Bangkok’s rising heat: Over 2,300 lives, billions in wages at risk
BANGKOK: Without sufficient intervention, Bangkok’s average temperature increase of one degree Celsius could lead to more than 2,300 heat-related deaths and 44 billion baht in lost wages due to reduced productivity, according to a study by the World Bank and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
The report, titled ‘Shaping a Cooler Bangkok: Tackling Urban Heat for a More Liveable City’, highlights that Bangkok is experiencing increasingly severe and prolonged heatwaves.
It stated that the urban heat island effect exacerbates the crisis by turning built-up areas into heat traps, which strain health, productivity, and infrastructure.
“Without intervention, by 2050, unsafe temperatures could make it impossible to perform many outdoor jobs, and heat-related health conditions will continue to rise.
“Vulnerable groups, including 880,000 children under the age of 15 and one million people over the age of 65, are at the greatest risk from urban heat,” the report noted during its launch here on Wednesday.
The World Bank Division Director for Thailand and Myanmar, Melinda Good, said urban heat is not just an environmental issue but also an economic and social challenge that demands urgent action.
“This report provides practical solutions for Bangkok’s leaders and businesses to help the city adapt to extreme heat while protecting its most vulnerable residents, safeguarding jobs in heat-exposed industries, and ensuring long-term economic resilience,” she said.
In response to the challenges, the BMA has collaborated with the government and the business community to establish cooling shelters, expand green corridors, and implement heat alert systems.
Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, emphasised that as Bangkok continues to grow, the BMA must take decisive steps to address the escalating heat crisis.
“The findings and recommendations from this report will guide our efforts to better protect the most vulnerable populations and create a more liveable, resilient metropolis for future generations,” he said.
— BERNAMA
