Water experts: Myanmar needs to prepare for climate change
With the threat of climate change and population growth, Myanmar – a nation rich in water resources – has to put in place proper measures to ensure water security for the future, experts said. National University of Singapore’s Assistant Professor Dr Winston Chow, who has been studying the urban vulnerabilities of climate change, said there are challenges for the water sector in the region due to climate change. In the medium and long term, he said there would be increases in air temperature and ocean heat, and very variable rainfall, especially in Southeast Asia. “We may experience more floods, droughts and typhoons in the future, compared to the present. “The El Nino phenomenon – on top of climate change – can also make droughts worse. “The rising sea level is another factor that can cause saltwater intrusion in groundwater sources and fresh water,” he told The Myanmar Times.
