38°C days could be new normal by 2050: The hot reality Bangkok faces

Bangkok is struggling with extreme heat, with the city experiencing at least 19 consecutive days of 'dangerous' heat index levels in mid-April. To mitigate the effects, the city has established 313 cooling centres and 279 outdoor cooling points, which have been used by over 120,000 people in the past month. Experts warn that while these measures are crucial, they are only part of the response needed as heat risks continue to escalate. A report by the ASEAN Centre for Energy found that extreme heat is becoming a long-term crisis in ASEAN cities, with significantly higher average temperatures and a rise in extreme heat days forecast. The Thai capital must act now to face a much hotter future, with temperatures potentially reaching 38°C becoming the new normal by 2050. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has located cooling centres near densely populated communities, with over 80% of users able to walk from their homes to the centres.