Brutal Heat and Flooding in Southeast Asia

Climate Emergency Forum discusses the unprecedented heatwaves and flooding affecting the region of Southeast Asia and India.

This video was recorded on May 8th, 2024, and published on May 19th, 2024 and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

The discussion highlights the extreme temperatures, with places like Myanmar reaching 48.2 degrees Celsius and India experiencing temperatures of 45.9 degrees Celsius. These conditions have led to significant human suffering, including deaths from heatstroke, crop failures, and disruptions to daily life, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children.

In terms of scale, 800 million people in Southeast Asia and India are enduring these extreme conditions. There is a UNICEF press release stating that 243 million children are exposed to record dangerous heatwaves, exacerbating their already precarious living conditions. The direct link between these extreme weather events and global warming, driven by greenhouse gas emissions is underscored. The lack of adequate response from governments and international bodies is criticized with a call for immediate and substantial action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The broader implications of these climate events are noted including the disruption of education for children, which has long-term consequences for societal stability and development. The concept of “eco-anxiety,” particularly among young people in affected regions, and the urgent need for political leaders to take meaningful action to address the climate crisis is mentioned. The forum concludes with a call to action, urging individuals and governments to prioritize climate mitigation efforts to ensure a livable future for the next generations.

Links:

• Thailand Reels Under Heat Wave As Some Regions Set New Records

• Summer of 2024: Sizzling Temperature, heat wave to hit food prices, water, polls too

• Sweltering heat across East Asia and the Pacific puts children’s lives at risk - UNICEF

• Seasonal forecasts

• ‘Inside an oven’: sweltering heat ravages crops and takes lives in south-east Asia

• Radio Ecoshock

• B.C. winemakers rethinking industry after climate catastrophes

• Brazil flooding will take weeks to subside

• The IPCC just published its summary of 5 years of reports - here’s what you need to know

• The 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and climate change: health at the mercy of fossil fuels

• To Hot to Handle (CEF Video)

• We asked 380 top climate scientists what they felt about the future …

• Eco Grief (CEF Video)

Regular Panelists:

• Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Regina Valdez - Program Director, Climate Reality Project, NYC. GreenFaith Fellow and LEED Green Associate

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP28 Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: Free Music Archive
• License: BY-NC 4.0

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions