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 Experience Bangkok from a new perspective with Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel
Bangkok surely knows how to dazzle. Down by the Chao Phraya River, the pace slows as boats drift past temples and heritage buildings. High above the skyline, the city spreads out in a glittering patchwork of lights and towers. The...
-
Thailand battles PM 2.5 with strict anti-burning measures
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) urged provinces to intensify efforts in monitoring PM 2.5 dust levels and hot spots while strictly enforcing laws against illegal burning. Phasakorn Boonyalak, Director-General of the DDPM and Secretary of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command, yesterday, March 3, noted that while the overall PM 2.5 levels in the central, eastern,…
-
Bangkok revamps Bueng Si Kan Lake for flood control
Bangkok is gearing up for a wetter future with a major transformation of Bueng Si Kan Lake in Lak Si district, turning it into a massive flood-control reservoir. The ambitious project is part of the city’s monkey cheek initiative to tackle increasing rainfall and prevent severe flooding in one of its most vulnerable neighbourhoods. Deputy Governor Wissanu Sabsomphon announced that…
-
Cruise company apologises for pouring trash into Chao Phraya (video)
In a scandal that sparked outrage among environmentalists and Bangkok residents, Royal Galaxy Cruise issued a public apology after a video surfaced showing trash being dumped into the Chao Phraya River. The company expressed deep regret over the incident, blaming an untrained temporary employee for the environmental blunder. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, showed garbage being carelessly…
-
Cosmic spectacle: Rare planet parade visible this week in Thailand
Stargazers in Thailand are in for a celestial treat as a rare planetary alignment will light up the evening sky this week, according to the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). For a limited time, all the visible planets in the Solar System will be lined up, creating a breathtaking parade that can be seen with the naked eye.…
-
Cruise ship caught dumping trash into Chao Phraya River (video)
Outrage is sweeping Bangkok after shocking footage emerged of cruise ship staff dumping large amounts of trash into the Chao Phraya River every day. The scandal was exposed by former beauty queen Carla Porter, first runner-up of Miss Thailand World 2009, who posted the incriminating video on her Facebook page. The clip, secretly filmed by a friend, shows staff from…
-
Phuket hotel project halted after environmental concerns raised
A controversial hotel project in Cherng Talay’s Pasak Soi 6 has been halted after outraged residents pressured officials to review its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), citing concerns about transparency, zoning violations, and environmental damage. The proposed Nebu Hotel, set to be a seven-storey building on a small 1,200-square-metre plot, was planned in a Yellow Zone designated for low-density residential use.…
-
Dirty secret exposed: Illegal dumping scandal rocks East Pattaya
A shocking discovery of illegal construction waste dumped along a nearly 1-kilometre stretch of road near Motorway No.7 in East Pattaya has sparked outrage and a massive cleanup operation. The eyesore, located just before the municipal landfill, consisted of construction debris, tiles, cement scraps, foam boxes, and tree branches, turning the area into a stinking, unsanitary mess. Mayor Winai Inpitak…
-
Phuket meeting targets land disputes and environmental issues
Phuket’s top officials gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February 25, to confront the island’s escalating land disputes and environmental challenges. The high-stakes meeting, led by Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong, aimed to tackle the complex issues of land encroachment, overlapping claims, and environmental degradation, all of which threaten the island’s sustainability. The meeting was attended by heavyweights in the…
-
Pattaya plans low-carbon future with solar power and clean energy
Pattaya City is on a mission to transform itself into a low-carbon tourism destination, with ambitious plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable energy. In the second meeting of the Public Image Committee, Poramet Ngampichet, Mayor of Pattaya City, outlined a bold vision for a greener, cleaner future, leveraging solar power and clean energy solutions. Held at Meeting…
-
Thailand tightens exhaust checks to combat PM2.5 pollution
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has intensified its efforts to inspect exhaust emissions from trucks and buses across Thailand to tackle the PM2.5 air pollution issue. Nearly 1,000 vehicles were banned yesterday, February 24. Jirut Wisalchit, DLT Director General, reported on the progress of the vehicle inspections, which align with the Ministry of Transport’s policy to address and prevent…
-
Bangkok faces severe air pollution as PM2.5 levels rise
The Pollution Control Department has issued a warning concerning high PM2.5 levels across 32 provinces in Thailand, with Bangkok experiencing the most severe pollution. Predictions indicate that PM2.5 levels in Bangkok and its vicinity are likely to rise in the upcoming week. Yesterday, February 21, the Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre of the Pollution Control Department released a report on…
-
Pattaya fights a shore thing: War declared on stinky seaweed
In a bid to rescue their once-pristine shorelines, Pattaya City officials have declared war on the stinking seaweed invasion that’s left Krating Rai Beach in turmoil. Under Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, a massive clean-up operation was launched yesterday, February 19, as officers from the Cleaning Control Division, Pollution Control Division, and Natural Resources and Environment Department rolled up their sleeves…
-
Phuket urges waste separation as incinerator shuts down
Phuket’s waste crisis is escalating as the island’s only public incinerator shuts down for a month-long renovation, forcing local government operatives to dump hundreds of tonnes of excess waste into overflowing landfills. Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet visited the Phuket Solid Waste Disposal Centre at Saphan Hin on Monday, February 17 to discuss emergency waste management measures with municipal engineers and…
-
Grandmother and grandkids escape as Ayutthaya house collapses
A woman and her three grandchildren narrowly escaped disaster when their two-storey wooden house in Ayutthaya collapsed after heavy rainfall this morning, February 18. Miraculously, they managed to crawl out safely—along with their pet dog. The Ayutthaya branch of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation received an emergency call at 9.30am and rushed to the scene near Talad Plu Market in Village 6,…
-
Phuket braces for drought: Officials scramble to secure water
As Phuket enters the dry season, officials are stepping up efforts to prevent a potential drought, holding an emergency meeting to strategise water management and mitigation measures. The Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) convened its first working group meeting of the year yesterday, February 17, led by Chief Sopon Thongsai. The session brought together multiple agencies…
-
Why is it raining heavily in Bangkok?
Bangkok and many parts of Thailand are currently experiencing heavy rain, which is expected to persist throughout the week. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued warnings for severe thunderstorms, strong winds, and heavy downpours across 33 provinces. But what’s causing this unusual weather, and how does it relate to Thailand’s monsoon patterns? What’s causing the heavy rain in Bangkok?…
-
Dust to dust: Toxic haze blankets Bangkok and beyond
A thick shroud of ultrafine dust pollution has descended upon Bangkok and 53 of Thailand’s 76 provinces, leaving the air quality in a perilous state, according to the latest findings from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The Central Plains and the east bore the brunt of this hazardous haze. GISTDA’s report, released at 8am, today, February 14,…
-
Phuket forest fire sparks panic before firefighters contain blaze
A raging forest fire in Thepkrasattri subdistrict, Phuket, sent firefighters and locals scrambling to contain the fast-spreading blaze yesterday, February 13. The fire engulfed over 6 rai of land in Khao Kluay, Baan Pak Pli, before emergency crews managed to bring it under control after a tense four-hour battle. The Thepkrasattri Subdistrict Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) first reported the incident, which…
-
Smog predicted for 53 Thai provinces as Bangkok chokes on dust
Bangkok and a staggering 53 out of Thailand’s 76 provinces today were engulfed in perilously high levels of ultrafine dust, with the Central Plain and east of the country bearing the brunt. The alarming report comes from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), painting a grim picture of air quality across the nation. As of 8am, today, February…
-
Making waves: ONWR dives into final stretch of water plans
The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is racing to wrap up its ambitious water management plans across 22 river basins this year, as revealed by its Secretary General, Surasee Kittimonthon. The countdown is on as the agency pushes to safeguard the nation’s vital waterways. Already ahead in the game, the ONWR has finalised strategies for the lower southern…
-
Firefighters contain forest fire threat near Pattaya homes
A forest fire near Pattaya was successfully contained by firefighters after it posed a threat to nearby homes. At 3.06pm on Sunday, February 9, the Nong Prue Municipality’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation team, in conjunction with the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre, was alerted to a forest fire at Soi Boon Samphan 14, near Pattaya. Emergency services responded promptly to…
-
Bangkok battles coastal erosion with new wave barrier initiative
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is collaborating with various organisations to combat the persistent erosion of Bangkok’s coastline in the Bang Khun Thian district. Jessada Chandraprabha, the director of the BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, recently updated on the ongoing initiatives to tackle this issue affecting the capital’s shoreline. He explained that the department is working closely with related agencies…
-
Scorching summer alert: Thailand to sizzle with record highs
The Land of Smiles is about to feel the heat, according to the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) which is forecasting an intense, scorching, summer season from late February till mid-May. Temperatures are predicted to soar to a blistering 42-43 degrees Celsius, with sporadic thunderstorms offering a fleeting respite from the inferno. In the northern regions, residents are in for a…
-
Thailand’s air quality safe, Bangkok records lowest PM2.5 levels
In a rare twist of atmospheric fate, Thailand basked in pristine air quality this morning, with every province being given the green light for clean air by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). Foremost among them, bustling Bangkok boasted the lowest levels of ultrafine dust in the nation, marking a refreshing change for the capital known for its…
-
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…
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.