Cooling Singapore 2.0 and the Singapore Green Plan 2030

This presentation was delivered at the 23rd International Congress of Biometeorology (ICB 2023) on May 14-17, 2023, in Tempe, Arizona, USA.

This presentation addresses the escalating challenges of urban overheating and thermal discomfort in Singapore, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and climate change. The Cooling Singapore initiative, through its phases CS1.0 to CS2.0, aims to mitigate these challenges by leveraging a Digital Urban Climate Twin (DUCT) as a decision-support tool. This tool integrates various urban and environmental data to simulate and evaluate "what-if" scenarios for mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, focusing on interventions like increasing green spaces and enhancing building energy efficiency. The presentation highlights the importance of validating the DUCT with real-world data and outlines the ongoing efforts to understand the role of vegetation in improving outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) and reducing urban overheating risks, especially for vulnerable populations. By integrating climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, Cooling Singapore 2.0 contributes to the Singapore Green Plan 2030, aiming for climate-resilient development in alignment with global sustainability goals. This research underscores the critical transition from science to policy in addressing urban climate challenges, offering insights for tropical cities worldwide facing similar heat-related health risks.