A view of a residential apartment (L) and Oasia hotel with its facade covered in plants in Singapore on June 19, 2018.
A residential apartment building, left, and the Oasia Hotel with its facade covered in plants in Singapore on June 19, 2018.
  • Singapore is trying to fight rising temperatures partly by making its buildings greener, literally.
  • This involves covering rooftops and vertical facades with gardens.
  • Plants absorb light, create shade, and release water that cools the air.

As the world heats up — and the urban built environment makes things worse — Singapore is at the leading edge of efforts to cool cities.