Climate Change Is Adversely Affecting Everyday life in Thailand! Thailand more than any other Southeast Asian nation is proactive in protecting its country from climate fallout.
(Photo Credits Somkhit Koza)
Climate change encompasses more than just escalating temperatures; it's a multifaceted issue that impacts various aspects of our lives. Thailand is experiencing heightened temperatures, intensified and more frequent flooding due to increased rainfall, along with more severe droughts. These effects are widespread, influencing sectors across the nation, including tourism, public health, and natural resource management. The tourism industry risks losing natural and cultural sites, while the public health sector is challenged by the resurgence of diseases.
Given that it is directly impacted by climate change, the agricultural sector deserves special focus. With over 12 million individuals employed in agriculture in Thailand, it stands out as a key sector for employment in the country. Sanguan Wetamaha, a 70-year-old farmer from Waeng district, Narathiwat Province, notes the changes: "Rainwater is no longer potable as before due to an increase in airborne diseases. The air has become hotter and more scorching, causing leaves to wither and die rapidly."
It is advisable to avoid drinking tap water in Thailand, with the exception of Bangkok, where most of the water meets the World Health Organization's guidelines and standards. Not all countries provide potable tap water due to the presence of harmful bacteria and viruses, which can be detrimental to health.
Bangkok's tap water is generally safe to drink; however, if contamination occurs, it is typically bacterial, which boiling can eliminate, making the water safe to consume. Across the rest of Thailand, tap water may be contaminated with heavy metals such as manganese, lead, arsenic, chromium, and copper, and boiling does not remove these contaminants. Therefore, outside of Bangkok, boiled tap water may not be safe for consumption.
Due to the intense competition for sales, bottled water is very affordable in Thailand. Typically, a 1.5-liter bottle costs about 15 baht (equivalent to 0.40 USD), while a 0.5-liter bottle is priced at around 10 baht (approximately 0.30 USD). Additionally, many stores offer discounted multipacks, making the purchase even more economical.
Drinkable water becomes more and more important in Thailand because extreme heat and rising sea levels threaten parts of Thailand, including the capital city of Bangkok. Erosion is also considered a major problem due to climate change within the country. Thailand places high priority on climate change initiatives, as the nation considers climate change one of the key challenges affecting communities’ livelihood, economic growth and the achievement of sustainable development. One cornerstone of Thailand's future development is investment in Solar power generation. Unlike the USA that dropped the ball decades ago on leading in Solar power generation and is trapped in the rapidly declining Petro dollar spin. Solar power in Thailand has been growing steadily, with a target of reaching 6,000 MW by 2035. By the end of 2020, Thailand had more solar power capacity than all the rest of Southeast Asia combined, with a total capacity upwards of 3,000 MW. The country has high solar radiation levels, especially in the central and northeastern parts, making it a suitable location for solar power generation.
Thailand's Environmentally Sustainable National Plan
Thailand is advocating for a shift from road to rail for both cargo and passenger transport to enhance efficiency. In 2016, the country introduced a vehicle tax policy that is contingent on CO2 emissions to encourage the adoption of low carbon vehicles. The Waste Management Roadmap endorses waste-to-energy solutions and the diligent application of the 3Rs principle. Additionally, the National Forest Policy has been established to guarantee the sustainable stewardship of Thailand's forests. As part of the 20-Year National Strategy, there is a pledge to expand the nation's forest coverage to 55% of the total land area by the year 2037. study found that average annual temperatures in Thailand increased by 0.95 °C between 1955 and 2009, more than the average world temperature increase of 0.69 °C.
Currently in 2024, Thailand is facing an intense heatwave, resulting in historically high temperatures throughout the country. In April, more than thirty districts experienced unprecedented highs, surpassing records that go as far back as 1958. The highest temperature recorded this year reached 44.2°C in Lampang, coming close to the national record of 44.6°C. This surge in temperatures has also caused power consumption to reach a peak of 36,477.8 megawatts. On April 30, 2024, at 20:56, the Ministry of Public Health reported around 30 heat-related deaths nationwide due to the extreme heat.
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