Govt aims to ‘ alleviate’ burning in neighbouring places
PUBLISHED: 26 Jan 2025 at 05: 37
The PM2.5 issue has been upgraded from a nationwide priority to one that requires Asean assistance to resolve, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
After returning from the WEF in Davos, Switzerland, Ms. Paetongtarn stated that the growing crisis is no longer simply a federal issue.
Some nations in the area are also dealing with cross-border waste issues.
According to Ms. Paetongtarn, Maris Sangiampongsa, the foreign affairs minister, has been asked to engage in negotiations with Asean nations to address the problem in accordance with current arrangements.
She said that discussions have been held regarding how to stop agrarian using in Thailand and neighboring nations. Thai officials have rolled out protective measures, including sanctions for agricultural using, since November next year, she added.
She claimed that Asean nations should also be involved in tackling the problem. This is not just the role of one individual or one nation. People must contribute to creating wonderful power]to help remedy the PM2.5 problem ]”.
Immediate deeds were being taken to reduce waste levels, while late- and long-term methods are in position, she says.
When asked about implementing a work-from-home plan nationwide, she was open to the idea, saying people who can work electronically without disrupting business operations may help reduce traffic-related pollution.
Government organizations do have the opportunity to discuss whether to issue directives on remote work in future discussions. Ms. Paetongtarn defended herself by claiming that preparations were made well in advance of her planned withdrawal for the occasion in response to public criticism for her presence at WEF during the air pollutants crisis in Thailand.
” Of course, when the weather is full of dirt, we can’t just jump our hands to make it disappear. We’ve prepared as much as we may, putting in our whole work”, she said. It just so happens that the event and large dust levels coincided. We don’t change the date of the WEF”.
Following her returning from the WEF, government official Jirayu Houngsub claimed on Saturday that Ms. Paetongtarn had carefully followed up her instructions to solve PM2.5.
She also gave instructions to the National Disaster Management Command Headquarters to choose the type used by the Operation Centre for Flood and Landslide Victims, which helped solve storm issues late last month, to track air pollutants and offer assistance.
A commission on PM2.5 conflict has been formed by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who leads the Command Headquarters.
It has regular meetings scheduled and includes a number of high-level leaders who were members of the committee overseeing the Operation Centre for Flood and Landslide Victims.
Air quality in Bangkok remains grave, with 23 places classified as “red areas” due to unsafe PM2.5 degrees on Saturday. Overdue health levels set at 37.5 g/m3, the Bangkok Metropolitan Region recorded sand amounts ranging from 50.9 to 111 microgrammes per square meter.
Higher rates were likewise detected in other areas, especially the Central place, with dust rates as high as 106.9 µg/m³.