SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGES AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION MEASURES BETWEEN JAPAN AND THAILAND IN THE WATER RESOURCES SECTOR

Abstract

 Economic losses and water crises due to climate-related disasters are expected to further increase worldwide in the future. The purpose of this study is to clarify the interrelationship between water resource policies and climate change adaptation measures through the differences in socioeconomic characteristics between Japan and Thailand. The research methods included a qualitative evaluation of water resource policies in the context of socioeconomic background and a quantitative comparative evaluation using hydrological and climatic data. The comparison revealed that Japan and Thailand had similar water resource policy transitions, and that there were differences in the clarity of the positioning of water resource-related laws in Japan and Thailand. Quantitative comparisons revealed that Japan's adaptation to extreme climate events and Thailand's economic and agricultural sectors' vulnerability to hydrological and climatic events were identified as challenges for water resource policies.