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.
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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Is it normally this cold in Thailand in January?
Thailand is a country known for its beaches, nightlife, and sun. Countless people escape their home places to take solace in the Kingdom’s warmth in both the environment and with its people. However, Thailand is pretty cold right now and it is as much of a surprise for those living in a major city like Bangkok where the morning (January…
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Clearing the air: Bangkok takes a breather with work-from-home push
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today is rolling out a novel work-from-home initiative alongside a push to expand the clean air shelter project in more schools, all in a bid to tackle the city’s relentless PM2.5 pollution problem. The 58 year old city chief noted a breath of fresh air yesterday, January 12, with improved air quality in Bangkok, as PM2.5 levels…
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Why is Bangkok’s air quality so bad?
Imagine waking up early in Bangkok and you see all the beautiful morning fog from your balcony, but as you sip your coffee you realise it’s just Bangkok’s air pollution that’s making the sun rise aesthetic. Ranked as the 36th most air-polluted country in the world, Thailand has been facing challenges with air quality as of late. Many factors translate…
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Wildfire reignites, threatening homes and resorts in Korat
A wildfire reignited at Khao Loi in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, at 10am on Thursday, January 9, after previously being contained on January 8. Northeast Forest Fire Control Center 3 dispatched 35 personnel to the scene, collaborating with five agencies, including Khao Yai National Park and the Phayayen Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, to combat the blaze. Firebreaks were established to…
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Plastic waste import banned in Thailand in fight against pollution
Thailand has officially banned the import of plastic waste as of January 1, marking a major step in its fight against toxic pollution. The decision positions Thailand alongside other Southeast Asian nations like Malaysia and Vietnam, which have already closed their borders to foreign plastic waste following China’s groundbreaking 2018 National Sword initiative. This regulation, issued by the Department of…
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Bangkok PM2.5 lands Democrat leader’s father in hospital
Suchatvee Suwansawat, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, shared a personal account of the impact of PM2.5 air pollution on his family, highlighting the severity of the issue. Suchatvee revealed that his father had to be rushed to the emergency room due to severe coughing and chest pain. Medical professionals diagnosed it as an allergic reaction to the polluted air,…
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Thailand’s wild elephant population surges: Human conflict concern
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) released a report estimating Thailand’s wild elephant population to be between 4,013 and 4,422. These elephants are dispersed across 91 forests. The report highlights increasing conflicts between wild elephants and communities, particularly severe in the eastern forests, with an annual population growth rate of 8.2%, affecting 257 villages across six…
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Breathe easier: 7 tips to combat Thailand’s poor air quality
Thailand’s air quality has become a critical concern more than ever as the country faces recurring episodes of harmful air pollution. Air quality has exceeded an area of slight concern into a significant and detrimental public health issue in the Kingdom, especially in urban areas such as Bangkok, where traffic congestion, industrial activities, and agricultural burning are prevalent. On January…
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95 billion baht project to upgrade Chao Phraya irrigation system
The National Water Resources Committee has sanctioned a 95 billion baht initiative to enhance the Chao Phraya River irrigation system on the lower eastern side, encompassing Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces, to mitigate flooding. Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong chaired the meeting on January 6, where the committee endorsed the Department of Royal Irrigation’s extensive project aimed at improving water…
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Rare black leopard struts its stuff in Kaeng Krachan park
Visitors to Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province were left awestruck when a rare black leopard made a rare and regal appearance, strutting along the roadside for more than half an hour. This extraordinary encounter, which occurred yesterday morning, January 6, was revealed by Mongkol Chaiyaphakdi, the park’s chief. The elusive feline was spotted at kilometre markers 20 to…
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Monkey business: 100 macaques to be neutered in south Bangkok
Bang Khun Thian district chief Passara Natheethong announced that up to 100 macaques in the south Bangkok district will be neutered this month as part of an ongoing initiative to control their population in the district. Last year, 122 macaques underwent the procedure. Around 330 macaques are estimated to roam freely in three locations: the Khun Kala Monument, the Thian…
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Thailand battles unsafe PM2.5 dust levels in 67 provinces
Bangkok and 66 out of 76 provinces in Thailand grappled with hazardous levels of ultrafine dust particles today, with Sing Buri facing the most severe pollution. The alarming situation was highlighted by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) at 9am today, January 5, noting that particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and smaller (PM2.5) had reached harmful levels in five…
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Prachin Buri: Bull elephant successfully returned to natural habitat
Efforts to address the growing issue of wild elephants encroaching on communities in Prachin Buri province have yielded positive results, as officials successfully returned a notorious bull elephant to its natural habitat. The operation, which took place recently, involved more than 200 individuals, including veterinarians and animal husbandry officers, all working under the guidance of Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department…
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Thailand launches UAVs to protect endangered dugongs
Efforts to preserve the dugong population have intensified following the recent discovery of several deceased specimens. Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Chalermchai Sri-on, announced a series of new measures aimed at safeguarding these unique marine mammals, whose survival is threatened by the disappearance of seagrass meadows—an essential food source for the world’s only herbivorous marine mammal. The decline of seagrass…
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Korat researchers turn agricultural waste into ceramic gemstones
Researchers at Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) have made a groundbreaking discovery by transforming agricultural waste into highly valuable ceramic gemstones. This innovative research, conducted by senior students at the Institute of Engineering’s School of Ceramic Engineering, has resulted in a product priced 6,000 times higher than the original waste material. The team, consisting of Parnpailin Jaichuei, Chatcha Chuma, and…
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Moo Deng: Thailand’s personality of the year
Time magazine’s annual selection for Person of the Year often reflects on the individuals who have captured global attention. While it is usually presidents and influential figures, it is clear here in Thailand who truly deserves the title. Forget the political icons—our beloved Moo Deng, the pint-sized pygmy hippo, has captured hearts, taken over social media, and established herself as…
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