New york: Environmental experts have attributed the extreme cold in the United States to the Polar Vortex phenomenon, while Australia grapples with soaring temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius due to climate change.
According to Thai News Agency, the United States is currently experiencing unusually cold weather, with temperatures plummeting below freezing and harsh winds prompting cold weather emergency warnings in 16 states. These warnings suggest that wind chill could cause temperatures to drop to as low as -23 degrees Celsius. Dr. Sonthi Kachawat, an environmental expert, explained that the Polar Vortex, which typically keeps Arctic winds contained around the poles, has been disrupted. Recent warming of 1.4-1.5 degrees Celsius has weakened this barrier, allowing cold air to seep into the northeastern United States, and combined with increased moisture, this has led to winter storms in the northern hemisphere, producing significantly colder temperatures.
While the United States contends with extreme cold, Australia is experiencing severe heat due to the Earth's tilt toward the sun, resulting in rising temperatures. The increased sea temperatures, reaching 26 degrees Celsius, have caused the ocean to release heat, severely impacting New South Wales and Victoria. Additionally, the El Ni±o phenomenon, linked to climate change, has exacerbated the situation, with temperatures in Australia soaring close to 50 degrees Celsius.
Dr. Sonthi highlighted that recent reports from Canada and the World Meteorological Organization forecast that this year's weather will be hotter than usual due to the El Ni±o phenomenon, reminiscent of the conditions in 1880. Thailand needs to remain vigilant against potential drought and unusually hot weather this summer.
Furthermore, Dr. Sonthi expressed concern over Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which is expected to result in a 1.5 degree Celsius increase in global temperature. Trump's expansion of coal mining and potential oil extraction from Venezuela could release significant carbon emissions, contributing to global warming. Additionally, a 22% cut in aid by Trump will affect vulnerable countries. Some nations, particularly in the Arab world, are following Trump's lead by refusing to curb fossil fuel drilling. The new Thai government will need to strategize its adaptation measures. China is poised to become a leader in clean energy, alongside Japan and Europe. Despite Thailand's modest contribution of 0.76% to global greenhouse gas emissions, ranking 24th globally, it ranks 17th in terms of the impact of global warming. Therefore, the government must balance environmental concerns with economic priorities, and Thailand should take a leading role in ASEAN to address global warming challe nges, given its significant vulnerability to climate change.