With an average temperature of 28°C (82.4°F), which feels like 32°C (89.6°F) with humidity, Singapore's six million inhabitants endure persistent heat all year round. Located close to the equator, the city-state has one key challenge: to remain liveable despite global warming. The situation is urgent: over the past 60 years, the city has warmed twice as fast as the rest of the world due to its unbridled economic development. As the leading financial centre in Southeast Asia, Singapore has become one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Concrete and tarmac trap the heat, while air conditioners, present in 80 percent of homes, blow hot air onto the streets.