
Breadcrumb
Singapore

Capital:
Singapore
Land Area:
687km²
Inland Water Area:
10km²
Length of Coastline:
268km
Since 2009, Singapore has been implementing Integrated Urban Coastal Management (IUCM) based on the Integrated Coastal Management framework advocated by PEMSEA which takes into account Singapore’s unique urban context. The IUCM has four guiding principles: (1) proactive planning and management by optimizing the use of coastal resources, including coastal spaces in a sustainable manner; (2) a Whole-of-Government approach to ensure consultative planning and coordination of policies in coastal and marine land use and planning; (3) active partnerships through community engagement and public awareness programs and; (4) science-based management through research, monitoring, habitat restoration and enhancement programmes.
A multi-agency initiative has been established to formalize and improve existing coordination and cooperation among different agencies related to the protection and conservation of the coastal and marine environment. This initiative facilitates the approval of coastal development projects after passing strict and holistic assessments on developmental and environmental aspects.
Aiming at further protection and sustaining of the coastal and marine environment, the National Environment Agency has continued to formulate and implement stringent enforcement programmes to ensure full compliance with Singapore's Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA). The EPMA regulates and controls discharge of wastewater, trade effluents, oil and chemicals into inland waters, drains, land and sea, thereby preventing pollution to the marine and coastal waters. The EPHA regulates the collection, treatment and disposal of solid wastes, including hazardous wastes to prevent pollution of inland and coastal waters.
Singapore’s marine conservation and management strategies are also captured under the Marine Conservation Action Plan (MCAP)—an evolving plan grounded in science to meet the current and future conservation needs of Singapore’s coastal and marine environment. In 2018, Singapore also celebrated 25 years of partnership building with the community in nature conservation. The first community stewardship initiative began with a ground-up project in 1993. Over time, many programmes have been initiated involving more than 40,000 volunteers, citizen scientists, nature advocacy groups, academics and others.
Focal Points:
Mr Ranjeet Singh (National Focal Point)
Divisional Director (International Policy), Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations Environment Programme
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
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PEMSEA Network of Local Governments Forum (PNLG) 2024 Annual Forum Proceedings
The 2024 Forum of the PNLG with the theme, “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean” was hosted by PNLG and PEMSEA and co-organized by the PNLG Secretariat and Coastal and Ocean Management Institute (COMI) of Xiamen University. The forum was conducted on 6-8 November 2024 in Xiamen.
About one hundred participants from:
- 21 PNLG member local governments;
- 5 PNLG Associate members;
- PNLC members;
- resource speakers and other invited experts,
- the PNLG Secretariat,
- the PNLC Secretariat, and
- the PRF attended the forum.
They are from eight countries, namely Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, RO Korea, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.
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Integrated River Basin Management Project Newsletter - Edition 5
"Steering the Flow" is the fifth edition of the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project's newsletter, highlighting key milestones and meetings for the last quarter of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. From the IRBM Project's participation in the 2024 East Asian Seas Congress and The Pavilion for People at the 2025 World Economic Forum, to the launch of the State of River Basin Guidebook and the ongoing assessment of the interplay between water use conflicts and the water-energy-food-ecosystem security nexus in ASEAN river basins — the IRBM Project is set to steer the governance and management of priority river basins in ASEAN Member States.
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Harmonizing Oceans: Transboundary Strategies for Climate Resilience in North-East Asia
The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and ESCAP Subregional Office for
East and North-East Asia jointly organized a session titled “Harmonizing Oceans: Transboundary Strategies for Climate Resilience in North-East Asia”. This session highlighted the role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under the Coastal and Marine Spatial
Planning (CSMP) regime in North-East Asia and beyond in fostering regional resilience against climate impacts and promoting ecosystem conservation.Key topics included:
- Understanding Climate Change Impacts: Examining how climate change affects marine ecosystems in this region.
- Applying CMSP Strategies: Sharing successful CMSP strategies and their role in climate-related conservation efforts (e.g., blue carbon, community-led habitat restoration).
- Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation: Discussing how multi-stakeholder engagement can strengthen regional conservation initiatives.
Additionally, the session underscored capacity building and knowledge exchange, providing a platform for member States and relevant stakeholders to share best practices and enhance skills for managing MPAs and addressing regional marine environmental challenges.