Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar Unveil 'Clear Sky' Initiative to Fight Pollution

[snoop1130]

 

Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar have teamed up to launch the Clear Sky Strategy for 2024 to 2030, an effort to tackle the severe air pollution affecting Southeast Asia.

 

The plan was officially introduced yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. Key figures at the event included Thailand’s top minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Chalermchai Sri-on, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Bounkham Vorachit from Laos and Khin Maung Yi from Myanmar, natural resources ministers from their respective countries, were also present. This initiative follows the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, signed last June.

 

Before this official launch, Thailand had already initiated discussions through an online summit in April to address the region's pollution problems.

 

The Clear Sky Strategy is an action plan aiming to significantly improve air quality. The strategy outlines a framework under the acronym “CLEAR,” which stands for Continued Commitment, Leveraging Mechanisms, Experience Sharing, Air Quality Networks, and Response.

 

A major conference is planned for later this year in Bangkok, where all agreement members will continue planning and implementing actions.

 

Minister Maris highlighted the urgent need for Southeast Asia to reduce pollution from industries, vehicles, agriculture, and forest fires, especially as PM2.5 levels tend to rise when temperatures drop. He emphasized the importance of global cooperation to tackle these environmental challenges effectively.

 

Chalermchai stressed the priority of addressing forest fires and reducing cross-border haze, focusing on cooperation with neighboring countries.

 

The Clear Sky Strategy 2024-2030 represents a substantial effort in regional cooperation aimed at tackling severe air pollution, which affects millions in Southeast Asia.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-10-30

 

 

[watchcat]

A better idea would be to ban the sugarcane burnining and the forest burning for mushrooms

 

 

 

 

 

[khunjeff]

Nice idea, but since Thailand can't even properly control its own crop burning, trying to control what happens in neighboring countries seems a bit...aspirational?

[daveAustin]

Forget your puffed up acronyms and endless meetings, simply ban burning in the region along with smoke belching vehicles in cities. Big fines/jail time for perps. I cannot believe that in 2024 bleedin archaic two stroke tuk-tuks and filthy sawngthaews are still allowed to operate, and Thailand is relatively rich and advanced compared to those other places. Move on!

[Aussie999]

12 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Forget your puffed up acronyms and endless meetings, simply ban burning in the region along with smoke belching vehicles in cities. Big fines/jail time for perps. I cannot believe that in 2024 bleedin archaic two stroke tuk-tuks and filthy sawngthaews are still allowed to operate, and Thailand is relatively rich and advanced compared to those other places. Move on!

I thought Thailand had "banned" burning a few years ago

[rwill]

Introduced now.  Soon to be forgotten.

[thesetat2013]

2 hours ago, watchcat said:

A better idea would be to ban the sugarcane burnining and the forest burning for mushrooms

 

 

 

 

 

Not ban... they need to make it illegal and then actually enforce the laws. 

[thesetat2013]

I do not see the point of making another useless committee that will make suggestions but noone will follow through implementing. 

[ozz1]

If anytime you drive in the country you will see plumes of smoke coming from farms not that hard for the authorities to see but let's talk about it and do nothing

[Classic Ray]

Someone should compare the cost of all the committees and junkets against the actual reduction of pollutants versus previous years. 
 

Many air quality monitoring stations are available. What is not available is any enforcement.
 

Then people can judge the value of this strategy. 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar have teamed up to launch the Clear Sky Strategy for 2024 to 2030, an effort to tackle the severe air pollution affecting Southeast Asia.

I'll wait for the 2025 burning season and see if it's real

[NedR69]

In other words, ain't jack gonna change.

[Woke to Sounds]

This is great news. I'm looking forward to returning to Chiang Mai and long distance cycling again soon! Thanks guys!

[Paiman]

Sounds like another " Talking Heads" meeting with no visible results in regards to air quality. 

Shoulder slapping each other and lots of self-praise.

[watchcat]

2 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

I thought Thailand had "banned" burning a few years ago

 

But still no punishment'

[watchcat]

44 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

This is great news. I'm looking forward to returning to Chiang Mai and long distance cycling again soon! Thanks guys!

 

1 minute ago, watchcat said:

 

But still no punishment'

 

2 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

I thought Thailand had "banned" burning a few years ago

 

[Aussie999]

1 minute ago, watchcat said:

 

But still no punishment'

True... That is why I don't think anything will change... as usual just a lot on meaningless words, for a gullible, under educated population. Yes, I know some are more educated... but I am talking about the majority... it really is a pity I had to add a caveat, as we know, there are some on here that need to be #1 and pedantic.

[Tarteso]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Minister Maris highlighted the urgent need for Southeast Asia to reduce pollution from industries, vehicles, agriculture, and forest fires,

Poor man, maybe he believes his own words.🤔

[PETERTHEEATER]

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The strategy outlines a framework under the acronym “CLEAR,” which stands for Continued Commitment, Leveraging Mechanisms, Experience Sharing, Air Quality Networks, and Response.

Otherwise known as CCLMESAQMR🙄

[john donson]

giant helicopters all around the capital blowing the wind away?

[spidermike007]

There is a simple solution. The government should offer incentives, for the farmers to switch crops. This is 2024. 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, and resources. Let's get with the times. Let us move forward. 

 

Likely far more than that amount of people that are suffering right now. And the authorities do not seem to care, one iota. If they did, something would be done. Instead, only hollow promises.