1. Paradise Lost Lesson 2 When to go? Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?

2. Use the Thailand climate graphs interactive to decide whether the characters/passengers are going to the correct destination in terms the climate they expect and advise them to go to another part of Thailand, or at another time of year. Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand? STARTER

3. "We plan to go to Koh Phi Phi for our honeymoon. We want it as sunny as possible." "I won't travel far from Bangkok while I am recovering from my surgery. If it's too hot and humid I get an itchy rash right across my chest." "I plan to go to Kanchanaburi and Mae Hong Son. I am not after a sun tan, but I hope it stays dry." "I am heading to a full moon party on Koh Phangan, so it mustn't be cloudy!" STARTER Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?

4. Is flooding going be a greater problem in the future for Thailand and Bangkok? What different people are affected by the rising water? Who would be affected the most? Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?

5. With a lot of its people and the most productive farmland lying close to sea-level, Thailand is one of the countries most at risk from climate change. The capital city, Bangkok is only about 1-1.5 meters above sea-level yet some scientists are now predicting that seas could rise by 65 cm by the end of the century as the oceans warm up. Some predictions are even worse. A Thai climate expert recently claimed that Bangkok will be underwater within twenty years unless drastic measures are taken to protect the city. Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?

6. About one hour’s drive south of Bangkok, people living on the coast are on the frontline of the battle against climate change. Here, rates of erosion are some of the worst in the world. With rougher seas and higher waves during the monsoon season some coastal areas are experiencing erosion of up to 30 meters of land a year. In early 2007, an entire village called Khun Samutchine was swallowed up by the sea. Breakwaters made of cement pillars are being built in the sea to take the energy out of the eroding waves. Communities are also replanting mangrove forests as another cushion against rising seas. Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?

7. As well as rising sea-levels Bangkok is sinking by ten cm a year because of the soft underlying soil. Rubbish-choked sewers and canals also increase the risk of flooding as the rainwater cannot drain away easily. Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?

8. Back in Bangkok, people are starting to think very big to save the city, including a huge wall (or dyke). Climate change brought on by man-made CO2 emissions is worrying people the world over. Thailand’s emissions have doubled in the last ten years, but the country is still only responsible for about 1.5% of the world’s total. Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?

9. Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand? About one person in ten lives in a coastal area at less than ten metres above average sea level, although this low coastal zone only accounts for about 2.2 per cent of the world’s land area. Human settlement has long been drawn to coastal areas, which provide many resources and trading opportunities, but also expose residents to various hazards of storms, flooding and cyclones. Look at the maps of possible global sea level rise . If sea level rises and storms become more intense owing to climate change, which areas are at greatest risk?

10. Plenary Is flooding going be greater problem in the future for Thailand and Bangkok? Key Questions When is the best time to go to Thailand? Will climate change cause flooding in Thailand?