"Bangkok can be submerged in the sea within 7-8 years."Economic damage forecast of KRW 727 trillion
Aug 27, 2024
|
According to local media, including Kaosod, Anousson Tammajai, dean of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Department of Economics and a former member of Thailand's National Research Council, emphasized in a recent discussion that the impact of natural disasters on quality of life and the economy is increasing.
In particular, he pointed out that problems such as flash floods, global warming, and extreme climate change are becoming increasingly serious.
He urged the government to immediately come up with effective countermeasures, saying Bangkok could be submerged in the sea within the next seven to eight years.
A study in Thailand predicted that La Niña could last for 9 to 12 months.
La Niña is an abnormal phenomenon that occurs for more than five months in the equatorial region of the eastern Pacific Ocean, where the sea surface temperature is more than 0.5 degrees lower than the average year.
As a result, precipitation in Southeast Asia and Australia has increased significantly, resulting in flooding, while drought is accompanied in Peru and Chile.
A Thai study estimated that rainfall could increase by up to 14 billion cubic meters.
Anousson stressed that the impact on the economy and quality of life would worsen if the government continued to neglect recurring problems such as floods and droughts, and air pollution lasting more than four months each year.
According to a survey by Greenpeace, if more than 80% of Bangkok is submerged, the economic damage is estimated at 18.6 trillion baht (about 727.63 trillion won), and it is expected to affect more than 10.45 million people.
As a result, Anousson proposed six emergency policies.
He cited ▶ building barriers against flooding and raising coastal roads ▶ expanding the creation of mangrove forests ▶ reorganizing coastal land use ▶ decentralized investment ▶ converting renewable energy ▶ potential relocation of the capital.
He urged the new government to speed up investment to prevent Bangkok and its metropolitan areas from being submerged in the sea.
bellho@sportschosun.com
