Environment News
Discover the latest Environment News in Thailand, providing comprehensive coverage on environmental issues, climate change solutions, and natural disasters in Thailand and the world. We bring compelling stories, investigate eco-friendly initiatives, and bring you closer to the rapidly evolving green landscape. Stay informed about Thailand’s efforts towards sustainable living, biodiversity conversation, and renewable energy promotion to better understand the world’s ecological challenges.
To keep up with the most reliable environment news source, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
- Sponsored
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...
-
Asia-Pacific countries need US$362 billion annually for climate action, says UN
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) highlighted the urgent need for significant funding to support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP’s Accelerating Climate Action in Asia and the Pacific report reveals that most countries in the area are inadequately prepared for extreme weather events and natural disasters, which…
-
Climate activists disrupt shareholder meetings, target corporate carbon footprints
Climate activists have been ramping up pressure on corporations during shareholder meetings, using various tactics to demand action on carbon emissions and climate change. These tactics range from asking numerous questions to more creative approaches, such as singing or even throwing cake at executives. Volkswagen’s recent shareholder meeting became a focal point for activists, with a cake thrown at supervisory…
-
After heavy rain, 130 kilograms of fish found dead at Phuket lake
After heavy rainfall, around 130 kilogrammes of fish were found dead at Phuket‘s Nai Harn Lake in Rawai. Fisheries officials inspected the lake earlier this week after receiving reports of many fish found dead. Upon inspection, it was discovered that heavy rain had washed dirt and sediment into the lake, polluting the water and reducing the available oxygen, Phuket Fisheries…
-
Thai university makes bulletproof vests from recycled plastic
Scientists at Naresuan University in northern Thailand made bulletproof vests out of recycled plastic waste which they donated to the soldiers of Royal Thai Army Area 3 in Phitsanulok province on Monday. The vests are made from a mixture of car headlight parts, dialysis bags, rubber shoes, and plastic from the sea. The bulletproof vests were created under the project…
-
Green candidates struggle for support in Thailand’s election amid pollution crisis
Amid escalating pollution in Thailand, green political candidates face an uphill battle to gain traction with voters ahead of the elections. Despite hazardous smog plaguing Bangkok and northern Chiang Mai, environmental issues have taken a backseat to populist welfare policies as political parties try to outdo each other. Green Party leader Phongsa Choonaem admitted that while the public’s understanding of…
-
Thailand to close several popular islands for environmental restoration
Four islands in Trang province, southern Thailand, will close for four months to give nature a chance to restore itself after a hectic tourist season, namely Koh Muk, Koh Kradan, Koh Chuek, and Koh Waen. Thailand’s Similan Islands will also close for the monsoon season. Yesterday, the Chief of Hat Chao Mai National Park Prit Narasaritkul announced the temporary cease of…
-
Thailand accelerates shift to renewables amid global energy crisis fallout
The global energy crisis has prompted Thailand to accelerate its transition to renewable energy after years of hesitation, joining other countries in adopting wind and solar power to reduce dependency on imported fuels. Thailand’s reconsideration of its renewable energy strategy came after a surge in natural gas prices last year caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Wattanapong Kurovat,…
-
Chiang Mai’s Mae Chaem district communities granted forest living rights
Over 300,000 rai of reserved forest land in the Mae Chaem district in Chiang Mai now has secured living rights for local communities, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The communities have been identified as a successful model by the Department of Royal Forest, due to their compliance with a cabinet resolution from…
-
Trang governor reveals plans to develop Koh Kradan, the ‘best beach on earth’
Plans are in the pipeline to develop Thailand’s Koh Kradan. Trang province’s governor, Kajornsak Charoensopha, on Wednesday, revealed plans to develop Koh Kradan into a major tourist spot. The move comes after the island was named the best beach on earth in the Top 100 Beaches on Earth by the UK’s World Beach Guide. The governor announced plans aimed at…
-
Thailand plans to relocate macaque monkeys from Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park
Phetchaburi authorities are currently working on a plan to relocate the large and mischievous macaque population at the Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park, better known as Khao Wang, to a place where they can live a more natural life and cause no disturbance to the peace, provincial governor Natthachai Nampoonsuksan announced on May 1. The number of monkeys in the…
-
Two hunters injured in shootout with rangers and arrested for possession of dead langur monkeys
Two hunters in Phetchaburi have been left with injuries following a clash with forest rangers, leading to their arrests. They were found to have six dead grey langurs, local authorities reported today. Forest rangers had been conducting a patrol in Huay Kum forest, close to Phu Sai in the Moo 3 village, situated in tambon Huay Mae Phriang of the…
-
Chiang Mai breathes easier: Summer storms bring air quality relief
The air quality in Chiang Mai has significantly improved due to a series of summer storms, causing hazardous haze pollution and ultra-fine particulate matter (PM) 2.5 levels to drop after months of concern. This is welcome news for residents and tourists alike, as the region has been grappling with poor air quality and the impact it has had on both…
-
Air quality in northern Thai city improves after storm, but some areas damaged
The air quality in one northern Thai city has improved after a recent storm, although some areas of the city are damaged. Locals in the city of Lampang were able to see Doi Farang peak this morning (Sunday). Doi Farang is a high peak within the Doi Phra Bat mountain range towering nearly 900 metres above sea level. The area,…
-
MQDC unveils Cloud 11 – Asia’s largest hub for content creators with innovative and sustainable building
Cloud 11, MQDC’s second themed project, aims to become Asia’s largest hub for content creators and a pioneering sustainable project, valued at over 40 billion Thai baht in South Sukhumvit, Bangkok. With a gross floor area of 254,000 square metres, Cloud 11 will showcase a versatile range of facilities, including a creative office and studio space, hybrid retail, smart hotel,…
-
Decapitated dugong washes up on beach in southern Thailand
A decapitated dugong with wounds all over its body washed up on a beach on Koh Sriboya island in Krabi province in southern Thailand yesterday. It’s a tragic event considering that dugongs are protected by Thai law and there are only an estimated 200 of them left in Thailand’s waters. The carcass of a 2-metre-long male dugong weighing no less…
-
Wildlife officials capture photos of rare bird in South Thailand
Thailand has captured another rare and exciting animal on camera less than a week after a similar incident was reported. Wildlife officials in South Thailand’s Nakhon Si Thammarat province have captured photos of a rare bird, the great argus. The officials at Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary captured the images with camera traps, according to the Department of Parks, Wildlife, and Plant…
-
Smoke haze blurs vision in southern Thailand’s Betong district
Southern Thailand’s Betong district, situated in Yala province, is experiencing smoke haze typical at this time of the year, primarily originating from Indonesia, according to local officials. This morning, Betong’s PM10 level, referring to particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less, was recorded at 54 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m3), which is not currently a level hazardous to…
-
Endangered bright orange langur monkey rescued in Thailand
A baby bright orange langur monkey is now safe at a Thai wildlife rescue centre after being found abandoned by his family in the wild in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, southern Thailand. Estimated to be less than one month old, the infant was found lost and all alone in a rubber plantation. He was abandoned after his family were scared…
-
Online app helps monitor health of residents from air pollution
The Ministry of Public Health is launching an application to track the health of citizens in the Na Phra Lan tambon, located in the Chalerm Prakiat district of Saraburi, in response to rising concerns about air pollution and contamination caused by nearby limestone mines and cement manufacturing plants. Rungruang Kitpati, the chairman of the ministry’s Intelligence Unit, acknowledged the impact…
-
Wildfire strikes Thai National Park, sparks regional eco-disaster
A ferocious wildfire has broken out in Khao Tabaek mountain in Nakhon Nayok province, and it’s not backing down. This hungry hellscape has crossed over into Khao Yai National Park, threatening the area’s lush greenery and its resident creatures. Park ranger Chaiya Huayhongthong sent out an SOS to nearby national parks, asking for reinforcements to help 200 rangers and two…
-
Pepsi Thailand introduces bottles made from 100% recycled plastic
Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) will switch to 100% recycled plastic for its 550ml Pepsi bottles, expected to enter the market later this month, under the campaign “Appreciate Fizz: Dare to Change the World.” PepsiCo joined forces with Chulalongkorn University and ENVICCO Co., Ltd. to launch the project, “Pepsi Recycled PET Bottle Campaign.” Pepsi will be the first carbonated drink brand to…
-
Chiang Mai residents sue govt over perpetual air pollution crisis
Residents in Chiang Mai are suing the Government of Thailand for years of neglect in failing to tackle the region’s perpetual air pollution problem. Yesterday, about 1,700 Chiang Mai residents filed a lawsuit in the Administrative Court against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and two state agencies for their failure to address the annual dense smog that blankets the region. The…
-
Efforts doubled to preserve Koh Kradan, the Best Beach of Earth 2023
Koh Kradan took centre stage last week after being voted the “best beach” on earth. Now, Hat Chao Mai National Park made public it is doubling its effort to ensure it stays at the top of the list by preserving the beach and the surrounding area’s ecosystem. Hat Chao Mai National Park chief Prit Narasrit Koh Kradan revealed the marine…
-
WasteShark provides solution for polluted Chao Phraya River in Thailand (video)
A marine environment company in the Netherlands has created WasteShark, a ground-breaking robotic shark that could provide a solution to the serious pollution problem in the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. The device patrols rivers and canals and swallows discarded plastic waste. Invented by Netherlands-based RanMarine, WasteShark is a battery-powered electric catamaran that can travel up to 5 kilometres through water…
-
Chiang Mai tour operators concerned over pollution, bookings down 50%
Tour operators in Chiang Mai raised concerns after the latest tourism figures revealed bookings were down 50% after the popular tourist destination was ranked the world’s most polluted city. But that’s not all, respiratory diseases in the province continue to rise The air quality index produced by Swiss company IQAir revealed that Chiang Mai had a reading of 216 at…
-
Managing blacktip reef sharks in Maya Bay, Thailand
The National Parks Department of Thailand aims to enhance the management of the country’s popular tourist conservation areas following the return of blacktip reef sharks to Maya Bay. Maya Bay was closed for four years, from 2018 to 2022, to facilitate the recovery of the island’s wildlife. The bay’s popularity surged after the release of the 2000 movie The Beach,…
-
UN calls for urgent action on global water resources
A harsh new warning has been issued by the United Nations about the urgency to protect the Earth’s water resources. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for immediate action to safeguard water resources and prevent conflicts. Speaking at a three-day UN conference, Guterres warned that the world is not on track to meet its 2030 water goals, including access to…
-
Phuket beach cleanup removes 100 kilograms of garbage
Thailand is facing a pollution crisis but many people in the kingdom are pitching in to fight the problem. Officials and volunteers cleaned up 100 kilograms of garbage from beaches in Phuket last week, The Phuket News reported yesterday. The cleanup at Mai Khao and Sai Kaew beaches was organised by the Sustainable Mai Khao foundation from March 15 to…
-
Japan voted top sustainable country, Thailand ranked fifth
Japan has been praised by fellow Asian countries for its sustainability and conservation efforts in a new poll with Thailand claiming fifth place, would you believe? Over 13,000 respondents from more than ten countries participated in the Sustainable Impact Survey 2023 conducted by the online travel agency Agoda. The respondents were asked to rank countries based on their sustainability efforts, 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.