Myanmar Spring Chronicle – September 29th Scene
(MoeMaKa, September 30, 2024)
Climate Change or Global Crisis and Myanmar
On September 11, in the mountain town of Kalaw, which is not a lowland area, flash floods submerged houses, landslides covered homes, and streams carried away buildings. Although some reports indicated that about 200 people had died, others suggested this number was exaggerated, but at least dozens of fatalities were confirmed. Similar incidents occurred in villages near Sin The Stream, close to Pyi Nya Na, and in areas like Tat Kon and Yamethin. Torrential rains and sudden flash floods swept away homes and lives in these regions, events unlike anything experienced within a lifetime.
Elderly residents, aged 70 to 80, have expressed that such disasters had never occurred during their lifetimes. This highlights that the natural disasters Myanmar has been facing, such as flooding, prolonged heavy rains, and remnants of severe storms, are unprecedented in the last several decades and have become the first of their kind in recent memory.
Scientists have long understood and studied the effects of rising global temperatures and climate change. Over the past few decades, they have been urging governments and international organizations to take action. However, competition among nations’ economies and concerns over potential setbacks in their own economic progress have hindered efforts to reduce coal and fossil fuel consumption. Aside from coal and fossil fuel usage, deforestation has been a significant factor in climate change. Countries with political instability and internal conflicts, like Myanmar, are witnessing rapid deforestation, further exacerbating the issue.
Myanmar may not be a major consumer of fossil fuels contributing to global warming, but it has been heavily impacted by illegal logging and deforestation. The environmental destruction in Myanmar does not just affect the country alone, and it also suffers from the consequences of global reliance on coal and fossil fuels.
In recent years, record-breaking storms, heavy rains, landslides, and rising temperatures have been reported around the world. Asia, Europe, and the Americas are all witnessing the consequences of climate change. Storms, floods, and damage to agricultural fields are the direct results of human actions impacting the environment. In a sense, these are the prices paid for economic development.
The impact of rising temperatures will not only affect people but also various living creatures, including insects and pests. The complex and interconnected consequences of climate change are already starting to emerge, although some effects have not yet been fully realized.
Global warming also threatens food security. Heatwaves and droughts reduce food production, while storms, heavy rainfall, and floods further damage crops. Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion will also negatively affect food production.
While these issues are occurring on a global scale, looking at Myanmar, the damage from flooding during this year’s monsoon season is comparable to the scale of Cyclone Nargis. The impact has been widespread, from eastern and southern Shan State to Mandalay Region, Kayah State, Bago Region, and Karen State, resulting in significant damage and loss.
Though Myanmar is not the only country affected by such disasters, neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam are handling them without the political and administrative challenges Myanmar faces. However, Myanmar is experiencing these natural disasters while dealing with a military conflict and political instability. It’s a situation of being struck by disaster after disaster, making recovery even more challenging.