Singaporean Earth Observatory director Ben Horton relocates to Hong Kong to inaugurate CityUHK's climate research center

Professor Benjamin Horton Leaves NTU to Establish Climate Centre at CityUHK

Professor Benjamin Horton, a renowned expert in climate change and sea-level rise, is leaving Nanyang Technological University (NTU) after more than four and a half years as director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS). He is joining City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and will set up a climate centre there.

Horton has been a professor in earth science at the Asian School of the Environment at NTU since 2017. During his tenure, he published over 270 articles in peer-reviewed journals and co-produced Singapore's third national climate change study (V3) in January 2024.

The V3 study projected sea-level rise under various emissions scenarios and Horton's research from this study can help determine the required scope of climate adaptation measures such as Long Island, as well as the flooding risk to critical infrastructure.

Horton's scientific research has also focused on the impact of sea-level rise on mangroves, salt marshes, and corals. He published a paper on this topic in the prestigious journal, Nature, in 2023.

In addition to his work in Singapore, Horton has been active on the international stage. He was a review editor for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's sixth assessment report and an author of the fifth assessment report. He also led a report on managing disaster risks from natural hazards in Southeast Asia at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow in 2021.

Horton has expressed concern over the Trump administration's withdrawal of support for climate research in the United States and has raised concerns about the likely end of an ocean circulation system, which could result in the Amazon rainforest drying out and coastal cities experiencing extreme flooding.

A study by the National Environment Agency supports Horton's prediction about Singapore's climate future. He predicts that if emissions continue to rise on an aggressive fossil fuel-based trajectory, Singapore will experience at least 350 days of the year above the human survivability threshold of 35°C.

Before joining NTU, Horton was professor in marine science at Rutgers University and associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He will maintain ties with Singapore as a consultant to the Centre for Climate Research Singapore.

NTU has not confirmed who will replace Horton as director of EOS. However, it has been announced that Professor Kevin Tan will lead the new climate center at the City University of Hong Kong, which Horton will establish. The new centre will focus on developing climate solutions.

Horton has been appointed dean of CityUHK's School of Energy and the Environment and will lead the climate centre in its mission to combat climate change and protect the planet for future generations.