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.
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Sponsored A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day
The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Chiang Mai pings alarm: River hits record high, flooding fears return
The water level of the Ping River in Chiang Mai reached its highest point last night, breaking previous records and exceeding the severe flooding of 2011. This led to flooding in several areas of the province, including vital economic zones such as the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and Chang Khlan Road. Channel 7 reported today, September 26, that the water…
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Eco-friendly castaway: Phuket hosts 25th ITOP Forum for sustainable island tourism
Phuket proudly hosts the 25th Inter-Islands Tourism Policy (ITOP) Forum, welcoming representatives from island destinations across the globe from September 24 to 27. With over 150 leaders and policymakers from tourism hubs such as Bali (Indonesia), Hainan (China), Jeju Island (South Korea), Okinawa (Japan), and Zanzibar (Tanzania), the event aims to foster collaboration and share strategies for sustainable tourism development…
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Chiang Rai launches ‘Big Cleaning Day’ after flood devastation
Chiang Rai is gearing up for a massive province-wide cleanup on Sunday, September 29, aiming to restore communities battered by recent floods. Dubbed “Big Cleaning Day,” this operation will target public spaces and homes in eight zones across the capital district, with a special focus on vulnerable residents, including the elderly and disabled. But it’s not all smooth sailing. A…
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Pattaya’s million-baht plan to save Koh Larn’s water supply
In a high-stakes bid to protect Koh Larn from future water shortages, a team from Pattaya City inspected the ambitious Haad Samae Beach reservoir renovation on Sunday, September 22. With a whopping 7.5 million baht budget on the line, this project is set to breathe new life into the neglected reservoir, ensuring locals have access to a reliable water supply…
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New alert system to be rolled out for natural disasters in Thailand
The Government of Thailand is set to roll out SMS alerts for natural disasters, ensuring the public is warned of impending danger, Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chanthararuangthong revealed today. Prasert, who also serves as deputy PM, announced that the decision was made during a high-stakes meeting yesterday, September 23, attended by key players such as the Disaster Prevention…
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New land slug species discovered in Thailand
Two newly discovered species of land slugs have been identified in Thailand, prompting further research on their conservation. The Animal Systematics Research Unit at Chulalongkorn University revealed these findings yesterday, September 23. Land slugs, also known as banana slugs in central Thailand, belong to the same group as snails but have lost their shells completely. Locally, they are known by…
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Monsoon leaves Patong Beach littered with trash and plastic waste
Patong Beach has become heavily littered with trash and plastic waste as the southwestern monsoon continues to batter Phuket’s west coast. A large section of the beach was found covered in debris on Sunday afternoon, September 22, highlighting an ongoing environmental issue. A local expatriate, having lived in Phuket for approximately five years, described the situation along the northern part…
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East Pattaya residents fear sinkhole could swallow up their homes
Residents of Soi Wat Boon Samphan in East Pattaya are living in fear as a massive sinkhole threatens to swallow their homes. Locals of Soi Wat Boon Samphan 11, which connects to Soi Wat Boon Samphan 9, raised the alarm over severe erosion that has ravaged the road behind their village, fearing the worst is yet to come. A visit…
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Rail-y bad landslide derails Lampang-Chiang Mai train services
Travel chaos struck the northern rail line today as the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced an indefinite shutdown of services between Lampang and Chiang Mai due to a devastating landslide and severe flooding. The dramatic incident unfolded last night, wreaking havoc on the track between Mae Tan Noi Railway Station in Lampang and Tha Chompoo in Lamphun. The rail…
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Koh Loi residents face severe rubbish and mud post-flood crisis
Residents of Koh Loi in Chiang Rai are grappling with overwhelming amounts of rubbish and mud following severe flooding. The floodwaters from the Kok River, which surged on September 11, have left the community struggling to clean up, with waste accumulating and emitting foul odours. Flooding has severely impacted the Koh Loi and Thoet Phra Kiat communities, causing significant damage…
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Brakes off: Bangkok’s car free day lets tourists cruise sans traffic
Bangkok is revving up for Car Free Day this weekend on Banthat Thong Road, offering a vehicle-free zone for tourists to cruise around and soak up various activities. The event, dubbed Bangkok Car Free 2024: Connecting for Life, aligns with the annual World Car Free Day on September 22, according to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Aekvarunyoo Amrapala. In a…
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Phuket: Lifeguards rush to save turtle washed ashore in Thalang
Lifeguards at Bang Tao Beach in Thalang district, Phuket, faced an unexpected rescue mission this morning when a 30-kilogramme sea turtle, too weak to swim, was found washed ashore. The beach patrol team, led by Wirun Chuea-saman, head of the Surin-Bang Tao Beach lifeguards, quickly sprang into action. “We spotted the turtle during our routine patrol. It wasn’t injured but…
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Waste not, want not: Thailand tightens reins on dirty paper imports
Thailand’s Foreign Trade Department is cracking down on dirty deals—literally. Stricter import controls on waste paper are in the works to safeguard public health and protect the environment. Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Foreign Trade Department Director-General, dropped the bombshell. The Commerce Ministry has been inundated with reports all year from concerned entrepreneurs. These tip-offs revealed that imported waste paper is ending up…
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Flooding in Thailand reduced to 13 provinces, 45 dead, 24 injured
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) initially reported that 30 provinces experienced flooding but it has now reduced to 13 provinces. Some 45 people have died, and 24 sustained injuries. Efforts are ongoing to assist those affected and alleviate public distress. The floods, which occurred between August 16 and yesterday, impacted 30 provinces including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai,…
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Thailand allocates 3.04 billion baht for flood relief
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a request from the Ministry of Interior to allocate 3.04 billion baht (US$91 million) from the central budget to assist flood victims across the country. This decision, taken at the new Cabinet’s first weekly meeting, will provide financial relief to approximately 338,391 households affected by flooding since May, according to ministry spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The financial…
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Satun province faces severe flooding amid heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in four districts of Satun province, affecting eight subdistricts and 26 villages. The continuous downpour led officials to establish boats in flood-prone areas and mobilise resources for 24-hour monitoring and assistance. Heavy rain has been battering Satun province since yesterday, September 16, resulting in significant flooding in the districts of Khuan Don, Mueang Satun, Tha…
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Severe storm hits Phatthalung, leaving homes roofless
A severe storm hit Phatthalung, causing significant damage to homes and property. Strong winds, referred to as a Lom Hua Duan by locals, and heavy rain devastated the area, leaving at least 14 homes roofless and five homes completely destroyed. Yesterday evening, strong gusts of wind combined with heavy rainfall struck the Khuan Sawaeng village in Khok Sai subdistrict, Pa…
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Ubon Ratchathani prepares for Mekong River flood threat
Ubon Ratchathani’s governor has instructed all relevant departments to prepare for the imminent overflow of the Mekong River and its tributaries, expected to inundate five districts in four days. Today, September 16, Suphasit Kochareonyot, Ubon Ratchathani governor, along with disaster prevention and mitigation officials, inspected the Khong Chiam district, where the Mekong River converges with the Mun River. The Mekong…
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Urgent steps needed for mud removal in post-flood Chiang Rai
Combating post-flood mud in Chiang Rai requires urgency and efficiency, with recommendations to act before the mud hardens. Sombat Boonngamanong of the Mirror Foundation shared ten practical steps for cleaning homes after flooding, focusing on effective mud removal. Floodwaters have receded in Chiang Rai, leaving behind layers of mud that have even reached rooftops in some areas. The first task…
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WHAUP to invest 2.3bn baht in renewable energy projects
WHA Utilities and Power (WHAUP), a subsidiary of Thailand’s largest industrial land developer WHA Corp, is set to invest 2.3 billion baht to bolster its operations and meet the rising demand for water and renewable energy in Thailand and Vietnam. A significant portion of this budget will be directed towards expanding renewable energy, aiming to achieve an electricity generation capacity…
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Mekong your way to better flood control: Experts call for joint effort
The International Rivers Network issued a stark warning, calling on the government to urgently team up with neighbouring nations to manage the Mekong River more effectively. The aim? To cut economic losses and save lives when future floods hit. Pianporn Deetes, the Campaign Director for the Southeast Asia Programme at the International Rivers Network, revealed that recent devastating floods in…
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Singha Park aids Chiang Rai flood victims with central kitchen
Singha Park Chiang Rai has set up a central kitchen to aid flood victims by providing drinking water, cooked food, and ready-to-eat meals in response to the severe flooding in various areas of Chiang Rai. The flooding has particularly affected the Mueang district, where the Kok River has overflowed, submerging homes and causing widespread damage. In the Mae Sai district,…
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Chiang Rai hotel offers free rooms to flood victims
Silamanee Resort & Spa Hotel in Chiang Rai is offering free accommodation to flood victims. The ongoing flood situation in Mae Sai and Mueang districts has worsened, with continuous water inflow causing severe hardship for many residents, who are desperately awaiting assistance. Hotel Silamanee’s Facebook page recently posted an update. “Due to the flood situation in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai,…
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Boy stranded in Chiang Rai floodwaters prompts urgent rescue plea
A plea for urgent help emerged as an eight year old boy found himself stranded behind an apartment building in rising floodwaters in Chiang Rai. His aunt posted a distress call on social media, requesting immediate assistance as they had lost contact with the boy and feared for his safety. Yesterday, September 11, a reporter highlighted the severe flooding situation…
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Mae Sot floods: Three days of rain cause severe damage
Heavy rainfall has pounded Mae Sot for three consecutive days and nights, causing the Moei River to overflow and flood homes, submerging entire cars. Landslides have also blocked the Mae Sot-Tak highway, exacerbating the situation further. Continuous rainfall for three days and nights has wreaked havoc in Tak province’s five border districts, leading to flash floods pouring into the Moei…
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Royal push for sustainable farming in East Pattaya
The Phueng Luang Asawin Foundation has unveiled an ambitious plan to turn hundreds of rai in Huay Yai, East Pattaya, into a sustainable agricultural powerhouse. Locals packed a community forum on Sunday, September 8 to hear the exciting details of a project that promises to revolutionise their livelihoods. The foundation, established by Mom Chao Pansawali Kitiyakara, mother of Her Royal…
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Rayong sets example in eco-industrial urban development
Thailand’s Department of Climate Change and Environmental Affairs (DCCE) highlighted Rayong as a model for eco-industrial urban development, improving the environment and quality of life as the world faces climate challenges. DCCE Director-General Pirun Saiyasitpanich noted the environmental issues in Thailand stem from human actions, including excessive resource use, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to a global crisis. Addressing…
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SkyHydrant system brings clean water to Chiang Rai
In the wake of devastating floods, a rural Thai school has been thrown a lifeline—clean drinking water. Disaster Aid Thailand and Disaster Aid Australia, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Chiang Khong, installed a SkyHydrant water filtration system at Pang Hat Sahasat School, Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province on September 5 and 6. The installation couldn’t have come…
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Flood turns Sukhothai village into lake, isolates residents
A flood has turned Ban Nong Non village in Sukhothai province into a vast lake, with residents relying on boats for transportation. The floodwaters have impacted over 12,000 rai of land for the past two weeks, isolating the village. Ban Nong Non village in Sukhothai province remains submerged under floodwaters, creating a lake-like appearance that has attracted visitors from nearby…
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Koh Kong residents face prolonged flooding until Loy Krathong
Residents of Koh Kong, Sukhothai, have been struggling with persistent floods since August, with concerns that the situation might extend until the Loy Krathong festival in November. Locals reveal that annual flooding is a recurring issue they have faced for as long as they can remember. Today, September 9, a report highlighted that the water levels in the Yom River,…
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