Environmental issues won’t solve themselves

[webfact]

Environmental issues won’t solve themselves

 

 

The government has several clear steps to take in tackling threats from air pollution and plastic waste Single-use plastic waste and big-city air pollution have become the two most serious environmental issues facing Thailand, and it’s daunting to consider how long it might take to find sustainable solutions – and how strong the political will must be to ensure success.
 

The Thai populace has for decades been accustomed to plastic bags, drinking straws and food containers that they could discard after one use with nary a thought to what happened to them next.

 

We now know of the damage being caused as we dispose of millions of tonnes of the stuff on a daily basis. We’re causing a massive accumulation of plastic waste not only on the land but also in our rivers and seas.

 

Only lately have we learned about micro-plastic and nano-plastic waste entering the marine ecosystem, where it causes deadly havoc, choking sea creatures and afflicting the human food chain.

 

Boosting public awareness via national educational campaigns was the first logical step. Next, the government needs to enact legislation to regulate single-use plastic, especially the types used frequently on a daily basis in the retail and food sectors.

 

The European Union has already enacted landmark legislation to become effective in 2021, banning single-use plastic across all 28 member-nations. The Thai authorities should be studying this in a bid to effectively deal with the issue here.

 

The worsening air quality in Bangkok and surrounding provinces is another major environmental challenge needing strong political will to resolve. Since December, PM 2.5 – airborne particulates 2.5 microns or less in diameter – has frequently exceeded the safe level of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air in Bangkok, largely due to vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and construction-site dust.

 

While the air quality will improve beginning in April, the problem will return around December. 

 

And next time it will be worse, given the rising number of vehicles on Bangkok streets. The city already has about 10 million cars, trucks and motorcycles. New vehicle sales, especially those using diesel fuel, will worsen the problem until the government implements a number of crucial measures.

 

First, new diesel-fuelled vehicles need to meet Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards as soon as possible, up from the current Euro 4 requirement, which is no longer adequate as far as air quality is concerned. Second, electric motorcycles and electric vehicles have to be promoted by the government with tax incentives to boost affordability.

 

China has already announced its policy to phase out fossil-fuel-driven vehicles by 2040 in favour of 100 per cent electric vehicles. Third, the government is on the right track in speeding up construction of multiple mass-transit lines in Bangkok and its periphery with a target to have a total of 300 kilometres of elevated and underground lines operational in the next decade.

 

Unless the twin environmental challenges of massive single-use plastic waste and worsening air quality are effectively tackled, the quality of life in Bangkok and nearby provinces will further dip, leading to long-term negative health and economic consequences.

 

In addition, Bangkok will lose appeal as a leading tourist destination, affecting a major source of foreign exchange, which currently contributes to more than 10 per cent of the country’s GDP.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30363754

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-08

[RotBenz8888]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In addition, Bangkok will lose appeal as a leading tourist destination, affecting a major source of foreign exchange, which currently contributes to more than 10 per cent of the country’s GDP.

 

I wonder how much more than 10%...

[fruitman]

2 years ago thailand was proud to show disposable foodbowls made of sugarcane fibre. Those were naturally recyclable.

 

Why don't they use them nationwide?

 

[wgdanson]

8 minutes ago, fruitman said:

2 years ago thailand was proud to show disposable foodbowls made of sugarcane fibre. Those were naturally recyclable.

 

Why don't they use them nationwide?

 

Cos all the sugar cane fibre is now being burned in the fields      LOL   555

[spidermike007]

4 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Cos all the sugar cane fibre is now being burned in the fields      LOL   555

 

And cane burning is contributing massively to the horrific air quality throughout the nation. Cane is a major culprit, along with diesel vehicles, that are not properly maintained, which is probably 90% of the Thai fleet of cars, pickups, trucks, and trains. 

 

Some Bangkok residents took to social media to share photographs of the pollution's apparent physical impact. Nutthawut Sirichainarumit, an office worker in the Thai capital, shared a photo of what appears to be blood in his hand. “I was totally shocked because I never sneezed blood before in my entire life," he wrote on Facebook. Meteorological events that trap noxious pollution in Bangkok have exacerbated the pollution crisis.

 

And what are the stunningly incompetent authorities doing? Removing diesel offenders from the road? No. Tightening emission standards? No. Regulating cane burning? No. What then? Barely anything but spouting a continual torrent of promises, that are rarely, if ever fulfilled. That is Prayuth and the hapless army. That is what they do. Barely anything.

 

Our proud nation, as it stands today:

 

[CGW]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

And what are the stunningly incompetent authorities doing? Removing diesel offenders from the road? No. Tightening emission standards? No. Regulating cane burning? No. What then? Barely anything but spouting a continual torrent of promises, that are rarely, if ever fulfilled. That is Prayuth and the hapless army. That is what they do. Barely anything.

 

Our proud nation, as it stands today:

I find the sad aspect here is that ~99% of Thai's think it is nothing to do with them and are content to continue as is 

If ever a nation deserved to breathe crap! ????

[DrTuner]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

 

 

Where did they find so many cars with busted head gaskets - ah I know, in the photoshop shop. I've spent enough time in BKK traffic jams to know there are no visible fumes. Still, electric would be better, then it would be just the peasants choking from the power plant emissions. Or actually build a working mass transit system - in less than two decades like it seems to be taking now.

[CGW]

12 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Or actually build a working mass transit system - in less than two decades like it seems to be taking now.

Be fair - it took three decades to get the transit started from inception as they were changing 'governments" so often, each "government" would make the funds made available "disappear" when they were thrown out of power! 

Then along came Thaksin ????‍♀️   ????