Singapore Notes Topic 1-3

Singapore Topic 1.1 Small Island City State - Natural Characteristics of Singapore Size and elevation of Singapore Limited natural resources Low lying islands No more than 15m above sea level Highest point > Bukit Timah Hill 164m Small landmass 700 sq km^2 63 offshore islands Different purposes and characteristics Residential - Housing, retail and amenities Industrial - Oil refineries Military - Pulau Tekong > Training Recreation > Sentosa > Tourism Singapore 1

Climate Tropical equatorial climate High temperatures Lowest temp: 2325°C Highest temp: 3133°C High precipitation throughout the year 3012mm in 2022 167 days of rain on average Heavy + Thunder Southwest + Northeast Monsoons Northeast Nov to March) Winds travel across the South China Sea > More rainfall Southeast June to Sep) Winds travel across Sumatra from Indian Ocean > Less rainfall Ecosystems in Singapore Contains many ecosystems > Highly diverse and complex interactions > Land and coast based Land Singaporeʼs four nature reserves > Protected under Parks and Trees Act Bukit Timah Nature Reserve NR , Central Catchment NR, Labrador NR, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve) Dominant ecosystem: Tropical rainforest Species and structural diversity high Continuous canopy > Little sunlight reach ground > Ground covered by leaf litter Common species of plants > Lianas + Epiphytes Coastal ecosystems Singapore 2

Marine and coastal biodiversity conserved as part of SGʼs heritage Intertidal areas Rich marine life exposed to air x2 a day due to semi-diurnal tides Habitats include rocky shores, sandy beaches, and seagrass meadows Mangroves Type of wetland > Serves as food source + nursery for fish + protect coastlines from from storm damage Coral reefs Near the islands south of SIngapore Support more than 250 species of heard corals from 55 genera, over 200 species of sponges, 120 species of reef fish and many other organisms Topic 1.2 Small Island City State - Human Characteristics of Singapore Economic characteristics Diversified economy > Rely on a variety of sectors for economic growth Manufacturing Make products from raw materials using raw labour + Machines Services Provide services to people or other businesses rather than make products Social characteristics Open and globalised country Strategic location > Attract many immigrants > Diverse backgrounds + Ethnic languages English is the official language of the nation + Primary language of instruction Singapore 3

Singapore is very densely populated > 7,688/sq area in 2022 Singaporeans are avid users of technology with mobile penetration rate of over 158.8% Number of mobile subscriptions over number of users Political Characteristics Government consists of Executive > Administers the law Legislative > Makes the law Judiciary > Practice the law in courts SG can have power to make its maintaining law and order, manage its economy, participate in international organisations One of the founding member of ASEAN Formed on 8 Aug 1967 Aim to build strong, prosperous and rules-based region Active contributor to global initiatives particularly in the United Nations International scene Contributed to UN Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS > Agreement that helps countries manage oceans by establishing a set of rules Member of the World Trade Organisation WTO Topic 1.3 Small Island City State - Singaporeʼs Vulnerabilities Limited land and natural resources Difficulties in achieving sustainable urban development Small size > Challenging to cater to all needs > Optimised fully to ensure current and future needs met Juggle with competing demands > Cater to economic, social, environmental needs E.g. Dover Forest Singapore 4

Zoned for residential use in 2020 Sparked concerns and appeals from nature enthusiasts Plan was revised to set aside western half to be forest + eastern half for residential Vulnerable to food, water and energy insecurity Singapore part global environment with risks such as climate change, unpredictable geopolitical and diverse outbreak Lack of resources > Vulnerable in terms of food, water and energy resources Limitations can lead to… Food insecurity 90% of food is imported > Dependent on others + Vulnerable to food shortages E.g. Singapore imports 34% of chicken supply from Malaysia (live chicken) Faced a shortage in 2022 when Malaysia halted export into SG Water insecurity Dependent on four sources Local catchment, imported water, NEWater, desalinated water) Difficult to build new reservoirs for rainwater Difficult to create new reservoirs as major estuaries already dammed Demand expected to double over next 40 years Energy insecurity No domestic fossil fuels resources Natural gas imported through pipelines from neighbouring countries or in liquid form LNG Lead to highly exposed to fluctuations in prices due to global demand and supply shocks Singapore 5

E.g. Demand increase after Covid-19 & supply disruptions after Russia Ukraine conflict > Energy price increased > Make electricity more ex Changing demographics Decreasing birth rate Declined over past decade > TFR at 0.87, lowest > Below replacement of 2.1 Later marriages and childbearing > Median age of 1st time mothers rosed from 28.5 in 2000 to 31 in 2020 Local population decreases > More reliant on people from other counties for manpower Ageing population Increase life expectancy and low TRF Median age of citizens rise Makes Singapore vulnerable as more resources must be allocated to care for the aged Increasingly diverse society People living in Singapore made up of Singapore citizens, new citizens, PRs, international students, migrant domestic workers and other foreigners Diverse society > More disputes amongst people > Cause misunderstandings or disagreements Economic issues Labour shortages Migrant workers and foreign talent form part of the workforce E.g. Foreigners Migrant workers from South India, Bangladesh and China working in Singaporeʼs construction industry Professionals, managers, executives and technicians PMETs from various parts of the world Singapore 6

Small population > Lack of foreign workers > Unable meet demands of growing economy in tech and healthcare Lack of workers > Companies cannot fill job openings > Economy less economy Economic slowdown SG heavily involved in international trade > Exposed to fluctuations in global demand and external economic shocks > Economic slowdown E.g. Economic slowdown during 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, 2001 recession due to dot-com bust, 2009 Global Financial Crisis Ageing population + Reliance on workers > Economic slowdowns > Result in long recovery time Resources needed to care for the aged > Fewer resources are available to aid in economic recovery Lack of local workers to aid recovery > Companies lose interest in Singapore Unable to provide sufficient labour as many left after crisis External shocks and global uncertainties Economic uncertainties Record fiscal deficits globally > Lead to concerns about the ability of gvt to manage debts > Lower investment Geopolitical tensions between countries affecting international trade and supply of goods & services E.g. 199798ʼ] Asian Financial Crisis Close ties to other Asian countries > Suffered financial loss 62,000 unemployed in 1998 compared to 34,000 in 1997 Social uncertainties Social make-up of Singapore may change > Result in social issues related to equality, inclusiveness, and QOL Singapore 7

Rapid tech change > Pressure on ageing population > Widening skill gap Pandemics COVID19 pandemic > Disrupted global economic activities > Shocks in economy Business involved in international travel and tourism, retail and food services were most affected GDP growth with 6% decrease in 2020 Environmental uncertainties Climate change > Uncertainty Countries collective efforts to decarbonise are not adequate > Env. deterioration and climate-related disasters severe 30% island less than 5m below sea level > Face threat of sea level rise E.g. Sea level