Singapore faces debate over forest conservation and climate-ready urban planning

In Singapore, tensions are rising over the balance between housing development and forest conservation. Authorities plan to proceed with housing projects at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks despite public backlash. While National Development Minister Alvin Tan stated that revised plans would preserve more forest than originally proposed, environmental groups and residents argue that current impact assessments fail to account for the climate and health benefits provided by secondary forests, such as heat reduction and flood mitigation.

Separately, Larry Ng, a former director of Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, has emphasized the urgent need for cities to implement proactive urban planning to combat rising temperatures and sea levels. Ng noted that because infrastructure is built to last for decades, planning must anticipate long-term climate risks rather than reacting to them once impacts become obvious. He advocated for interconnected design and policy, alongside closed-loop systems to build resource-resilient cities.