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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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…
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Eight Thai provinces face unsafe ultrafine dust levels
Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported this morning that eight out of 77 provinces were experiencing slightly unsafe levels of ultrafine dust pollution. These provinces, predominantly located in the north, recorded orange levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, ranging from 38.3 to 48.6 microgrammes per cubic metre over a 24-hour…
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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,…
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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…
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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,…
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Trunk road surprise: Prachin Buri motorists have elephant-sized scare
Motorists in Prachin Buri province experienced a heart-stopping moment when two wild elephants wandered onto a public road, narrowly avoiding a collision with passing vehicles. The dramatic incident has reignited concerns over human-wildlife conflict in the region. The elephants, which had strayed from Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, were spotted near Ban Hua Sa School in Si Maha Phot…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Back in the driver’s seat: Rewat plans to steer Phuket forward
Fresh off his re-election victory, Rewat Areerob is revving up to tackle the challenges facing Phuket as the newly-affirmed president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO). Triumphing with a commanding 86,616 votes, Rewat of the Phuket Yat Dai Party left his nearest rival, Lersak Leenanitikul of the Prachachon Party, trailing in the dust with 44,602 votes. Not content with…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Bangkok campaign targets rice field burning to combat air pollution
Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has announced a campaign to eliminate burning in rice fields to tackle air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The initiative, launched yesterday in Nong Chok district, aims to address the issue across 80,000 rai of rice paddies and 4,000 farming households in 10 districts, including Nong Chok, Khlong Sam Wa, and Lat Krabang. Over…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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3 poachers caught with wildlife carcasses in Kanchanaburi
Three Karen poachers were apprehended in the Thong Pha Phum National Park in Kanchanaburi province following a tip-off from a concerned citizen. The suspects were caught with homemade firearms and numerous wildlife carcasses. Yutthaphong Damsrisuk, the head of Thong Pha Phum National Park, reported that Chalermchai Sri-on, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, along with senior officials, have implemented…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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New haze directives to combat deadly pollution in Thailand
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will provide additional directives at a Cabinet meeting today to address the ongoing haze issue, according to government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. The meeting will prioritise PM2.5 pollution, following the prime minister’s return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, over the weekend. She emphasised that the worsening pollution crisis extends beyond national boundaries. The 38…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Thap Lan Park burns 600 rai of forest to lure elephants back
The Thap Lan National Park has set fire to 600 rai of forest to encourage new grass growth, aiming to increase food sources for wild elephants and draw them back into their natural habitat. Head of Thap Lan National Park Prawit Chanthatep informed reporters yesterday that Yosawat Thiansawat, Director of the Conservation Area Management Office 1 (Prachin Buri), along with…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Rising PM2.5 pollution forces Bangkok schools to close
Schools throughout the capital city were compelled to close due to rising PM2.5 pollutant levels reaching unhealthy thresholds yesterday, January 20. Nong Khaem district experienced particularly high concentrations, measuring 77.8 microgrammes per cubic metre at 12.30pm, significantly surpassing the Pollution Control Department’s 24-hour safe exposure limit of 37.5µg/m³. Consequently, two schools in the district were instructed to close, as stated…
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