Southeast Asia cities are at risk of floods and heat waves, thanks to climate change

Vietnam and the Philippines are used in periods of severe rain, but climate change threatens to make these events more severe. Southeast Asia is facing as all the risk of climate, due to its densely populated cities, frequent heavy rains, and insufficient infrastructure.

The latest modeling of Zurich solutions found flexibility that six major cities in Southeast Asia – Jingapore, Bangkok, Hochi Minah, Jakarta, Kuala Labor, and Manila – face at least “a great danger” of severe rain, heat waves, and sea levels during the twenties.

In particular, modeling noted that Manila, Bangkok, Singapore and Jakarta are among the most climatic city of Southeast Asia, with critical infrastructure facing a major exposure to multiple climate risk.

Zurich’s risk moderation has used data points from marine ports, airports and prominent cultural sites, such as Pangkok’s Grand Palace and Manila’s Fort Santiago. The analysis was performed under the SSP2-4.5 scenario, the projection that was widely used was developed in an international governmental committee on climate change. The “mid -road” path assumes moderate global mitigation efforts and is expected to increase a percentage in the average global temperatures between 2041 and 2060.

“In Manila, the sites are severely risk of extreme rains, high storms, sea level rise, floods, trade threats and culture.” Bangkok and Jakarta are also threatened due to floods worse than climate change.

Zurich notes that governments are already investing to address some of these risks. For example, its report highlighted that Singapore added $ 5 billion in Singapore ($ 3.9 billion) to its coastal fund and flood protection this year to support new infrastructure such as detention tanks, expanded channels, and high platform levels. The city of Hoshi Minh also promotes sewage systems and expands green urban areas to reduce local floods.

Failure to invest in mitigation can lead to severe financial losses. accident a report From the World Economic Forum and the International Singapore Foundation that the effect of climate change can reduce GDP in Southeast Asia by up to 25 % by 2050.

Another study of Oxford economy Estimates A 1 % increase in average temperature can raise food prices throughout Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Companies in the region also notice how the financial cost of climate change can reach their own operations.

City Developments Limited (CDL), No. 139 on Southeast Asia 500In 2023, it is estimated that the climate failure It can cost $ 120 million Singapore (93.2 million dollars) by 2030, equivalent to about 4 % of its revenues 2024. CDL is studying another scenario of the climate that will be published later this year.