Bangkok is drowning, due to rising sea level

The impact of rising sea level is getting closer to us. A latest report by Thailand's National Reform Committee (NRC) claimed that Bangkok could be underwater within two decades.

According to a report by ChannelNewsAsia.com, NRC suggested that the Government should set up a national committee to manage Bangkok's subsidence problems.

The subsidence of the capital is believed to be contributed by rapid development such as skyscrapers and industrial infrastructure.

Adding to the concern is the data provided by water resource experts, which said the capital now stands between 0.5 and two metres above sea level while the sinking rate is 10mm per year.

Besides urban development and infrastructure projects believed to be weighing the land down, there are also concerns regarding the use of groundwater supplies.

The situation is worsen by the country's worst drought in decades, as those reserves are being tapped to provide emergency drinking water.

The NRC has proposed measures to handle the problem, including restructuring urban development and water resources management.

Drastic solutions are also tabled, such as relocating the capital or building a sea wall across the Gulf of Thailand, which could cost as much as US$14.3 billion (RM54.4 billion).

On Wednesday, a global warming expert Dr James Hansen also expressed concern in his latest report, stating that sea levels will be rising as much as 10 feet (3.05 metres) in the next 50 years.

Hansen, a former top scientist from United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), warned that even 2 degrees Celsius of global warming might be highly dangerous for humanity.

In his research, he found evidence indicating that average temperatures just 1 degree Celsius warmer than today caused sea levels to rise 16 to 30 feet (4.88 to 9.1 metres) and has caused extreme storms thousands of years ago.