Will new air-quality laws cure Thailand’s smog-driven health crisis?

[snoop1130]

 

The ongoing push in Parliament to improve Thailand’s appalling record of air pollution offers hope that the decades-long threat to public health posed by PM2.5 smog could soon be curbed.

 

The severity of the threat is so grave that the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for seven “clean air” laws on January 17. The seven bills, proposed by different parties, sailed through their first reading with 443 votes in support, none against, and one abstention.

 

The legislation is expected to become law in the next few months, said Dr Buntoon Srethasirote, who chairs the working group tasked with drafting the clean-air bill for the government’s Strategic Transformation Office (STO).

 

Caption: File photo : Chiang Rai

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-01-31

 

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[Crossy]

No way José Somchai!

 

Same s--t, different year, decade, century, millennium, epoch!!

[Karma80]

When you say "Laws" you mean suggestions, right? This is Thailand

[lordgrinz]

No, but there is plenty of history/evidence to prove it will never change.

[Haveasay]

Come to Thailand to get a pollution fix! Passing through Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday, didn't notice the pollution posters, welcoming me! Definitely obvious outside without advertising!

[spidermike007]

Pheu Thai’s bill, meanwhile, focuses on developing a digital map of air-pollution sources for efficient monitoring and control. It also prescribes the establishment of several committees, including at the provincial level, to drive clean-air causes.

 

Well looks like the ruling party does not have a clue digital maps of air pollution are not going to solve the problem. It is just more dullard's creating dull proposals. 

 

Strong action is required, the burning taking place on the farms is a huge culprit, and it has to stop. 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The severity of the threat is so grave that the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for seven “clean air” laws on January 17.

There are laws now... mostly ignored of course..

[bkk6060]

Nothing will ever get done.  In 20 years it will be uninhabitable.

[cmjl]

Not a chance.Possibly by educating the young children there might be change,the biggest problem is that,good or bad, the way you're brought up by your parents is the way you carry on in later life unless there is a big incentive to change.

[soalbundy]

Do laws prohibiting theft stop people from stealing?

[Thailand]

 

It is now seen as part of the seasonal weather patterns!

 

The "Annual Burning Season"!

Edited February 1 by Thailand

[sirineou]

Laws that are not enforced are useless. 

Not a day does it go by that I don't see someone burning garbage in Khon Kaen

or a pick up truck with black smoke billowing out the exhaust. In the US such vehicle would not make it a mile before being pulled over.

 I see it, I am sure you see it, do they mean to tell us the police don't see it? Heck many motorbikes and cars don't even have licence plates. Can you imagine taking out a car with no licence plated in your home country? How do they even give them a speeding ticket with those famous cameras?  

 I see the smoke from the fires, I smell the plastic. Do they mean to tell us they dont see and they don't smell?

Every year for as long as I remember they have a solution for the smog problem, It reminds me of the smoker who said 

"I don't know why people say it is hard to quit smoking! I quit at least once a week." 

 

[Gknrd]

Thailand’s appalling record of air pollution offers hope that the decades-long threat to public health posed by PM2.5 smog could soon be curbed.

 

Joke of the day!

[The Old Bull]

If a vehicle is puking out black smoke, it should be shut off and towed to a facility for repair before it is allowed to start up again. I can't see this happening so the pollution will go on. Same should apply to motorcycles with no tail lights on rural roads. People should value their life more than the price of a light bulb.

[dcalaska]

In short, NO. There are already ''laws'' on the books , but very little or no enforcement.

[mikebell]

Seven New Laws; One Old Police Force = No Progress.

[mfd101]

Would need at least 1000 farmers and truck drivers/owners and bus drivers/owners to be arrested and imprisoned for 2 years before anything will change.

 

Therefore nothing will change.

[it is what it is]

 

i demand action!

 

we need more of these giant air purifying machines!

 

problem solved!

 

next!

 

[Retfed50]

Was this a rhetorical question?

Until they start enforcing laws and putting some "bite" into the oenalties, nothing will change!

[lordblackader]

Stopping people from starting fires is how you tackle the problem. And the Governor of Chiang Mai has proved that in January. 

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40035182

[worgeordie]

Not holding my breath , should be , nothing is going to change ,they are not proactive ,

just try to patch things up after the facts.

 

regards worgeordie

[Robert Paulson]

I actually do have hope that this gets fixed because 1) we know it’s possible as cities like LA have made major improvements and 2) it’s not one of these issues that does *not* effect the people in power. It does affect them, so I maintain hope… which I often do not. 

[connda]

Will new air-quality laws cure Thailand’s smog-driven health crisis?

Absolutely not as there are few enforcement mechanisms or public officials who will to enforce them at a local level, e.i., most village heads, Amphur leaders will always temper the enforcement because they live in those communities.
Lip Service?  Bunches.
Action?  Not much.

The Thai government would have to create an Air Quality department and fully staff it with well paid enforcement agents who can't be bribed to look the other way.  🤔  Ain't gonna happen so the official story will remain that the bad air is the fault of all the country around Thailand and "so sad, nothing we can do."

[connda]

A similar trend was detected in Chiang Mai, where the smog crisis used to last until March but now drags on until April.

When?  100 years ago.  I've lived here well over 15 years and horrid air quality lasts well past Songkran an into May.  Much of the problem in the CM areas is wide-spread ag burning as well as arson-set forest fires.

[garzhe]

Sonthi Kotchawat, an independent expert on the environment, has criticized the bills’ content, saying they mostly repeat existing laws on air pollution. He says the solution lies not in passing new laws but in ensuring proper enforcement of the laws already enacted.

 

At least there's one guy with a functioning brain!

[VocalNeal]

Who is this Mr. Sonthi Kotchawat. Independent of what or whom. I fancy being an independent expert. Is he self-proclaimed? 

[lordgrinz]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

There are laws now... mostly ignored of course..

 

All laws in Thailand are ignored. Why even create laws/regulations/rules just to ignore all of them? If only there were an entity that would enforce laws.

[Olmate]

5 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Who is this Mr. Sonthi Kotchawat. Independent of what or whom. I fancy being an independent expert. Is he self-proclaimed? 

Who is asking? 

[connda]

Regarding Agricultural burning of "rice fields."

There are alternate methods to planting rice that do not require either burning or plowing.  I've read books regarding these methods.
"We've burned field for centuries.  It's part of our customs!"

It's time to learn a new method that doesn't destroy the air quality.

A first step to ending the burning would be state-run and funded educational programs to teach local farmers the alternative methods and to assist them during the their first year(s) of planting.  This is exactly the type of thing that his Majesty Rama IX 🙏 did during his youthful days.

"It can't be done," some will say.

Yeah it can.  Just last week we helped sponsor an educational seminar here in North-East Lamphun led by one of Thailand princesses 🙏 that involved 4000 people to teach and assist the local mountain tribes in agricultural techniques.

So, it can be done at the Amphur level in each rice growing province, especially here in Northern Thailand.  But there needs to be the will to do it. 

Edited February 1 by connda

[VocalNeal]

28 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Who is asking? 

 

Me.

Seeing as no one else seems to be bothered. 🤔 I did google his name but didn't come up with any academic references, such as published papers.