Merlion Workshop 2024 on Urban Heat Island (UHI) and critical environmental thresholds: comparing the Singapore and the Ile-de-France Region Paris, France, 25-27 September 2024

Jointly organised by NUS Environmental Research Institute (NUS) and Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Public Policies (LIEPP) (Sciences Po and Université Paris Cité), with the support of the 2024 PHC Merlion Programme, and in partnership with the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (NUS) and the Centre for Earth Politics.

Led by Principal Investigators, Asst Prof Chew Lup Wai from NERI and Department of the Built Environment, College of Design and Engineering, NUS and Dr Charlotte Halpern from LIEPP and Centre for European studies and comparative politics, Sciences Po, this workshop facilitated a dialogue between interdisciplinary researchers, policymakers, and industry practitioners to address climate resilience and urban sustainability in the context of climate change in two densely populated metropolitan areas, Singapore and Paris Ile-de-France. This workshop has been labelled under the France-Singapore Year of sustainability.

Background:

The workshop focused on the escalating impact of urban heat islands (UHI) due to climate change, with temperatures rising by up to 7 °C in Singapore and 8 °C in Paris. As urban areas continue to expand, the workshop aimed to evaluate how these cities can mitigate UHI effects while balancing development and ecological priorities.

Objectives:

  • Examine the disparity between ambitious environmental policy objectives and their real-world implementation, particularly in relation to UHI.
  • Explore emerging technologies and new stakeholders in shaping UHI-related solutions.
  • Bridge the gap between scientific research and policy action to tackle the challenges of rising urban temperatures.
  • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across environmental sciences, engineering, and policy fields to create sustainable urban solutions.

Key Outcomes:

  • Keynote insights from some 20 experts, including:
  • Policy Brief: A comprehensive document summarizing actionable strategies for UHI mitigation and adaptation across Singapore and Paris [Click here for the Policy Brief].
  • Collaborative research agenda: Established a foundation for ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration between NUS and LIEPP, focusing on understanding and addressing UHI through both scientific and policy lenses.

This workshop marks the beginning of a more integrated approach to tackling urban heat challenges, aiming to enhance the resilience of cities like Singapore and Paris in the face of climate change.

We extend our gratitude to the organising committee, speakers and the participants for their valuable contributions. We would also like to acknowledge the funding from the Merlion Programme, jointly contributed by the French Embassy and National University of Singapore, as well as funding from the joint partnership between Université Paris Cité and Sciences Po for this Merlion Workshop.

Keynote addresses by Assoc Prof Sanjay Swarup, NERI Director, NUS;
Prof Marco Tedesco, Lamont Research Professor, Marine and Polar Geophysics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) Columbia Climate School;
Prof Ben Cashore, Director, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, NUS
From left to right: Asst Prof He Xiaogang, Assoc Prof Chang Jiat-Hwee, Assoc Prof Fu Yuming, Ms Dini Sandys, Prof Ben Cashore, Dr Alvaro Artigas, Dr Charlotte Halpern, Prof Alexandre Gelabert, Dr Roberto Rodriguez, Prof Nathalie Blanc, Assoc Prof Martin Hendel, Asst Prof Chew Lup Wai and Dr Sebastian Sewerin.
From left to right: Asst Prof He Xiaogang, Assoc Prof Chang Jiat-Hwee, Assoc Prof Fu Yuming, Ms Dini Sandys, Prof Ben Cashore, Dr Alvaro Artigas, Dr Charlotte Halpern, Prof Alexandre Gelabert, Dr Roberto Rodriguez, Prof Nathalie Blanc, Assoc Prof Martin Hendel, Asst Prof Chew Lup Wai and Dr Sebastian Sewerin.