To cope with sea level rise, the minimum land reclamation level in Singapore has been raised from three to four metres above sea level.
New methods are also adopted such as using polders for the first time in 2021 to protect existing reclaimed land at Pulau Tekong from rising sea levels.
It is critical to protect Singapore’s coastline against sea level rise to safeguard our infrastructure.Coastal Management in Singapore also requires enhancements to adapt to the potential impacts of flooding due to climate change. E.g. Jurong Island, which was reclaimed by joining several low-lying islands, has been protected by geo-bags, seawalls and planting multiple native species to restore mangroves.
With reference to the figure above, discuss the Challenges and Opportunities Climate Change may have on Singapore.
Image: https://share.google/LtAapfveZiWySIgsC
Challenges:
-CC can threaten the biodiversity of Singapore. The fig. shows that annual average daily mean temperature can increase from 27.9 degrees in the present to 28.5 to 32.9 degrees in the future. This 0.6 to 5.0 degrees increase can cause warmer and drier environments in Singapore, which can severely harm the different habitats in Singapore, which are home to numerous species if native plants and animals.
-CC can worsen the Urban Heat Island effect. The fig. shows that very hot days can increase from 20 to a high of 350 days in the future projection. With Singapore’s built up city consisting of many surfaces that absorb and retain heat easily, such as buildings and roads, this can cause surface temperatures to increase largely. Hence, this can increase people’s vulnerability to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
-CC can cause vector-borne diseases to become more widespread. Higher temperatures, such as in the fig. where annual average daily maximum temperature can increase by 0.5 to 5.3 degrees from 31.4 in the present to 31.9-36.7 in the future, can shorten egg incubation periods for insects, causing higher populations of such, and increased transmission of vector-borne diseases.
Opportunities:
-CC can bring about innovation in Health resilience. CC justifies the trialling of non-traditional approaches to reducing the risk of vector-borne disease transmission.