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.
Ms. Paetongtarn, who spoke to reporters after leaving the World Economic Forum ( WEF ) in Davos, Switzerland, stated that the escalating crisis is no longer just a national 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 in accordance with current conventions.
She said that discussions have been held regarding how to stop agrarian using in Thailand and the 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 state or one person. People must contribute to creating excellent power]to help address the PM2.5 problem ]”.
Immediate deeds were being taken to reduce waste levels, while half- 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.
Additional discussions with government organizations may be held regarding whether they could issue directives on remote work. Ms. Paetongtarn defended herself by saying that arrangements were made to address the PM2.5 matter were put in place longer before her withdrawal for the occasion in response to public censure over her presence at WEF during the air pollution problems in Thailand.
” Of course, when the weather is full of sand, we didn’t really snap our hands to make it disappear. We’ve prepared as much as we may, putting in our entire work”, she said. It just so happens that the event and large dust levels coincided. We don’t change the date of the WEF”.
All aboard: Riders enjoy completely electric train trips yesterday. The free journey plan, starting yesterday and running until Jan 31, is part of the president’s measures to combat PM2.5 air pollutants.
Following her returning from the WEF, government official Jirayu Houngsub reported 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 to track air pollution and offer assistance after the disaster struck late last month.
A commission on PM2.5 conflict has been formed by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who leads the Command Headquarters.
It has regular discussions scheduled with a number of senior officers 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 territory, with dust rates as high as 106.9 µg/m³.