Mosquitoes, cooling vests: Singapore launches exhibition on adapting to climate change

Singapore has launched a month-long, traveling exhibition titled "Our Climate-Ready Home" to showcase how the nation is preparing to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. The exhibition is currently at One Punggol, an integrated community and lifestyle hub, where visitors can experience interactive activities such as handling Project Wolbachia mosquitoes, which are engineered to suppress dengue fever-spreading mosquito populations.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong opened the exhibition on October 24, noting that the current haze in Singapore is a direct result of climate change. He cited rising temperatures and the El Nino phenomenon as factors contributing to the haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia. Gan emphasized that the haze serves as a reminder for residents to take measures to cope with extreme weather, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, and those with respiratory conditions.

Gan urged residents to share their knowledge with family and friends to take practical steps in adapting to climate change. He highlighted the importance of businesses, communities, and individuals working together to develop Singapore's inaugural National Adaptation Plan, which will be released in 2027. The plan aims to outline the country's long-term strategy to protect itself from the impacts of climate change.

The exhibition features free half-hour guided tours that highlight solutions developed by private and public sector partners, as well as community groups. These solutions include wearable devices that can cool the skin by up to 9 degrees Celsius without batteries or refrigeration. Participants who complete the tour and a quiz can redeem a variety of gifts, ranging from a $5 NTUC voucher to the exhibition's mascot Water Wally and his sister Water Sally.

Fresh local produce is also available at the SG Farmer’s Market, organized by the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation.

The exhibition will be hosted at One Punggol until October 28, then moving to Westgate in Jurong and Kampung Admiralty in Woodlands from October 31 to November 22. Visitors can find tour schedules at mse.gov.sg/climatereadyhome.