Environment and natural resources
Special Report: Under the Haze – Demystifying the Flames
Under last year’s haze that shrouded the region and sent over two million people to hospital, concerned authorities and policymakers have started to dispel the myth that has lasted for over 16 years, demystifying it and discovering the root causes; the vastly burned forests and ...
Global warming, El Niño ‘causing water shortages in Thailand'
Global warming and the El Niño phenomenon are having a severe impact on Thailand, as water levels in reservoirs across the country have fallen by an average of 20% compared to normal years, causing water shortages in the agricultural and industrial sectors.Thanitita Boonyamanikun, deputy secretary-general ...
The Nation Reporter
Carbon credits from forests serve as new source of ‘green’ income
Carbon credits, representing the reduction of one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2), have emerged as a crucial weapon in the ongoing battle against climate change.These credits can be traded on the market, offering a means to offset emissions from various sources.According to an article in ...
The Nation Reporter
PM2.5 smog choking Thailand’s economy, says World Bank
PM2.5 air pollution is costing Thailand a staggering 6% in lost GDP per year, according to the World Bank.The economic losses come from the huge medical bill for treating patients with PM2.5-related health conditions, says the “Thailand Economic Monitor” (December 2023) report.While Thailand has set ...
The Nation Reporter
PM2.5 pollution top issue of concern for most Thais, survey finds
Most Thais are worried about the impact of PM2.5 air pollution, an opinion poll conducted by Suan Dusit University found.The poll, conducted via phone interviews with 1,123 randomly selected respondents from across the nation between December 12 and 15, found that nearly 90% were concerned ...
The Nation Reporter
Deputy PM urges global action, seeks $100-bn annual climate fund commitment
Deputy Prime Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan called on all developed nations to contribute to the yearly US$100-billion fund to combat climate change.Patcharawat made the call in his speech delivered to the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), ...
The Nation Reporter
Thai business loves carbon credits, but are they harming the climate and grassroots people?
While carbon credits are hailed in some quarters as a solution for the climate crisis, environmentalists warn they could send the planet spiralling into an even worse disaster.The carbon credit system is a method by which businesses and organizations can buy credits for carbon-reducing projects ...
World Bank expert foresees worse water-related disasters for Thailand
Thailand will possibly suffer more natural disasters, especially flooding, Saroj Kumar Jha, global director for the World Bank Group’s Water Global Practice, warned recently.Speaking at the “Workshop on Lower Chao Phraya River Flood Risk Management and Mitigation” last month, he highlighted the impact water-related disasters ...
The Nation Reporter
Ministry's ambitious Clean Air Bill to go before cabinet this month
The Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MNRE) will push a draft Clean Air Act for cabinet consideration later this month to prevent the problem of air pollution from spinning out of control. Pol Gen Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, the environment minister, said the bill has been put ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Six Mekong countries join hands in settle climate change
Six countries along the Mekong River – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand – have committed to working together to tackle climate change issues, according to Surasee Kittimonthon, Secretary-General of Thailand’s Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR).Surasee said the ONWR represented Thailand at ...