Problems
Drought in Thailand
A huge problem for Thailand is the lack of water. The government's efforts to promote industrial investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) — Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachengsao — have led to a sharp increase in water demand in the region. This diverts water away from farmers and local populations, creating an increasingly inequitable distribution of water resources. Thailand is facing its worst drought in 40 years. This drought will add to Thailand's existing economic pressures, hurting the agricultural sector, particularly Thailand's main agricultural activities of sugar, rubber, and rice. According to Bank of Ayudhya Krungsri Research, the 2020 drought will cost the country 46 billion Thai baht (US$1.5 billion), or 0.27 percent of GDP.
The conflict between the Thai authorities and its inhabitants
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has spent more than 15 million baht (US$480,000) to supply water to the UES by building water storage systems and reclaiming more than 32,000 hectares of land. This caused a conflict between the local population and the state. Water sources in two areas of Nakhon Ratchasima Province dried up in early January 2020, requiring water from the Lam Ta Hong Dam to be diverted to supply farmers in the area. In recent decades, Thailand has experienced rapid economic development, which has caused a huge increase in the demand for water across the country in all sectors. The increase in demand has been accompanied by an increase in droughts and floods due to climate change and deforestation. The Thai government believes that the country's water scarcity problem is also caused by both increasing human demand in rural and urban areas and excessive water use in many sectors.
Water problems and agriculture
Thailand periodically suffers from drought and floods. But as the demand for agricultural products grows, the consequences of these extremes are becoming increasingly obvious and critical. Critics say that the forecast of meager rains is indicative of the kingdom's poor water management. The government has consistently followed historic and inefficient practices that have not kept pace with modern agriculture. Thailand's prolonged dry season is expected to reduce farm productivity and raise prices accordingly. Total farm income will also decrease significantly due to the drought. This will affect the purchasing power of farms, which make up one-third of Thais. The consequences could also provoke further political unrest since the strong northern and northeastern opposition is mainly supported by agricultural communities.
Gallery
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Timelines
2023
October
Thailand has launched rainmaking operations and taken other drought-fighting steps as it deals with a severe water shortage. Rainfall has been weak across the country due to climate change and the effects of the El Nino phenomenon, which brings drier weather to Southeast Asia. The government performed cloud-seeding operations in the providence of Lop Buri at the end of September, the Bangkok Post reported. More aircraft-based operations will be conducted depending on forecasts. Thailand typically is hit by floods during its rainy season from June to October, but it has seen a significant drop in rainfall this year. Dams and reservoirs were only 54% full as of Tuesday, storing about 28.3 billion cubic meters of water, according to the Royal Irrigation Department. Thailand has tapped rainmaking technology for other purposes, namely to prevent wildfires and wash the air of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, and will likely continue artificial precipitation efforts. Temperatures are expected to stay warmer than usual through February 2024, according to a forecast by a Japanese meteorologist.
March 22
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand will implement the new ‘Enhancing Climate Resilience in Thailand through Effective Water Management and Sustainable Agriculture project, together with the Royal Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative (MOAC), with financial assistance from the Green Climate Fund together with partners Krungsri Bank and Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The 17 million projects over 4-years will support the adaptation of water management and agricultural livelihoods in the Yom and Nan River basins to climate change-induced extreme weather events including droughts and floods. Efforts through this support will help influence a paradigm shift to move towards climate risk-informed water and livelihood management through tailored climate information, technical support, and the adoption of innovative technologies and practices, such as ecosystem-based adaptation. The project will help realize Thailand’s commitment towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at both a national and sub-national level, uplifting the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities in the country. World Water Day 2023 focuses on accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. As a basic human right, the availability of safely managed drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene can help reduce the spread of diseases and improve the health, education, and economic productivity of populations. Through increased resilience and enhanced livelihoods for the most vulnerable people, communities, and regions in Thailand will benefit from transformative and lasting human development results through the ‘Enhancing Climate Resilience in Thailand through Effective Water Management and Sustainable Agriculture’ project.
2021
September 28
Thailand's water management challenges are becoming increasingly complex due to growing demand, rapid urbanization, land-use change, and aging urban water supply systems and irrigation infrastructure, exacerbated by the effects of climate change. This swing between flood and drought is becoming more frequent, and these recurring water crises reflect a failure to understand the complex challenges of urbanization and climate change. Local self-government bodies are not sufficiently prepared to make decisions on water resources management. Statements such as "This is a once-in-a-century event" and "...we won't see this again in this lifetime..." are common from local authorities, indicating a lack of understanding of how climate change will affect rainfall, storms, and seasonal patterns, and that once-in-a-century events are becoming more regular.
2019
July 29
Persistent dry weather in parts of Asia and Oceania has caused the worst drought in years, raising fears of economic and social consequences for communities in the regions. Thailand now faces a reduction in rice production — and therefore exports — and Australia, normally a wheat exporter, is rushing to import the commodity.
2018
August 21
According to the Meteorological Department of Thailand, from 1955 to 2009, the average annual temperature increased by 0.95C, and the amount of rainfall varied from region to region in Thailand. In addition, Thailand has been severely affected by recent climate disasters, such as the months-long flood in 2011 and the massive drought of 2015-16. Northern Thailand has seen heavier rainfall over shorter periods, increased landslides during the rainy season, more pronounced dry seasons in terms of water availability, and warmer winters. The agricultural sector is one of those, particularly at risk in Thailand. Thus, 55% of the country's total area is used for agriculture, and changes in climatic conditions, including reduced rainfall, can destabilize agricultural productivity and affect farmers' incomes and livelihoods. It is estimated that climate change could result in a loss of up to 30% of agricultural GDP in the lower Mekong region.
2016
October 12
The water in Clyte Creek was contaminated with lead from a poorly regulated and now defunct lead processing plant upstream. For 17 years, Thailand's environmental and health authorities have done nothing to prevent further lead exposure to villagers. Despite a Supreme Court order to clean up the site in 2013, Thai authorities have not started. The fight for clean water is often a fight for human rights. Water scarcity can often be directly attributed to government action or inaction – lack of environmental laws or policies, insufficient enforcement of existing laws or policies, or increased inequality through discriminatory budget allocations.
2014
December 15
Thailand's government has failed to clean up toxic lead in a creek in western Thailand, threatening hundreds of families with serious and irreversible health problems, according to a report published by Human Rights Watch. The government ignored a Supreme Administrative Court ruling nearly two years ago to clean up Klithi Creek, the first of its kind in Thailand, while villagers continue to be exposed to lead in water, soil, vegetables, and fish.
2013
January 10
Thailand's High Administrative Court has ordered the government to clean up the creek of the toxic lead until tests of water, soil, vegetables, and aquatic animals in and around the creek fall below acceptable levels.