Heavy Rain and Climate Change
Written by Jason Moon
South Korea faced the heaviest rainfall in 115 years a month ago, with 426.5mm of rain covering the capital city of Seoul. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) has reported that at least ten were dead and approximately 723 people had to evacuate their homes. A week ago, Typhoon Hinnamnor swept the nation with heavy rain once again. Casualties were centered in Pohang, where an apartment parking garage was flooded and seven died in the incident. These consistent rainfall activities cannot go ignored. As climate change is becoming more extreme and its effects are more apparent, global warming is inextricably linked to Korea’s unnatural cloudbursts.
President Yoon giving a speech in front of a nuclear reactor in Uljin, Korea. Via The Korea Times.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change can cause precipiation to have more “intensity and frequency.” This is because warmer temperatures increase moisture levels in the atmosphere, creating more clouds and storms for heavier rainfall. Especially in South Korea, where rainfall seasons are common in the summer, effects of climate change is more apparent, with “prolonged summer(s)” and torrential rains. Even South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have attributed “abnormal weather conditions” to climate change in response to the record rainfall in Seoul.
However, the South Korean government’s actions are not appropriate for reversing climate change to lessen intense rainfalls. The Yoon administration has declared that they will roll back their goal for carbon neutrality and a portion of renewable energy in the country. Instead, Yoon is planning to build more nuclear plants to power the nation. The potential problems of flooding Korea faces is attributed to unsuitable infrastructure and warmer temperatures. The former is more of a short-term issues while the latter is of long-term. If carbon emissions are not reduced, precipitation will only increase, leading to recurring incidents. It has been found that Seoul especially had seen its frequency of heavy rains rise by 27% since 2000. As a city that houses more 10 million people while having areas vulnerable to rain like Gangnam, more measures for sustainable energy need to be in place, not less as President Yoon is aiming for.
Zero Emission buses are becoming a more common transportation in Korea. Via Chosun Ilbo.
Aside from government policies, what can we do as individuals to contribute in slowing down climate change and preventing heavy rain? A key solution is to lessen fossil fuel-use, which can be achieved by taking sustainable transportation like subways and zero emission buses. One of the best ways to cut greenhouse gases is lessening meat and dairy consumption in daily life or even going vegan. However, if you are unwilling to make such commitments, you can help with small acts, such as having more plants in your garden or veranda and insulating windows around the house. Plants will absorb carbon dioxide that is warming the atmosphere and insulation lessens the need to turn on the heater, which are powered with fossil fuels and unnaturally heats up the environment. With small but consistent contributions, Koreans will be able to see fewer disasters from rain that should instead be a natural aspect in the weather.
