Addressing Heat Stress: Key Insights from ST Podcasts Live Event

SINGAPORE — As climate change continues to cause rising temperatures globally, the urgency to address heat-related challenges, particularly for vulnerable communities, has intensified. On August 12, 2025, The Straits Times will host its fourth ST Podcasts Live event titled "Heat Stress & Us" at The Fashion Pulpit in Jalan Besar, featuring a dialogue among experts to explore coping strategies for increasing heat exposure in Singapore.

The significance of this dialogue stems from recent findings that indicate a concerning trend in heat-related health risks, particularly for outdoor workers in tropical climates. According to Associate Professor Jason Lee, Director of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, "The increase in ambient temperatures due to climate change poses a significant threat to human health, well-being, and productivity, especially in Southeast Asia where heat stress incidents are on the rise" (Lee, 2023).

This event follows the implementation of new regulations by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower in 2023, which mandates that employers provide hourly rest breaks for outdoor workers when temperatures exceed certain thresholds. Jaime Lim, Director of the Major Hazards and Occupational Safety and Health Specialists Departments at the Ministry, stated, "Our new measures aim to safeguard the health of workers who are most vulnerable to heat stress, ensuring they can work safely under increasing temperatures" (Lim, 2023).

With Singapore's relatively high baseline temperatures, the threshold for heat becoming a public health risk is a crucial consideration. The dialogue will delve into how the country can balance economic activities with necessary health safeguards. David Fogarty, Deputy Foreign Editor at The Straits Times, emphasized the importance of community engagement in addressing such environmental challenges: "It is vital that we foster a dialogue that not only raises awareness but also encourages collective action towards mitigating heat stress and promoting public health" (Fogarty, 2025).

This discussion will also touch on a related topic of human-wildlife conflict, which has become increasingly prevalent as urban development encroaches on natural habitats. A recent incident involving long-tailed macaques in Punggol highlights the complexities of urbanization and wildlife interactions. Shabana Begum and Ang Qing, co-hosts of the award-winning podcast series Green Trails, will lead the discussion on managing these encounters and fostering coexistence between humans and wildlife. According to Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, Co-CEO of the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres), "As urban areas expand, the likelihood of human-wildlife encounters increases, necessitating effective management strategies to minimize conflict" (Balakrishnan, 2025).

The ST Podcasts Live event will provide attendees with an opportunity to engage directly with experts during a Q&A session, fostering a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. Participants can sign up for the event at https://str.sg/podcastlive.

As Singapore continues to face the implications of climate change, events like these are crucial for raising awareness and developing actionable strategies to cope with rising temperatures and environmental challenges. The ongoing discourse not only aims to protect vulnerable communities but also to promote a sustainable urban environment that accommodates both human and wildlife needs.