Due to rising sea levels, Thailand may have to consider moving its capital to Bangkok. These were the remarks made this week by a senior official at the country's climate change office. Forecasts unanimously suggest that the low-lying city of Bangkok is in danger of being submerged by the ocean by the end of the century. During the rainy season, much of the bustling capital is already at risk of flooding.
The government's deputy commissioner for climate change and environment, Pavic Kesavaon, warned that the city may not be able to adapt to the current global warming. "I think we're over 1.5 degrees Celsius," he said, referring to the rise in global temperatures from pre-industrial levels.
"Now we need to go back and think about adaptation. I think if we continue to maintain the current situation, Bangkok will be submerged. ”
The Bangkok city government is exploring measures such as the construction of a seawall, similar to those used in the Netherlands. But "we thought about moving," Mr. Pavic said, adding that the discussions were still hypothetical and that the issues were "very complex." "Personally, I think it's a good option because then we can separate the capital, the political district and the business district," he said.
"Bangkok will remain the government capital, but commercial activity will be replaced." Although such a measure is still far from policy, it is not unprecedented in the region. Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, will be inaugurated this year, and it will replace the sinking and polluted Jakarta as the country's political center.
The massive project sparked controversy and proved to be extremely expensive, with an estimated cost of between $32 billion and $35 billion. Many sectors in Thailand are experiencing the effects of climate change, from farmers facing heat and drought to tourism hit by coral bleaching and pollution.
In response to the recent coral bleaching, the government has closed several national parks, and Pavich said more may be closed. "We need to save our nature, so we believe we will take all necessary measures to protect our resources," he said.
However, Mr. Pavich acknowledged that the government's efforts to tackle the growing problem of air pollution, particularly in northern Thailand, have not yet borne fruit. Clean air legislation was passed this year, and Pavich said national park officials have stepped up efforts to prevent and extinguish fires in protected areas.
"The agricultural sector is very difficult for us," he said, referring to the ongoing post-harvest fires, which are one of the main causes of seasonal smog. The situation is unlikely to improve in a few years. In the near future, his ministry of natural resources and environment is working to pass Thailand's first climate change law.
The project has been ongoing since at least 2019 but was shelved during the pandemic. The legislation, which includes provisions on everything from carbon pricing to mitigation and adaptation measures, is expected to be passed this year, Pavich said. Thailand aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065.