Chiang Mai Tackles PM2.5 Pollution with Ambitious Five-Year Strategy

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Chiang Mai is taking bold steps to tackle the persistent PM2.5 pollution, with a comprehensive five-year strategy launched at a recent workshop on January 13 and 14. Organised by the Office of the Science Promotion Commission alongside Chiang Mai authorities, the gathering emphasised the urgent need for research and innovation to combat hazardous air quality.

 

Governor Nirat Phongsitthaworn underscored the significance of research in devising effective tools to address this pressing issue. He called for cooperative efforts, leveraging data systems and innovative strategies, to mitigate the pollution affecting every resident in the region.

 

An eight-goal strategy, spearheaded by Professor Doctor Sirirerk Songsiwilai, was proposed to make northern Thailand safer by 2026, particularly targeting the elimination of PM2.5 pollution in the upper north. Around 130 million baht will be invested in mitigating Chiang Mai's pollution for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, with a considerable increase to 450 million baht planned by 2025, extending successful measures across the region.

 

The plan outlines objectives such as capping PM2.5-affected days to just 50 annually, reducing initial COPD admissions due to dust below 1,000 each year, and cutting down unauthorised hotspots to 4,000 annually. Dr. Banthoon Setthasirote emphasised research-driven legal frameworks, highlighting structural roots rather than legislative dependencies alone.

 

 

A pivotal Clean Air Management Act is in the pipeline, focusing on decentralisation and shared management responsibilities, supported by economic measures and research. Former Chiang Mai deputy governor, Thosapon Phueng-udom, called for precise strategies and innovations to ensure the plan's efficacy and budgetary alignment.

 

The province has already achieved a significant 34% reduction in hotspots in 2023, with a 47% decrease in burnt areas, a 24% reduction in days exceeding air quality standards, and a 74% fall in first-time COPD admissions. Notably, research uncovered that 40% of the dust crisis stems from cross-border pollution, underscoring the necessity for regional cooperation.

 

Chiang Mai’s ambitious path forward demonstrates a commitment to cleaner air and healthier communities through vigilant research, strategic funding, and collaborative innovation.

 

-- 2025-01-20

 

 

[hotchilli]

  On 1/20/2025 at 10:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

Promotion Commission alongside Chiang Mai authorities, the gathering emphasised the urgent need for research and innovation to combat hazardous air quality.

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Stop the bloody burning, then sort out other harmful emissions, ie from factories, construction sites and vehicles.

It's not rocket science.

 

[Tarteso]

  On 1/20/2025 at 10:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

with a comprehensive five-year strategy

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I Stopped to read at this point😂

[RandolphGB]

Good luck trying to persuade Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese to be poorer to help people in Thailand. 

[newbee2022]

  On 1/20/2025 at 10:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

Chiang Mai is taking bold steps to tackle the persistent PM2.5 pollution, with a comprehensive five-year strategy launched at a recent workshop on January 13 and 14. Organised by the Office of the Science Promotion Commission alongside Chiang Mai authorities, the gathering emphasised the urgent need for research and innovation to combat hazardous air quality.

 

Governor Nirat Phongsitthaworn underscored the significance of research in devising effective tools to address this pressing issue. He called for cooperative efforts, leveraging data systems and innovative strategies, to mitigate the pollution affecting every resident in the region.

 

An eight-goal strategy, spearheaded by Professor Doctor Sirirerk Songsiwilai, was proposed to make northern Thailand safer by 2026, particularly targeting the elimination of PM2.5 pollution in the upper north. Around 130 million baht will be invested in mitigating Chiang Mai's pollution for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, with a considerable increase to 450 million baht planned by 2025, extending successful measures across the region.

 

The plan outlines objectives such as capping PM2.5-affected days to just 50 annually, reducing initial COPD admissions due to dust below 1,000 each year, and cutting down unauthorised hotspots to 4,000 annually. Dr. Banthoon Setthasirote emphasised research-driven legal frameworks, highlighting structural roots rather than legislative dependencies alone.

 

 

 

A pivotal Clean Air Management Act is in the pipeline, focusing on decentralisation and shared management responsibilities, supported by economic measures and research. Former Chiang Mai deputy governor, Thosapon Phueng-udom, called for precise strategies and innovations to ensure the plan's efficacy and budgetary alignment.

 

The province has already achieved a significant 34% reduction in hotspots in 2023, with a 47% decrease in burnt areas, a 24% reduction in days exceeding air quality standards, and a 74% fall in first-time COPD admissions. Notably, research uncovered that 40% of the dust crisis stems from cross-border pollution, underscoring the necessity for regional cooperation.

 

Chiang Mai’s ambitious path forward demonstrates a commitment to cleaner air and healthier communities through vigilant research, strategic funding, and collaborative innovation.

 

-- 2025-01-20

 

 

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I read it twice. However, what are the plans in particular? Did I miss a "no-burning-order'?? 😳

[Paul52]

  On 1/20/2025 at 11:49 PM, Tarteso said:

I Stopped to read at this point😂

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Yep, they knocked it into the long grass again.  Probably one where some farmer is burning his fields right now.

[Paul52]

  On 1/21/2025 at 1:15 AM, newbee2022 said:

I read it twice. However, what are the plans in particular? Did I miss a "no-burning-order'?? 😳

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As far as I’m aware, that already exists.  As with most things in Thailand, it’s the enforcement that’s the problem.  It’s just a talking shop for “face”.  No intention of tackling the root cause of the problem.

[connda]

Chiang Mai Tackles PM2.5 Pollution with Ambitious Five-Year Strategy

 

Year 1: Enthusiasm
Year 2: Disillusionment
Year 3: Panic
Year 4: Search for the guilty
Year 5: Punishment of the innocent
Year 6: Praise and honors for the non-participants - Photo Ops

 

[Paul52]

  On 1/21/2025 at 1:12 AM, RandolphGB said:

Good luck trying to persuade Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese to be poorer to help people in Thailand. 

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Vietnam isn’t contributing to the problem, at least not significantly.  Cambodia maybe, but not affecting Chiang Mai.  Laos probably a lot, but not as much as the Thais.

[BKKKevin]

“He called for cooperative efforts, leveraging data systems and innovative strategies, to mitigate the pollution affecting every resident”…

 

So Thoughts & Prayers as usual… 

[connda]

  On 1/20/2025 at 10:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

Around 130 million baht will be invested in mitigating Chiang Mai's pollution for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, with a considerable increase to 450 million baht planned by 2025

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So they are throwing the equivalent of $13 million USD at the problem?  They aren't serious at all.

[connda]

  On 1/21/2025 at 1:27 AM, Paul52 said:

Vietnam isn’t contributing to the problem, at least not significantly.  Cambodia maybe, but not affecting Chiang Mai.  Laos probably a lot, but not as much as the Thais.

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In typical Thai fashion my wife blames it all on Myanmar.  <laughs>

[connda]

  On 1/21/2025 at 1:20 AM, Paul52 said:

Yep, they knocked it into the long grass again.  Probably one where some farmer is burning his fields right now.

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In my neck of rural Northern Thailand, the local government has a strict burn ban.  No farmers burn their fields as they would get immediate attention for the authorities.  That's for real.  Nobody is burning fields where I live.
Instead?
They go up into the mountains and set arson fires to clear underbrush for mushrooms. That forest arson causes the majority of the local PM 2.5 and haze.  In another 45 days all the forests in the mountains around us will be on fire and nobody will see anything.  Why?  Everyone drops they day jobs to go mushroom hunting in the rainy season.

[newbee2022]

  On 1/21/2025 at 1:24 AM, Paul52 said:

As far as I’m aware, that already exists.  As with most things in Thailand, it’s the enforcement that’s the problem.  It’s just a talking shop for “face”.  No intention of tackling the root cause of the problem.

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Well, but "no burning" is only limited to a few months. The "bad" air is now almost all year round.

[Justanotherone]

get the budget, spend it on nothing, fill pockets, blame neighbor countries

[PETERTHEEATER]

  On 1/20/2025 at 10:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

Former Chiang Mai deputy governor, Thosapon Phueng-udom, called for precise strategies and innovations to ensure the plan's efficacy and budgetary alignment.

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Without explaining why nothing effective was done on his watch.