Green Roofs in Thailand - 10th September 2021

The heat in Thailand is difficult for people. The temperature inside their buildings is better because of air conditioning. However, air conditioning produces carbon dioxide. This is not good for the planet.

Architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom is trying to fix the problem. She has designed buildings with plants on rooftops. She thinks people who plan cities need to think more about the environment.

Kotchakorn Voraakhom: "Think about all the wasted space, millions of square meters of wasted rooftops is actually part of our problems can turn into the solution; like this green roof. "

A university in Bangkok has used Voraakhom's ideas. Plants are grown on its roof and there's a lake which is similar to a rice field. It's good for the environment because it stops flooding and people don't need to use their air conditioning so often.

Kotchakorn Voraakhom: "Green roofs can protect the use of the energy in the building because you reduce heat that is coming into the building but you also reflect heat outside into the environment. So actually it benefits both ways.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is worried. The scientists said that we are close to an environmental emergency. Voraakhom believes more people should try to fix the problem.

Kotchakorn Voraakhom: "I think humans have to adapt rather than thinking about over-consuming to fix the problem. We can fix your own problem but it actually creates a bigger global problem. So I just feel like it's time for us to really change our lifestyle."