Unequal Climate Change

Burning Asia

Asia is on fire. At the end of April, media outlets worldwide reported record-high temperatures in several Asian countries due to a devastating heat wave. In Myanmar, the central Magway region experienced a staggering 48.2 degrees Celsius, the highest in 56 years. In neighboring Thailand, temperatures soared to 44.2 degrees in some areas, with the capital, Bangkok, reaching 40 degrees. On April 25, Bangkok authorities issued a heat wave warning, noting that the perceived temperature, factoring in humidity, would reach 52 degrees. In the Philippines, temperatures in Manila rose to 38.8 degrees, leading to dizziness and fainting among teachers and students in schools without air conditioning. Consequently, more than 47,000 schools across the country were temporarily closed from April 29 to 30.

28th Apil, 2 millions ton of fish dies cause of hot temperature at Dong Nai, Vietnam_Pic from AFP

On April 28, Vietnam recorded its highest temperature of the year at 44 degrees. On the same day, a heat wave in the southern Dong Nai region killed 2 million tons of fish in a reservoir. In the Mekong River Delta, low water levels and increasing seawater inflow caused severe salinization, damaging freshwater supplies and farmland. In Ben Tre and Tien Giang provinces, salinization became so severe that even using a washing machine was impossible. The Vietnamese government declared a state of emergency on April 6 due to the inability to supply drinking and industrial water to nearby complexes.

Unequal Heat Wave Damage

The Copernicus Climate Change Service, an EU organization, announced that from early April to the end of May 2023, daily temperatures in six major ASEAN countries hovered around 40 degrees Celsius almost every day. They warned that such temperatures pose serious health risks, particularly for the elderly and those with health problems. Unfortunately, the poor in the ASEAN region are especially vulnerable due to their limited ability to afford air conditioning.

A 2021 report by CLASP, an NGO focusing on home appliance efficiency and energy accessibility, highlighted the disparity in air conditioner penetration rates among the six major ASEAN countries. In 2021, Singapore and Malaysia had over 80% penetration rates, compared to Thailand (55%), Vietnam (32%), the Philippines (25%), and Indonesia (15%). The world's poorest countries, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, had penetration rates estimated at less than 10%. While increased use of air conditioners could alleviate heat wave damage, it also risks accelerating global warming and spreading the impact worldwide.

In response to the heat wave, religious ceremonies were held globally to pray for rain. According to AFP, Catholic bishops in the Philippines issued a special prayer for rain, urging believers to pray. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, about 1,000 Muslims gathered to pray for rain, with similar events across the country. In Nakhon Sawan, central Thailand, villagers performed a traditional rain ritual, dousing a cage containing a Doraemon figure, replacing real cats to avoid accusations of animal abuse. These actions reflect the deep anxiety caused by extreme heat and drought.

Asia is the Biggest Victim of Climate Change

On April 23, 2023, the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the "2023 Asia Climate Status Report," identifying Asia as the region most affected by global warming. The WMO warned that Asia is warming faster than the global average, with the average temperature rise over the past 30 years being double that of the previous 30 years. This rapid warming leads to frequent floods and droughts, causing significant human and material damage.

end of APril's Heat Wave_Image from Windy.com

In 2022, Pakistan experienced major flooding that submerged a third of the country, affecting over 33 million people, or 15% of the population. In August 2023, Beijing and Hebei Province in China saw record rainfall for the first time in 140 years, and in September, Hong Kong experienced its heaviest rain in 139 years, causing the stock market to close. Libya, in northern Africa, also suffered a catastrophic flood in September when a dam collapse killed 10,000 people.

Despite being least responsible for climate change, Asia suffers the most. Europe and North America, which achieved advanced civilizations at the expense of the climate, seem relatively unscathed. However, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) warned in the journal Nature that even with drastic carbon dioxide emission reductions, the global economy could see a 19% decline in income by 2050 due to climate change. Dr. Leonie Wenz from PIK emphasized that climate change will cause significant economic damage worldwide, including in developed countries like Germany, France, and the United States. To address the crisis, developed countries have announced carbon tax measures and signed Just Energy Transition Partnerships with Vietnam and Indonesia, pledging billions for renewable energy projects. However, this aid is insufficient to overcome the Asian climate crisis.

Developed countries must transfer efficient renewable energy technologies to poor Asian countries for free and actively disseminate them. If developed countries do not boldly give up their vested rights, as in the famous Netflix drama ‘Squid Game’, ‘If this continues, we may all die.’