Bangkok set for region-topping temperatures in years to come
Bangkok set for region-topping temperatures in years to come
Across Bangkok, hundreds of “cooling centres” offer air-conditioning, greenery, water and seating, where more than 120,000 people seek shelter during the peak of the hot season.
Experts warn Bangkok could face up to 120 days of extreme heat annually by 2050, as urbanisation and climate change intensify the city’s temperatures.
Concrete landscapes trap heat long after sunset, leaving little respite at night and raising risks of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Daily maximum surface temperatures could reach 38.1°C by mid-century, compounding the strain on infrastructure and residents across the capital.
Roughly 1.3 million outdoor workers in Bangkok, about a quarter of the workforce, already lose productivity during extreme heat.
Other major cities, including Jakarta, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur, could see temperatures rise by at least 4.5°C compared to 2000 levels.
