Environment News
Thailand environment news, climate change, sustainability, and natural disasters—stay updated on eco-initiatives, biodiversity conservation, and renewable energy efforts. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for environmental news in Thailand.
-
Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
-
Chiang Mai initiative swaps leaves for eggs to combat haze
An innovative initiative has been launched in San Kamphaeng district, Chiang Mai, where leaves can be exchanged for eggs every Thursday until May 15. This project aims to reduce burning and haze while promoting the production of compost for farmers as a substitute for chemical fertilisers. The opening ceremony of the Leaves for Eggs Market was held yesterday, February 7,…
-
Toxic air killing over 100 children every day in East Asia
As Bangkok struggles with choking air pollution, forcing school closures and raising serious health concerns, UNICEF has issued a stark warning about the devastating impact of toxic air on children across East Asia and the Pacific. According to UNICEF’s latest analysis, air pollution peaks in the region during the dry season, from now until April, and is responsible for over…
-
Baby turtles hatch on Phuket beach, but not all survive
A magical moment unfolded on Kata Noi Beach as around 70 baby sea turtles hatched and made their way into the Andaman Sea yesterday, February 6. However, not all survived the journey, with officials discovering several lifeless hatchlings and one struggling to survive. The Andaman Sea Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center was first alerted to the hatching by a…
-
Tiger dies in Suphan Buri park despite rescue efforts
A tiger, ensnared by a poacher’s trap in Phu Toei National Park, Suphan Buri, has died despite efforts to save it. The animal was discovered on January 8 and treated at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Breeding Centre, Uthai Thani, until its death on February 3 at around 3pm. On February 4, specialised veterinarian Pimchanok Songmongkhon, along with wildlife conservation officials,…
-
Loei forest fire extinguished after 30-hour battle
Firefighters in Loei province have successfully extinguished a forest fire that ravaged 400 rai over a 30-hour operation. The blaze, which affected the Phu Huai Ngiu, Phu Hin Hong, and Phu Yata forests in Mueang district, had been active for a day and caused significant distress to residents due to the smoke. Thinnakorn Kasetkasorn, the mayor of the Chaiyaphuek Subdistrict…
-
Toxic smog disrupts Bangkok flights as PM2.5 levels soar
Bangkok’s toxic air pollution has reached hazardous levels, forcing flight diversions and sparking health warnings across the city. On Sunday morning, February 2, several flights were diverted from Don Mueang International Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport, as thick smog reduced visibility to just 150 metres. Among the affected flights was AirAsia X Flight XJ901 from Harbin, China, which had to be…
-
Thailand’s most polluted areas revealed in air quality report
IQAir released a real-time report on air quality in Thailand highlighting the top 10 areas with the highest levels of PM 2.5 pollution, a fine particulate matter known to affect health. As of 8.49am, today, February 4, these areas were identified as having air quality levels that pose health risks, marked in red for their severity. The list of the…
-
Chiang Mai Night Safari welcomes adorable young hyenas (video)
Chiang Mai Night Safari has introduced two young striped hyenas, a male and a female, following in the footsteps of the much-loved tiger Eva. The hyenas’ debut occurred yesterday, February 3, attracting many visitors charmed by the new arrivals. The young hyenas, born to parents Sonic and Sanya on December 13 last year, represent a significant success in breeding rare…
-
Smoke out: Phuket cracks down on polluters as air crisis worsens
Phuket is turning up the heat on environmental offenders with a major new campaign aimed at tackling the island’s escalating air pollution crisis. In a bold bid to curb forest fires, haze, and PM2.5 dust pollution, the island’s officials have launched a public awareness drive, kicking off with a grand ceremony at the Phuket Provincial Hall, today, February 3, presided…
-
57 Thailand provinces face hazardous PM2.5 levels
This morning, 57 out of Thailand’s 77 provinces experienced dangerous levels of ultrafine dust pollution, as reported by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). Thirteen provinces recorded hazardous PM2.5 levels, particles 2.5 micrometres or smaller, with Nong Bua Lam Phu reaching the highest concentration at 99.1 microgrammes per cubic metre over the past 24 hours. Sisaket followed with…
-
Experts have their say on govt’s PM2.5 pollution efforts
The Government of Thailand is intensifying efforts to combat PM2.5 pollution due to concerns over its detrimental effects and a desire for cleaner air, a recurring issue at the start of the year. Numerous provinces have been affected by the fine dust since January, leading to measures such as reducing bushfires and haze, offering free public transport in Bangkok, and…
-
Illegal recycling site found with 3,600 tonnes of power lines
An unlicensed recycling facility in Samut Sakhon province has been found with illegally stored power lines, following a fire at a nearby plastics factory. The incident occurred on January 29 in Ban Phaeo district when a fire erupted at a plastics factory, leading to an investigation. Police discovered materials marked for recycling by a Chinese-owned company, including power lines from…
-
Smoke signals: Thailand cracks down on PM2.5 cross-border pollution
In a sizzling new move to tackle the smoggy skies, Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) sets its sights on cracking down on PM2.5 pollution stemming from cross-border agricultural antics. Their bold plan? To roll out strict measures that target corn imports, demanding ironclad proof that the golden kernels come from non-burning cultivation zones. In a hard-hitting proposal slated for…
-
Fire fight: Minister braves flames to back Chiang Mai wildfire battle
The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Doctor Chalermchai Sri-on, yesterday made a daring visit to the smoky frontlines of Thailand’s forest fire battle in a show of support. Accompanied by Jatuporn Buruspat, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Chalermchai rallied the troops at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai, bolstering the morale of fire-fighting personnel and community networks dedicated to…
-
Rare tiger family caught on camera in Kaeng Krachan park (video)
For the first time, a tigress and her three cubs have been recorded roaming Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirming that Thailand’s largest wild cats are successfully breeding in the protected forest. The footage, captured by camera traps deep in the jungle, shows the tigress, identified as KKT-003F, leading her three cubs through the wilderness. Officials estimate the cubs are now…
-
Bangkok seeks air pollution control status amid rising PM2.5 levels
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to request the government’s declaration of Bangkok as an air pollution control area due to anticipated rises in PM2.5 levels over the coming week. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced yesterday, January 29, that he will present the proposal to the Cabinet next week. Declaring Bangkok a pollution control area would empower the BMA to…
-
Elephants wreak havoc on Prachin Buri sugarcane farms
Farmers in Prachin Buri’s Kabin Buri district face significant challenges as wild elephants from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in Chachoengsao province have invaded their sugarcane fields. Over 50 sugarcane farmers from the subdistricts of Khao Mai Kaew and Wang Tha Chang gathered at the district office yesterday, January 27 to submit a letter to District Chief Thammarat…
-
Phuket’s burning ban: Violators face 20 years amid smog crisis
Phuket has joined the nationwide crackdown on burning as the country battles severe smog and PM2.5 pollution. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul ordered all provinces to implement burning bans, prompting Phuket officials to issue their strict measures last week. Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong announced the ban last Friday, January 24, which prohibits all agricultural burning…
-
Rare algae bloom turns Laem Bali Hai shoreline green
A rare natural phenomenon transformed the rocky shoreline of Laem Bali Hai into a vibrant green landscape, attracting numerous visitors. Reporters noted that the area was covered with green algae, creating a visually stunning scene as it glistened under the sunlight. This remarkable sight drew a considerable number of tourists, as well as locals and students eager to capture the…
-
Critics slam 140m baht quick fix for Bangkok haze crisis
Critics have blasted the government for allocating 140 million baht to fund free public transport in Bangkok for one week, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money that fails to tackle the root cause of the city’s haze pollution crisis. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra introduced the measure, which began last Saturday, January 25, to combat surging levels of hazardous PM2.5…
-
Bangkok ranks 4th worst for air quality as haze chokes city
Bangkok’s air quality took a nosedive today, earning it the grim title of the fourth worst city in the world for air pollution, according to Swiss-based monitoring platform IQAir. The capital’s air quality index (AQI) hit a hazardous 188 as of 9.40am, with toxic PM2.5 levels far exceeding safe thresholds. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) declared 48 out of 50…
-
Phuket’s future: Seminar tackles bold new environmental rules
Phuket’s business leaders and environmental experts gathered yesterday, January 23 at the Royal Phuket City Hotel for a pivotal seminar titled Unlocking the Phuket Environment: Crisis or Opportunity? Organised by the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and presided over by Chamber President Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, the event focused on the sweeping new environmental regulations announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and…
-
Mammoth madness: Runaway elephant sparks chaos in Phuket
Panic swept through Cherng Talay in Phuket this morning as an escaped elephant roamed the village streets, prompting an urgent response from police and handlers. The drama began at around 10am when the elephant bolted from its camp, heading towards Cherng Talay Wittayakom School, with a scaffolding pole tangled around its neck. Witnesses reported minor damage to property, including a…
-
Thailand’s PM2.5 crisis: Toxic dust turns up the heat
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a slight rise in temperatures due to weakening cold air masses, with chilly conditions in the north and light rain in the south. Dust pollution remains a significant issue as of yesterday, January 22. The TMD predicts that over the next 24 hours, the high-pressure system or cold air mass covering upper Thailand and…
-
Why you need to wear a mask in Bangkok right now
As anyone who has spent time in Thailand, or other Asian cultures for that matter, I’m sure you have seen people wearing masks while in public in Bangkok. But why? The scare of Covid-19 has now long lost its saliency and fears among the general public have been diminished to a level comparable to a bad cold. Yet we still…
-
Toxic air: Thailand considers work from home nationwide
The Ministry of Public Health is set to recommend a nationwide work from home directive next week after PM2.5 ultrafine dust pollution surpassed safe thresholds in nearly every province yesterday, January 21, with Greater Bangkok experiencing the highest levels. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced that a meeting would be held today to formulate strategies to address the escalating pollution…
-
Toxic air crisis: 70 provinces choked by dangerous dust levels
Thailand woke up to alarming air quality today, with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that PM2.5 levels surged into the red, or hazardous-to-health, zone in 27 provinces, primarily in central Thailand. At 7am, Samut…
-
Pink dholes with rare colour spotted in Thailand
In a stunning discovery that has wildlife enthusiasts buzzing, rare images of dholes with pinkish fur have emerged from Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park. A dhole (pronounced dole) is also known as the Asiatic wild dog, red dog, and whistling dog. It is about the size of a German shepherd but looks more like a long-legged fox. The unusual find…
-
Fire at Phichit biomass plant burns 1,000 tonnes of fuel
A fire broke out at a biomass power plant in Taphan Hin district, Phichit province, engulfing over 1,000 tonnes of compressed fuel. Emergency services, including 15 fire trucks, responded to the incident. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no injuries have been reported. The facility, operated by Thip Phichit Hybrid Energy Company, started operations on December 24, 2022.…
-
15 minor earthquakes shake Pai district in Mae Hong Son
A series of 15 minor earthquakes impacted the Pai district in Mae Hong Son province from Sunday evening, January 19 through yesterday afternoon. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Meteorological Department of Thailand reported these events took place in Wiang Nuea subdistrict, Pai district, between 9.56pm on Sunday and 3.46pm yesterday, January 20. The earthquakes registered magnitudes between 1.7 and…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.