Bangkok’s heat index reached a scorching 51.9 degrees Celsius in late June, capping a stretch of danger-zone readings that began in April. For residents, it was just another sweltering day. But for policymakers and city leaders, including newly re-elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, it’s another wake-up call about the dangers of heat.
Higher temperatures reshape how a city functions: People can’t work as long outdoors, businesses spend more on cooling, and tourists stay away during its hottest months.
