Unpacking Singapore’s New Coastal Protection Standards with PUB’s Angela Koh

By Angela Koh 22 October, 2026

Singapore's new Code of Practice on Coastal Protection will provide landowners, engineers & contractors with greater clarity on what good coastal protection looks like & how to deliver it well. We speak with PUB's Deputy Chief Executive Koh about the policy rationale & next steps

PUB began work on the Code of Practice on Coastal Protection (CPCOP) in 2023, recognising that coastal protection is a long-term endeavour requiring extensive collaboration
Coastal landowners can take an incremental approach, initially protecting against 0.7m of relative SLR, with further adjustments as climate projections become clearer in the future
PUB will explore innovative solutions that balance biodiversity protection with enhanced coastal resilience, while also considering larger-scale coastal protection measures
Author: Angela Koh
Ms Angela Koh is Deputy Chief Executive (Flood Resilience) at PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, where she leads national efforts to strengthen flood and coastal resilience. She oversees the development of policies, infrastructure programmes, and operational strategies to safeguard Singapore against inland flooding and the long-term impacts of sea level rise. Angela heads PUB’s Flood Resilience Cluster, which brings together planning, design, and operational functions to deliver integrated stormwater management and coastal protection solutions. With extensive experience spanning engineering, operations, human resources and capability development, Angela has held several key leadership appointments within PUB, including Director of the Water Supply Network Department, where she oversaw more than 6,000 km of water infrastructure. A trained civil and environmental engineer, she holds degrees from Nanyang Technological University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her contributions to public service have been recognised through several national honours.
Read more from Angela Koh →

In June 2026, Singapore launched the Code of Practice on Coastal Protection, which spells out the planning, design, operation, inspection and maintenance requirements for coastal protection measures in Singapore. From 2028, all coastal landowners will have to follow this code to protect their land from sea level rise.

Today we talk to Angela Koh, Deputy Chief Executive of Flood Resilience at PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, about how this new technical guide helps the island nation plan for a future coastline.

CWR: Thanks for being here, Angela. Can you share how this Code of Practice came about? When did PUB begin planning for this and which stakeholders were involved?

Angela Koh (AK): Singapore passed the Coastal Protection Bill in Mar 2026, to better protect our low‑lying, highly built-up coastline against the growing risks of sea level rise and coastal flooding. The legislation establishes clear responsibilities for coastal landowners, including long‑term lessees, to meet coastal protection requirements. This is important because protecting Singapore’s coast against sea level rise only works if we can maintain a continuous line of defence around Singapore.

The Code of Practice on Coastal Protection, or CPCOP, was developed to translate these legislative obligations into clear, practical and technically sound guidance that affected parties can work with. It lays out what landowners and industry professionals need to consider across the full life cycle of coastal protection measures, from planning and design, to operation, inspection and maintenance.

PUB began working on the CPCOP in 2023 & worked with industry to ensure it is rigorous and practical

We started work on the CPCOP back in 2023, knowing that coastal protection is a long‑term endeavour and that it is important to plan early and work closely with the industry. Along the way, we engaged professional bodies and industry associations extensively to make sure the requirements are technically rigorous and practical to implement. We also worked closely with other government agencies to ensure that the CPCOP considers broader land‑use, infrastructure and waterfront operations considerations.

This has very much been a collaborative effort, and that will continue to be so. As our understanding of sea level rise and technologies evolve, the CPCOP will be updated to stay current and relevant.

CWR: The code states that properties with more than 30 years left on their lease should plan for 2.15m of relative mean sea level rise. What factors did PUB consider when deciding to plan for over 2m of rising seas?

AK: The CPCOP adopts a science-based approach, by taking reference from Singapore’s national climate change studies. We have considered the sea level rise projections from these studies and translated the long-term risks of sea level rise into practical planning requirements for coastal developments.

Long lease developments must plan for 2.15m of relative mean SLR

For developments with long lease periods, we need to ensure that they remain resilient to the climate risks over their lifetime. For this reason, we have taken a forward-looking approach and require such developments to plan with a 2.15m of relative mean sea-level rise in mind.

CWR: Given the uncertainty in the long-term climate scenario, how should landowners plan to ensure that the measures can protect Singapore adequately from coastal flooding?

AK: We recognise that there remains uncertainty in the long-term climate scenarios. Climate science continues to evolve, and the actual pace of sea level rise may change, depending on how quickly the world decarbonises.

Landowners can build the protection measures incrementally, but need to have clear plans in place

This is why landowners with long leases are given the flexibility to implement their coastal protection measures either incrementally or in a single step, taking into consideration their site-specific needs or operational requirements. Under the incremental approach, landowners need not build their coastal protection measures to the full projected requirement from the outset. Instead, they can do it progressively, as long as their initial build offers protection against a 0.7m relative mean sea-level rise, with clear plans in place to progressively enhance their coastal protection measures to meet higher sea-level rise scenarios where required.

This approach provides a robust level of protection from the start, while preserving the flexibility to adapt over time as climate projections become clearer.

CWR: Can you give us some examples of the types of coastal protection infrastructures that are viable under this code? Are there any innovations or pilot projects in coastal defence that you’re excited about?

AK: Landowners and long-term lessees can consider a variety of measures, ranging from revetments and seawalls to deployable coastal barriers.

PUB is exploring solutions such as interlocking concrete armour systems, eco‑sand tubes & adaptive sea walls…

…also those that integrate nature into engineered structures

PUB is also actively exploring new and innovative solutions to protect our coastline to add to our toolkit of measures. For example, we are exploring interlocking concrete armour systems, more sustainable solutions such as eco‑sand tubes, as well as adaptive seawalls and modular watertight systems that support prefabrication and future adaptation. At the same time, we are looking at how we can work with nature by integrating mangroves, seagrasses and other coastal ecosystems with engineered structures to enhance coastal resilience while supporting biodiversity.

We are also studying the feasibility of implementing larger-scale, centralised coastal protection measures, such as coastal barriers, in certain parts of Singapore. These solutions, which will be implemented by the Government, present opportunities for us to provide regional coastal protection while minimising changes to existing waterfront areas to support Singapore’s broader urban development agenda.

CWR: Lastly, now that the code is launched, what are the next major steps for PUB on coastal protection?

AK: With the CPCOP launched and taking effect from 2028, one key priority is to build up the coastal protection capabilities of the industry so that they would be able to design and implement coastal protection measures in the future.  PUB has been working closely with the Singapore Water Association’s Coastal Protection Chapter (SWA CP) on a skills and competency framework to identify and address capability gaps within the industry.

PUB will enhance SG’s coastal protection capabilities through collaboration & by providing training to industry professionals

We also plan to work with our industry partners to develop further training for industry professionals. We want to ensure that our engineers, consultants and contractors have the necessary knowledge and capabilities to design, implement and maintain the coastal protection infrastructure that Singapore will need in the decades ahead.

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