by Sreeja Nair, Wong Kai Wen & Chow Mei Ling
Abstract
Between end 2011 and early 2012, Bangkok was hit by massive flooding due to intense rainfall which together with high tides overwhelmed the poor drainage infrastructure of the low-lying city. The floods impacted not just local residents and businesses, but also disrupted the local operations of foreign companies and affected the confidence of foreign investors in Thailand as an important production location in the global supply chains. Unfortunately, such floods are likely to recur with greater intensity and frequency in future with climate change and rapid urbanisation. This article presents an application of ‘futures thinking’ and foresight methodology to identify key drivers, futures scenarios, and policy options for the management of flood risk in Bangkok.