Environment and natural resources
Pollution and waste
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 ...
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
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
Experts call for uniform air quality indicator in Asean ahead of transboundary talks in S’pore
The need for a common indicator to track air quality in South-east Asia has become more urgent, with drier weather conditions and the likelihood of the warmer El Nino weather phenomenon developing in the coming months.This call from experts comes as Singapore is set to ...
Five ASEAN countries to discuss transboundary haze in Singapore
Representatives of five ASEAN member states – Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand – plan to gather in Singapore from June 7-8 to discuss transboundary haze.It will be the 24th meeting since the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was signed in 2002.Malaysian Minister of ...
Thailand air pollution leads millions to seek medical help
About 2.4 million people in Thailand have sought hospital treatment for medical problems linked to air pollution since the start of the year, health officials said, as toxic smog chokes parts of the country.Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai were among the most ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Thailand’s new space laboratory joins battle against PM2.5 smog
Thailand is deploying its new space laboratory to combat seasonal PM2.5 haze that has sent the Kingdom soaring to the top of the world pollution rankings for the last few weeks.On Tuesday, Chiang Mai was again listed as the world’s most polluted city by the ...
The Nation Reporter
Thailand Seeks Help From Myanmar, Laos to Tackle Haze, Hotspots
Thailand urged leaders of Myanmar and Laos to take urgent steps to tackle hotspots that’s worsened air pollution in some of the Southeast Asian nation’s popular tourist destinations. Thai premier Prayuth Chan-Ocha held a virtual meeting with Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Myanmar junta leader ...
Pathom Sangwongwanich
Thailand: Chiang Mai suffers from serious fine-dust pollution
Government agencies in Thailand’s Chiang Mai were ordered to let staff work from home to protect their health as levels of PM2.5 smog surged to almost unprecedented levels.Local residents have been requested to limit going outdoors amidst hazardous levels of air pollution.On April 7 morning, ...
