SINGAPORE - An official guide to protect people from hotter weather will be released in the coming weeks as Singapore prepares for warmer temperatures generated by the impending El Nino weather pattern, and climate change.
The Heat Stress Advisory framework will detail how people can plan their activities, what protective actions to take and the type of attire to wear for outdoor activities according to predicted weather conditions, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Friday.
Details of the framework will be announced in the coming weeks, said Ms Fu, in a keynote address to launch the 10th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources (SWR) at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore.
The Meteorological Service Singapore has said that there is a 70 per cent to 80 per cent chance of an El Nino event occurring in 2023. The global phenomenon brings hotter and drier weather.
In May, Singapore saw its highest recorded temperature of 37 deg C in the last 40 years. Asia has been experiencing blistering heatwaves, with mercury levels hitting record highs in China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
The World Meteorological Organisation has said that there is a 98 per cent chance that at least one of the next five years will be the warmest ever. Such sweltering conditions will have an impact.
“We can expect more cases of personal injury and loss of lives due to heat injuries,” said Ms Fu.
Higher temperatures will also increase the frequency of power and water shortages, she noted.
“This will disrupt our social and economic activities, and lead to a vicious cycle of higher power needs due to greater use of air-conditioners and water treatment equipment.”
The SWR dialogue brings together business leaders, experts in sustainability and academics, who will take a retrospective look at Asean’s progress in achieving sustainability in the agribusiness sector. They will also examine past milestones of the SWR platform. and look at the emerging trends shaping climate action, the environment, society and governance.
