This week we joined schools, communities, and organisations across the city in marking Bangkok Climate Action Week. It is a chance to reflect on the urgent challenges of climate change and to highlight the positive steps we can take, both as a school and as individuals, to protect our shared future.

At Bangkok Patana, our community has already taken important strides. From installing solar panels across campus to phasing out single-use plastics we are showing what is possible when we act together. Our Student Environmental Committee continue to champion “Waste Less Week,” biodiversity projects, and recycling initiatives. Even small actions like turning off unused lights, reducing food waste in the canteen, or refilling water bottles can and does contribute to a culture of responsibility and care for our planet.

But climate change is not an abstract issue for Bangkok. It is already shaping the environment around us and will continue to affect today’s young people most directly. Did you know:

• Bangkok is one of the most vulnerable cities in the world to rising sea levels? Scientists project that large parts of the city could face regular flooding by 2050 if warming continues unchecked.
• Extreme heat is becoming more frequent. Last April, Bangkok recorded heat indices of over 50°C temperatures that can be dangerous for outdoor activity and pose serious risks for children, who dehydrate more quickly than adults.
• Air quality is worsening with rising temperatures and vehicle emissions. This particularly impacts young lungs, increasing the risks of asthma and other respiratory problems.

These facts remind us that climate change is not just a global story, it is a local reality. And while these challenges may feel overwhelming, every positive action matters.

That is why this week we are asked students to pledge their own “small step” in the fight against climate change. In the Secondary Library students wrote postcards pledging their commitment: perhaps reducing fast fashion purchases, cutting back on single-use plastics, or eating a more plant-based diet. Each pledge will be displayed as a powerful reminder that change starts with us.