Buckle up, Bangkok: Thai official floats capital relocation amid rising sea

[snoop1130]

 

A senior Thai official yesterday raised the alarming possibility that Thailand may need to consider relocating its capital city Bangkok due to the threat posed by rising sea levels caused by climate change. The bustling metropolis of the capital already grapples with severe flooding during the rainy season each year.

 

Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Department of Climate Change and Environment Pavich Kesavawong, warned that the low-lying city risks being submerged by the ocean before the end of the century.

 

Pavich expressed concerns that the world is already beyond the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius of global temperature rise compared to pre-industrial levels, suggesting that an adaptation strategy is crucial.

 

Discussions are underway to explore potential adaptation measures, including the construction of dikes similar to those in the Netherlands.

 

However, he acknowledged that the possibility of relocating the capital has also been contemplated, although such deliberations are still hypothetical and highly complex.

 

“Personally, I think it’s a good choice, so we can separate the capital, the government areas, and business areas,” Pavich said.

 

Suggesting that perhaps Bangkok could remain the government capital while the business hub could be moved elsewhere.

 

The idea of relocating a capital city is not entirely foreign in the region, Indonesia is set to inaugurate its new capital, Nusantara this year, replacing the sinking and polluted Jakarta as the country’s political centre, albeit at a staggering cost estimated at US$35 billion (1.3 trillion baht).

 

Thailand is experiencing the effects of climate change across various sectors, from agriculture to tourism.

 

The country has closed several national parks in response to recent coral bleaching, and Pavich warned that further closures might be necessary to protect natural resources.

 

While Thailand has recently passed legislation focused on clean air and has stepped up efforts to prevent and extinguish fires in protected areas, Pavich acknowledged that the government’s efforts to tackle air pollution, particularly in the northern regions, have yet to yield tangible results.

 

The Thai government is currently pushing for its first climate change legislation, which has been in the works since at least 2019 but was shelved during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The legislation encompasses provisions on carbon pricing, mitigation, and adaptation measures. Thailand aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065, reported Japan Times.

 

Image by Wiroj Sidhisoradej on Freepik

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-05-16

 

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[MarkmBha]

Bangkok will be under water in the future.

[JoePai]

I know, how about moving it to Ayutthaya   

[Korat Kiwi]

Nothing new here regarding relocating the capital.  It's been bandied about for years. 

 

Nakhon Ratchasima had been earmarked but nothing will happen in my lifetime. 

[Lacessit]

Nothing to worry about, the climate sceptics have it covered. Rising seas are fake news.

 

 

[BangkokReady]

7 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand may need to consider relocating its capital city Bangkok due to the threat posed by rising sea levels caused by climate change

 

Suggesting that perhaps Bangkok could remain the government capital while the business hub could be moved elsewhere.

 

The idea of relocating a capital city is not entirely foreign in the region, Indonesia is set to inaugurate its new capital, Nusantara this year, replacing the sinking and polluted Jakarta as the country’s political centre, albeit at a staggering cost estimated at US$35 billion (1.3 trillion baht).

 

Are they relocating a capital city or simply choosing a different one?

[degrub]

5 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Nothing to worry about, the climate sceptics have it covered. Rising seas are fake news.

 

 

Subsidence is the more direct issue. You cannot pump out the groundwater and not expect the surface level to drop. That is one of the larger drivers for Jakarta government relocation. I understand that Bangkok has a similar issue.

[BritScot]

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Nothing to worry about, the climate sceptics have it covered. Rising seas are fake news.

 

 

Really! How many climate predictions have been massively wrong? 20, 30, 40++. Great lakes dry~ highest levels on record, no ice caps ~ ice cap growth, polar bear extinction ~ growth in population so much so they are breading with brown bears.... oh let's not talk about islands underwater, London under water, miami coastline underwater, that's the area certain cult members have multi million dollar beach front property! Anyone feeling stupid yet?

[soi3eddie]

Bangkok is sinking slowly. Same as Jakarta and many other places. Are sea levels really rising? Maybe the Thai government want to move the capital for other reasons?

 

[Presnock]

12 hours ago, MarkmBha said:

Bangkok will be under water in the future.

maye that is why they the submarines for public transportation

[nglodnig]

5 hours ago, degrub said:

Subsidence is the more direct issue

Eaxactly. Bangkok was called the "Venice of Asia" but then the "powers-that-be"  filled up all the canals - result - flooding and subsidence. NOTHING to do with an estimate 3.6 mm a year sea-level rise (which has been occuring since the last ice-age, sea-levels have risen 120 metres since that time).

 

 But hey, when we are incompetent and screw up let's blame global warming eh so we don't look quite so bad.

[Pesche]

Oh, now there is even a "Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Department of Climate Change" while there is NO climate change 😁

The climate is constantly changing, in cycles. So stop these politically induced misleading news!

 

Sea levels are rising? Oh well yes! Of course! Since the beginning! When there is high tide!! 🤣

 

It just needs simple logic and common sense to understand that it is not the rising sea the reason of the problem and definitely NOT "climate change"!!!

 

Reason number one is that Bangkok is sinking! It was and is built on the delta of the Chao Phraya River.

It is built on fluvial muddy soft sediments - not on solid rock!

Reason number two is that the delta is in reality a swamp area!

i.e. Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan which is not only a swamp but also below sea level!!

Reason number three due to poor planing and enormous consumption, the Groundwater level is also lowering dramatically! This accelerates the sinking process of the entire city...

Reason number four is that the frequent inundations are caused because of the unscrupulous deforestation of tropical forests!!

The unscrupulous deforestation of the tropical forests is the major reason of floodings in all Thailand!

 

So please, again:

PUT POLITICIANS AT THE RIGHT PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE - This is actually a global problem in nearly every Country.

[ChasingTheSun]

In the year 2000 half the world will be underwater.

 

- Al Gore

[Jonathan Swift]

14 hours ago, MarkmBha said:

Bangkok will be under water in the future.

I always wanted to take up scuba diving anyway

[spermwhale]

2 minutes ago, ChasingTheSun said:

In the year 2000 half the world will be underwater.

 

- Al Gore

He never said that. What he said was that some scientists had predicted that the polar caps would melt by 2014. He didn't say they would 

[Jonathan Swift]

6 minutes ago, ChasingTheSun said:

In the year 2000 half the world will be underwater.

 

- Al Gore

Do you always just make stuff up to post in comments? Do you do it to sound smart? Well it doesn't work, actually, quite the opposite. Better to actually think before you speak, and perhaps fact check. 

[Jonathan Swift]

14 hours ago, MarkmBha said:

Bangkok will be under water in the future.

Everything will be under water in "the future". 

[Jonathan Swift]

13 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Nothing to worry about, the climate sceptics have it covered. Rising seas are fake news.

 

 

Fake water. Nothing to worry about. I believe that fake map you posted came from Trump's "Sharpie Weather Service"

[PuiPuiHarry]

When the Netherlands can keep a part of a city, 6 mtr below sea level called Alexanderpolder and part of Rotterdam, dry, Thailand cannot keep a city dry just 1 mtr below sea level ?  About 1/3 of Netherlands lies below sea level, with the lowest point being 22 feet (6.7 meters) below sea level. 

[klauskunkel]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

However, he acknowledged that the possibility of relocating the capital has also been contemplated, although

this would only happen if the senior politicians du jour will be making a tidy profit from the move.

[thesetat]

13 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Nothing to worry about, the climate sceptics have it covered. Rising seas are fake news.

 

 

That's what is in the news. But Bangkok has been sinking for awhile now due to the removal of underground water. So the higher sea levels are only adding to a constant current problem that existed before this sea rise. I think last year they said Bangkok would be underwater by 2050 because of this. Noone cares. They illegally tap the water underground to avoid paying a water bill. NOw is the time for consequences and if they do not begin to act, they will not have enough time to build another city to compare with Bangkok. 

[Classic Ray]

11 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

this would only happen if the senior politicians du jour will be making a tidy profit from the move.

Maybe all the politicians could work from home, they would be just as effective!

[mstevens]

They have been talking about this for at least 3 decades. If I recall reports from the '90s correctly, Bangkok was supposed to be well under water by now. Maybe they really do need to do something but it does rather seem to be like a number of things they love to talk about every few years and then nothing ever happens. As dramatic as the idea of Bangkok going under water may seem, when you've read articles like this so many times over the years you eventually become desensitised to it.

[DPKANKAN]

Buckle up, Bangkok: Thai official 'FLOATS' capital relocation amid rising sea.

 

Wonderful sarcastic headline!!!!5555😂🤣😂🤣

[Robert Paulson]

Move Bangkok to chiang mai

[Andrew65]

14 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Nothing to worry about, the climate sceptics have it covered. Rising seas are fake news.

 

 

Saw something interesting a few years ago about an American guy, a commercial fisherman. He had his Miami Beach area residential property for sale, whilst it still has value, due to rising sea levels.

[OneMoreFarang]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Department of Climate Change and Environment

Obviously, anybody in that position must talk about the imminent end of life on earth. 

They are paid to do that.

Next, a visit from the top expert in the world...

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

On 5/17/2024 at 2:12 AM, BritScot said:

Really! How many climate predictions have been massively wrong? 20, 30, 40++. Great lakes dry~ highest levels on record, no ice caps ~ ice cap growth, polar bear extinction ~ growth in population so much so they are breading with brown bears.... oh let's not talk about islands underwater, London under water, miami coastline underwater, that's the area certain cult members have multi million dollar beach front property! Anyone feeling stupid yet?

 

Let me know when you get your education in thermodynamics so you can understand current data and trends.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Pattaya would be ideal for Thailand’s capital city.   Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza would blend in perfectly

[OneMoreFarang]

On 5/17/2024 at 7:11 AM, Lacessit said:

Let me know when you get your education in thermodynamics so you can understand current data and trends.

 

Wow, thermodynamics, that sounds impressive. You must be one of those supersmart guys.

Did you buy already property on a high mountain to escape the flooding?