Despite campaign promises to curb air pollution, Thailand’s air quality remains hazardous, with worsening smog affecting public health, tourism and daily life.
Danny Marks reports for Bangkok Post.
In short:
- Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pledged in 2023 to address air pollution but has yet to implement effective measures. Bangkok recently ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, forcing school closures.
- Air pollution causes an estimated 32,000 deaths annually in Thailand, with millions seeking medical treatment for respiratory illnesses. Smog also impacts tourism, discouraging travel to key destinations.
- Other developing countries like Colombia, Mexico and China have successfully reduced pollution through stricter regulations, public transit improvements and incentives for cleaner agricultural practices, offering models for Thailand to follow.
Key quote:
"The onus now falls on Pheu Thai. With success stories abundant elsewhere, the question remains: Will this government take action and fulfil its promise to tackle air pollution?"
— Danny Marks, assistant professor of environmental politics and policy, Dublin City University
Why this matters:
Thailand's struggle with chronic air pollution is taking a severe toll on public health, stretching an already burdened healthcare system and threatening one of the country’s most vital industries: tourism. Each year, the smog that blankets cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai leads to respiratory illnesses, heart disease and premature deaths, with vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly bearing the brunt. Hospitals report spikes in admissions during pollution season, adding stress to an overworked medical workforce. Without decisive action, the costs — both human and economic — will only escalate, leaving Thailand to grapple with a crisis that is both preventable and increasingly dire.
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