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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Bangkok to adopt Beijing’s air pollution solutions in landmark deal
Bangkok is set to benefit from Beijing’s expertise in tackling air pollution, as the two capitals signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Air Quality Monitoring and Management Cooperation. The agreement, signed via video between the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department, marks a major step in the fight against toxic smog.…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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Going green: Thailand’s solvent solution sparks eco-revolution
As zero-emission vehicles race to the forefront of Thailand’s climate action, it’s not just the cars that are grabbing the green spotlight in the eco-revolution. Behind the scenes, a silent revolution in solvent recycling is powering the country’s eco-commitments while ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable future. In the bustling auto industry of Thailand, an unsung hero is emerging in the…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Black water crisis: Pollution hits Kamala Beach again
Phuket’s paradise image is once again under threat as black wastewater was seen gushing onto Kamala Beach, where unsuspecting tourists and locals swim. Despite repeated promises of urgent action, pollution continues to plague the island’s beaches, raising serious health concerns. Following public outrage, Pollution Control Department (PCD) Director General Preeyaporn Suwannaket ordered an urgent investigation into the foul-smelling wastewater contaminating…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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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…
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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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Thailand’s most polluted areas revealed in air quality report
IQAir released a real-time report on air quality in Thailand highlighting the top 10 areas with the highest levels of PM 2.5 pollution, a fine particulate matter known to affect health. As of 8.49am, today, February 4, these areas were identified as having air quality levels that pose health risks, marked in red for their severity. The list of the…
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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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Experts have their say on govt’s PM2.5 pollution efforts
The Government of Thailand is intensifying efforts to combat PM2.5 pollution due to concerns over its detrimental effects and a desire for cleaner air, a recurring issue at the start of the year. Numerous provinces have been affected by the fine dust since January, leading to measures such as reducing bushfires and haze, offering free public transport in Bangkok, and…
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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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Rare tiger family caught on camera in Kaeng Krachan park (video)
For the first time, a tigress and her three cubs have been recorded roaming Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirming that Thailand’s largest wild cats are successfully breeding in the protected forest. The footage, captured by camera traps deep in the jungle, shows the tigress, identified as KKT-003F, leading her three cubs through the wilderness. Officials estimate the cubs are now…
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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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