Why the Heat Hits Hard

Singapore regularly exceeds 32°C. But because of climate change and dense construction, some parts of the city feel 7°C hotter than nearby rural zones. This is due to the urban heat island effect, where concrete, asphalt, and glass trap heat.

Combined with high humidity, this rising heat can be dangerous — even deadly.

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How Singapore Fights Back

Adaptation: Living with the Heat

Planting 1 million trees for shade and cooling
Building green roofs and vertical gardens
Designing wind corridors and shade structures
Using water features as thermal buffers
Creating a Digital Urban Climate Twin (DUCT) to simulate and test solutions

The DUCT Effect

The Digital Urban Climate Twin (DUCT) is a virtual city. It lets scientists test how sunlight, building shapes, wind, and greenery interact. DUCT helps leaders make smarter, cooler choices — before they build anything.

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Mitigation: Tackling the Cause

Using district cooling to cut energy use by 40%
Phasing out combustion engines in city centers
Adding solar panels to rooftops and facades
Sourcing clean energy from outside the city

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Fun Fact:
Singapore’s district cooling system is so efficient, it’s like taking 10,000 cars off the road every year.

Global Impact

Singapore isn’t just solving its own problem. Its methods — tech, design, and nature combined — can help cities everywhere adapt to a hotter world.