Dirty weather bill reaches significant B400bn/year
PUBLISHED: 17 Dec 2024 at 04: 46
According to a recent conference, Bangkok experiences annual economic costs of over 400 billion ringgit as a result of air pollution, particularly fine particulates less than 2.5 microns or PM2.5.
One of the topics covered at the National Health Commission Office lecture to mark the 17th National Health Assembly was the estimated expenses of the city’s waste. The event featured panel discussions, including one on” Innovative Market for Clean Air Management”, an exchange of views among the private sector, academia and local societies.
Assoc Prof Witsanu Attavanich, a teacher from the Faculty of Economics at Kasetsart University, said the government’s main focus may be fostering a innovative business by adopting the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) unit for sustainable development.
The BCG design covers bioeconomy, which enhances the value of natural resources, round economy, which maximises resource efficiency and longevity, and natural economy, which promotes socioeconomic development by ensuring the sustainability of resources and the environment.
Assoc Prof. Witsanu argued that air pollutants may be addressed because it was both an environmental and economic concern.
The World Bank estimates the global cost of ill health due to air pollution amounts to US$ 8.1 trillion ( 273.5 trillion baht ) annually, equivalent to 6.1 % of global gross domestic product ( GDP ) last year.
Also, research on air pollutants found the amount of PM2.5 in Bangkok for one year lasts approximately 6-7 times, not just a couple of weeks as generally thought. He claimed that Bangkok alone incurred 400 billion baht annually as a result of PM2.5. ” The next in line suffering adverse effects from pollution are Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, and Khon Kaen”, he said.
Assoc Prof. Witsanu suggested using His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s royal wisdom to plant trees in accordance with the BCG concept for clean air management in order to promote economic development.
He claimed that this could be done in addition to promoting carbon credits in the public sector and supporting a circular economy by reducing the use of waste materials to produce additional benefits to generate income.
He suggested that steps should be taken to give farmers access to affordable, modern machinery. This would lower household debt and help farmers increase yield per rai, increasing household debt.
Panitarn Pavarolavidya, deputy secretary-general of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), proposed using a hybrid automatic city air purification tower called Fah Sai ( clear sky ).
He claimed that an air purification tower for the Fah Sai should purge up to 60 000 cubic meters per hour. The system has the ability to kill bacteria in both air and water. A tower should be simple to install and can be placed anywhere. He claimed that the machine costs between 3 and 5 million baht, which is reasonable in comparison to the social costs Bangkok residents must pay.