Prime Minister of Thailand proposes pollution mitigation fund

[webfact]

The Prime Minister of Thailand proposed the establishment of a pollution mitigation fund with the United Nations (UN). The proposal by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was made during a recent meeting with Amina J Mohammed, the UN’s Deputy Secretary-General, centred around the discussion of sustainable development.

 

Post Tuesday’s Cabinet briefing, the 62 year old prime minister revealed how he had presented the fund as a means to offer financial support to economically weaker nations. The goal is to combat pollution, particularly fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), reported Bangkok Post.

 

He stressed that pollution issues are intertwined with the global economy and should not be viewed as merely domestic affairs. In his homeland of Thailand, pollution escalates when local and neighbouring countries set their agricultural fields ablaze. This burning is primarily caused by the lack of funds to purchase herbicides amid the economic downturn, he explained. Hence, the proposed fund could be instrumental in addressing Thailand’s environmental challenges while fostering national development.

 

Pollution problems are connected to the global economy and should not be treated as domestic problems, he shared.

Highlighting the severity of the pollution situation in Thailand, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported that, as of 8am, yesterday, February 20, 27 provinces had experienced orange-level pollution. This exceeded the safe threshold of 37.5 micrograms per cubic metre the day before. Nakhon Phanom was reported as the worst affected, with a reading of 74.8 µg/m³, followed closely by Amnat Charoen (72.4), Nong Khai (69.6), Mukdaharn (66.6), and Bueng Kan (64).

 

In the province of Nan, pollution levels have consistently surpassed the safe limit for at least 24 days, largely due to ongoing wildfires in the districts surrounding Si Nan National Park. The resulting smog has blanketed the province, with pollution levels ranging from 41.7 to 51.5 µg/m³ at various measuring points. It is estimated that a minimum of 1,000 rai of forest within the national park has been damaged.

 

The Director-General of the Nan-Phrae Wildfire Control Promotion Centre, Theraphol Thongmeekhao, admitted that controlling these widespread fires is challenging due to the vast forest area and a shortage of manpower. To combat this, the local authority has banned any burning in the province from March 15 to April 30, threatening legal action against violators.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Bangkok experienced relatively mild pollution, with the city’s Air Quality Information Centre reporting levels between 9.5–25.8 µg/m³.

 

Amina J Mohammed, in response to the prime minister’s proposal, expressed her appreciation for the Thai government’s initiative.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-02-21

 

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[HappyExpat57]

And exactly how much money will actually wind up in the fund's account?

[stoner]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister of Thailand proposed the establishment of a pollution mitigation fund

 

sweet. where do i send my bank info ?

[worgeordie]

Just put a few Arsonists in prison ,with lengthy terms ,and I am

sure others will get the massage , It's not OK to burn  ,has anyone

heard of an Arsonist getting caught and been given a prison term.

that's the problem , no real enforcement of the law ,just talk.

 

 

regards worgeordie

[Korat Kiwi]

Before we set up a fund let's make up some new committees to have meetings and discuss what's needed. 

 

We'll get back to you in a year with our findings... 

 

Which will probably recommend to form another committee... 

 

Seems like this place is similar to the current weather.... full of hot air

[Korat Kiwi]

Before we set up a fund let's make up some new committees to have meetings and discuss what's needed. 

 

We'll get back to you in a year with our findings... 

 

Which will probably recommend to form another committee... 

 

Seems like this place is similar to the current weather.... full of hot air

[Thailand]

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Just put a few Arsonists in prison ,with lengthy terms ,and I am

sure others will get the massage , It's not OK to burn  ,has anyone

heard of an Arsonist getting caught and been given a prison term.

that's the problem , no real enforcement of the law ,just talk.

 

 

regards worgeordie

Do you mean altogether, added up, in total ?

 

None that I know of!

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The goal is to combat pollution, particularly fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5),

Jail the culprits who pollute the atmosphere... the message will slowly but surely get around.

[spidermike007]

Just more ridiculousness from a man who is becoming more silly by the day. For a moment it looked like the guy actually might get something done, but he's proving himself to be Do Nothing Sretta.

 

If they wanted to get anything accomplished in the way of pollution mitigation they would start with the sugar refiners. They could create a process whereby the refiners would have to prove that the growers harvested the crop and there was no burning involved. Pollution would drop by 50% overnight. But they have no interest in going up against Big Agra because they're cowards, and the government must support the elite, so nothing changes. A puppet and his masters. 

[n00dle]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

purchase herbicides

yes please, more chemicals to combat pollution. 

[Seppius]

It's working already, the clearest day in Pattaya for months, can clearly see Koh Larn island, and the coast of BanSaray😀

[Globalres]

As n00dle said, herbicides or air pollution, what a choice! 6 of 1 half dozen of the other.

Before getting industries involved in CO2 reduction (crazy idea), why not clean up all the plastics, GMO’s, waste from industries being allowed to enter waterways, geo-engineering etc and more.

Maybe tax incentives for agro industries to deploy other methods than burning using sustainable methods rather than exchanging one poison for another.

[john donson]

mitigation? does that mean expensive meetings in expensive hotels with expensive dinners and expensive salaries for attending, or not attending?

[mikebell]

'Prime Minister of Thailand proposes' ... which one?

Nothing will change until the police are made to work for their pay.

[Gknrd]

Urgent meeting, my "Mia noi" needs a new Benz?  Got it, lets set up a pollution fund..