Thailand may have to consider relocating its capital Bangkok because of rising sea levels, a senior official in the country’s climate change office told AFP on Wednesday.
Bangkok’s city government is exploring measures that include building dikes, along the lines of those used in the Netherlands, he said. Indonesia will inaugurate this year its new capital Nusantara, which will replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as the country’s political centre. It has closed several national parks in response to recent coral bleaching and Pavich said further closures were possible.
Legislation focused on clean air passed this year and Pavich said national parks officials had stepped up efforts to prevent and put out fires in protected areas.