Core issue: "It became clear that urbanization had made Singapore a lot warmer than before. In recent decades, the government transformed the city-state by buil

Core issue: "It became clear that urbanization had made Singapore a lot warmer than before. In recent decades, the government transformed the city-state by building tall skyscrapers, piling concrete, steel and glass where Singapore’s natural forests once stood. That contributed directly to what climate researchers call the 'urban heat island' effect, where the difference between downtown Singapore and the forests in the northwestern part of the island can exceed 12.6 degrees."