Singapore must do more to protect environment, guard against climate change: PM Lee

• Singapore must do more to protect the environment as the threat of climate change becomes increasingly serious both locally and globally, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (Nov 3). 
• Speaking at the launch of Clean and Green Singapore Carnival at Wisma Geylang Serai, Mr Lee said Singapore must take steps to protect itself against the adverse effects of global warming.
• Singapore has already felt the effects of extreme weather, from recording the warmest year on record last year, to a cold spell where temperatures dropped to 21 degrees Celsius earlier in January.
• In his speech, Mr Lee cited a recent United Nations report which warned that temperatures could increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels in the next 12 years.
• "We must do our part to contribute to global efforts such as the Paris Agreement to slow down climate change and at the same time we must take timely and concrete steps to protect ourselves against the adverse effects of climate change."
• Many countries in the region, including Singapore, are also vulnerable to rising sea levels due to long coastlines and low-lying areas.
• Mr Lee said the authorities have raised low-lying roads near coastal areas at East Coast and Katong. He added that the upcoming Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be built on a higher platform than the existing terminals.