The climate crisis often feels like a “far away” issue — melting poles, burning forests, lost whales. But in reality, we’re all feeling its impact, including you — the student who survives off instant noodles at the end of every month.
If you're a student living in a rented room and life feels harder (and hotter) every day, chances are you’re already a victim of the climate crisis — without even realizing it.
1. Your Electricity Bill Sends Your Heart Racing (and Not from Love)
Electricity rates going up? The AC running non-stop? Fan spinning 24/7 like the wheel of fate? Congrats, you're experiencing the very real effects of a planet that's heating up like crazy.
According to a 2024 report by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, heat waves are one of the most serious threats facing Southeast Asia. In the survey, 51.8% of respondents said heat waves are the most severe climate change impact — right after floods (70.3%) and ahead of landslides from extreme rain (49.8%).
In countries like the Philippines, the fear of heat waves is even more pronounced: 71.5% named drought and extreme heat as top threats, closely competing with tropical storms and floods. In Indonesia, 75.7% of respondents also considered prolonged drought and heat waves to be the most visible effects of climate change. The same pattern is seen in Thailand, Brunei, and Singapore.
So no — it’s not “just in your head.” The planet, especially our region, is getting hotter, more humid, and making your wallet sweat too.
Student dilemma: Try to save money, end up broke anyway. Turn off the fan? Soaked in sweat. Turn it on? Your bank account melts with you.
Survival tips: Use the AC timer, get an energy-efficient fan, and pray for a government subsidy for resilient students.
2. Veggie Prices Up Again — Instant Noodles to the Rescue
Ever wonder why a kilo of chili costs as much as your skincare routine? It’s not just greedy middlemen — climate change is wreaking havoc on harvests.
ISEAS also reported that over 50% of Southeast Asians face food insecurity. Droughts, floods, and unpredictable weather are crushing crop yields. According to the same report, only three Southeast Asian countries fall into the “most food secure” category: Singapore, Vietnam, and Brunei.
The rest? Many of their citizens struggle to meet basic food needs. In Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia, the food insecurity rate is even higher than the regional average of 15.5%.
Student dilemma: Want to eat healthy but stuck choosing between leafy greens and electricity tokens. Sometimes, the only real choice is: instant noodles, flavor: survival.
Real-life example: The price of rice, chili, and onions has become a recurring trending topic in mom group chats.
3. Sleeping Feels Like an Oven, Not a Bed
If you’ve been tossing and turning at night because your room feels like a sauna, don’t rush to blame your mattress. Nighttime temperatures are rising, and the humidity is becoming unbearable.
According to Asia News Network, humidity levels in Singapore, for example, have reached 82%. That means your sweat can’t evaporate properly, making it harder for your body to cool down. The air gets stuffier, and you grow more restless.
Student dilemma: After a long day of studying or working, even sleep feels like a nightmare. You wake up even more tired — and cranky.
Direct impact: Your focus drops, emotions rise. You get easily triggered by the smallest things — including the e-wallet notification that says, “Sorry, insufficient balance.”
4. Getting Sick More Often — With No Clear Reason
Lately getting more colds, coughs, itchy skin, or even dengue fever — even when it’s not rainy season yet? Welcome to the new reality: illnesses that are evolving along with the climate.
Hotter, more humid conditions are a paradise for mosquitoes to thrive. Add flooding and extreme weather, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for contaminated water and disease outbreaks.
Student dilemma: Still trying to figure out how to afford basic living costs — now you have to worry about medical bills too.
Fun fact: In Southeast Asia, influenza vaccination still isn’t a priority. That means many people are vulnerable to seasonal illnesses — all year round. Yes, all year.
5. Outdoor Activities? Cancelled — Feels Like a Frying Pan Outside
Ever planned to go jogging in the afternoon to stay healthy, only to start sweating like you just finished a marathon five minutes after stepping outside? The heat is brutal. Sometimes it's made worse by pollution that stings your eyes and leaves you gasping for air.
Heat waves cause surface temperatures to spike. Add to that the dust, vehicle fumes, and illegal burning — and you get a cocktail of chaos in the air you breathe.
Student dilemma: Looking for a cheap outdoor escape turns into an extreme sport. What used to be romantic late afternoons are now battlegrounds against the blazing sun.
Alternative: Stay indoors and join virtual environmental campaigns, educate yourself on sustainable living.
You don’t need to live by the melting ice caps to feel the climate crisis — sometimes, it’s already in your cramped, overheated room, in your shrinking grocery list, or in the fatigue that just won’t go away. The struggle is real, especially for students just trying to get by.
But recognizing the signs is the first step — not just to survive, but to start pushing back. Because even the smallest choices, when done together, can help cool down a burning planet.
