Sustainable Futures Film Festival - Ms Goh Hanyan

1. Thank you for having me here tonight. I commend Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum for putting together this meaningful two-month festival, featuring environmental films and activities to raise awareness on marine conservation and climate adaptation topics. You have created a valuable platform which I hope will strengthen conversations around our shared responsibility towards Earth’s future and Singapore’s future.

Singapore’s Year of Climate Adaptation

2. Climate change is an existential threat to all countries and Singapore is no exception. We are already experiencing its effects, from warmer weather to more frequent floods, heavier downpours and unusually high tides at our beaches.

3. Singapore's Third National Climate Change Study projects that Singapore will only get hotter, wetter, and drier.

   • Daily maximum temperatures could rise to 37 degrees Celsius. To put this into perspective, Singapore experienced daily maximum temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius on 21 days per year on average over the last 40 years.

   • During wetter months, extreme rainfall events could bring almost double the amount of rain, increasing flood risks that can disrupt our daily lives, our work, and our play.

   • During storms and high tides, sea levels could reach as high as 5 metres. To give you a sense, that is higher than a double-decker bus. Singapore is a low-lying island, and without proper protection, close to 30% of our island could go underwater.

4. Climate change will also pose significant challenges to businesses. Physical climate risks such as flooding, prolonged droughts, extreme heatwaves, and intensifying storms can disrupt production processes, supply chains, damage business assets without adequate protection.

5. This is why Singapore has designated 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation, to increase public understanding and to rally action around how to prepare Singaporeans for the impacts of climate change. Climate adaptation means getting ourselves ready for, not just heavier rain, higher tides, and hotter days but also, risks to our food and water supplies, our businesses, and our physical health and well-being. The question we should ask ourselves is: How do we work together to build a Singapore that is ready for these climate changes, and one where we continue to thrive together as a country?

SG Eco Fund Partnership with Marina Bay Sands

6. Global momentum for climate action is becoming more uncertain amidst geo-political changes, disruptions, and supply chain shocks. Therefore our shared ownership and collective efforts matter now more than ever.

7. I am happy to announce that the SG Eco Fund will be entering a two-year partnership with Marina Bay Sands to improve awareness around environmental issues and drive community engagement on sustainability initiatives.

8. The partnership includes working together to feature films and booths on climate adaptation during this film festival, as well as curating interactive exhibitions, learning tours and hands-on workshops on biodiversity and sustainability at ArtScience Museum. I know I am very interested and my family is looking forward to coming here. I hope these programmes can spark more conversations and partnerships on how we can make climate action truly ground-up.

Partnering the Community

9. To encourage more ground-up efforts on climate adaptation, the SG Eco Fund also recently introduced a Climate Adaptation Package.

   • Up to $5 million has been committed over two years, starting from 1 May, to fund projects that raise awareness around climate adaptation issues. These include protecting us against floods, tackling heat stress, and supporting local produce.

   • To make the Fund more accessible, applications will open year-round, with increased funding support to 90% of supportable costs.

   • We hope that this will inspire more ideas that can be brought to reality.

10. Let me share two examples of impactful ground-up climate adaptation projects by SG Eco Fund grant recipients present with us today.

    • Witteveen+Bos repurposed oyster shell waste into a living seawall that enhances coastal protection and biodiversity, while actively involving the community in restoration efforts.

    • PasarFish engages the public on local and sustainable seafood consumption through an interactive educational gallery and booths, and also developed a practical guide on common market fish sold in Singapore.

11. These projects demonstrate how innovative solutions can empower communities to find solutions together.

12. Beyond tapping on the SG Eco Fund and taking part in events like today’s festival, there are many other ways you can contribute to developing a more sustainable and climate-resilient Singapore.

13. The Government is partnering stakeholders across the people, public and private sectors to develop Singapore's first National Adaptation Plan. The NAP will be a culmination of a series of public engagements to hear from individuals, communities and businesses about your concerns and priorities. I encourage you to join these discussions in the coming months, and to visit our public exhibition on climate adaptation later this year.

Conclusion

14. I thank Marina Bay Sands, ArtScience Museum, and the SG Eco Fund grant recipients, for your efforts in raising awareness on climate adaptation within our community.

15. The climate challenges ahead are real, but so is our capacity to adapt and thrive. Together, we can ensure that Singapore not only weathers the changes, but also emerges stronger and more united.

16. Thank you.