Business as usual: Are Thailand’s ‘green economy’ plans just greenwash?

[webfact]

 

Thailand’s vision for a green economy fails to tackle the country’s environmental problems at their root, say many environmentalists, who accuse the government of prioritizing big business at the expense of our common habitat.

 

“I fear that the [sustainable economy] model adopted by the government will only benefit major industry operators, who are in fact the biggest polluters,” said Witoon Lianjamroon, director of sustainable food network Bio Thai.

 

Witoon spoke as Thai government representatives are preparing their environment-protection plans for presentation at COP28 (the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Dubai next month.

 

Thailand’s 20-year national development strategy, forged by the previous junta regime, has come under strong criticism from environmental groups across the country.

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-23

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s vision for a green economy fails to tackle the country’s environmental problems at their root, say many environmentalists, who accuse the government of prioritizing big business at the expense of our common habitat.

Green wash more like hog-wash... Thailand green?

not as long as my arris points south.

[RichardColeman]

I only have to walk to my nearest Tops 800 yards or so away to know that Thais have absolutely no interest in a green planet ! A murky plastic sure.

[spidermike007]

Total hogwash. If they were the slightest bit serious, the government would offer incentives, for the farmers to switch crops. This is 2023. Rice and sugar worked in previous centuries. Now, they do not make any sense. Too labor intensive, too much degradation of the land, water, air, roads, and resources. Let's get with the times. Let us move forward. 

 

They shut down the economy due to covid. But, burning cane is ok. Can't they see the effect it is having on the air? Do they care one iota? Don't the leaders live here too? Why are they MIA? Why don't the "do nothing guys" do something for a change? 

 

When the crop burning starts to kill the population, and lowers the quality of life for those of us who don't die, isn't it time to take action? We just don't need the sugar. Shut down this toxic, heinous industry. Lock up the farmers. Sieze their land. Do whatever it takes. 

 

The problem is not only the politicians, but also the people, a large part of the population, which does not care:

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/12/how-chiang-mai-became-the-worlds-most-polluted-city

 

Great article. At least they state the truth. It is field burning and predatory agricultural practices, more than wildfires, that is to blame. And the army and the govt. won't touch the giant growers. Perhaps a more creative and far more drastic approach would work? 

 

The smoke will die down when the dinosaurs are replaced with young and progressive leaders, who care about the health, welfare and well being of the nation, and the environment. The current crop do not have any initiative, nor any ideas. Dinosaurs are cursed with small brains. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

55 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Total hogwash. If they were the slightest bit serious, the government would offer incentives, for the farmers to switch crops. This is 2023. Rice and sugar worked in previous centuries. Now, they do not make any sense. Too labor intensive, too much degradation of the land, water, air, roads, and resources. Let's get with the times. Let us move forward. 

 

They shut down the economy due to covid. But, burning cane is ok. Can't they see the effect it is having on the air? Do they care one iota? Don't the leaders live here too? Why are they MIA? Why don't the "do nothing guys" do something for a change? 

 

When the crop burning starts to kill the population, and lowers the quality of life for those of us who don't die, isn't it time to take action? We just don't need the sugar. Shut down this toxic, heinous industry. Lock up the farmers. Sieze their land. Do whatever it takes. 

 

The problem is not only the politicians, but also the people, a large part of the population, which does not care:

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/12/how-chiang-mai-became-the-worlds-most-polluted-city

 

Great article. At least they state the truth. It is field burning and predatory agricultural practices, more than wildfires, that is to blame. And the army and the govt. won't touch the giant growers. Perhaps a more creative and far more drastic approach would work? 

 

The smoke will die down when the dinosaurs are replaced with young and progressive leaders, who care about the health, welfare and well being of the nation, and the environment. The current crop do not have any initiative, nor any ideas. Dinosaurs are cursed with small brains. 

 

+1

 

... and to add to this the ineffectiveness of the ASEAN to self police, agreements were put in place (Asean Agreement on Transboundary haze pollution), but yearly, massive areas are burned. 

 

...    A lot of the Air-pollution in Thailand originates from Neighbouring countries, yet from an international perspective little is done to lobby other governments to deal with this issue. 

Myanmar and Indonesia are huge culprits. 

Edited October 23, 2023 by richard_smith237

[Purdey]

It's just lip service. 

 

"Stupid farangs always believe smart Thai governments."

[observer90210]

Going green, sustainability, green washing have plainly become commidities generation billions if not trillions all over the world though the carbon credits.

 

Not to mention the many scandals on the issue in the west.

 

Lot's of scamming and corruption involved that is definately not going to Stop no matter where, .