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Rising seas, rising heat: How Singapore is redesigning its future city

Singapore’s urban planning system is built around long-term risk management, and Elaine Tan of the Centre for Liveable Cities says its strength is converting future threats into land-use decisions today. Speaking ahead of the World Cities Summit 2026, she explained that Singapore must plan for both a city and a country while facing sea-level rise, heavier rainfall, limited land, imported-resource dependence, and an ageing population. 

Rather than dealing with each problem separately, Singapore integrates them into one planning framework that connects national strategy with everyday land-use choices. Tan said this is why nearly every plot of land is carefully planned. The country has also embraced the idea of “regenerative cities,” which aims to create developments that solve several problems at once instead of addressing only one risk. 

A major example is the Long Island project, an 800-hectare reclaimed coastal development announced in 2019. It is designed to protect against flooding and storm surges while also creating space for housing, recreation, and public use. Tan noted that sea levels around Singapore could rise by up to 1.15 meters by 2100, making coastal protection a central part of future urban design. 

Tan also highlights how public participation is becoming more important in planning. More than 200,000 people took part in recent land-use consultations, and local feedback can reshape projects. In the Cambridge Road area, residents identified urban heat as a bigger concern than flooding, leading planners to add greening measures, a cooling corridor, better walkability, and stronger neighborhood links. 

Overall, Tan argues that Singapore’s planning model depends on collaboration. Government sets the long-term direction, while residents, researchers, businesses, and community groups provide local knowledge that helps make plans more effective and practical. 

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