Pollution and waste
Air pollution
Cassava export boom leading to deforestation and poor air in Laos
Farmers are encroaching on national parks and protected forests in Laos, burning and clearing large areas to make room for cassava crops. The demand for cassava has seen it become the most profitable agricultural product in Laos, as demonstrated by the country’s February trade figures: cassava ...
Laotian Times/ANN
Alarm as haze plan 'lacking'
Environment experts and academics are voicing their concern over the authorities’ lack of preparation to deal with the upcoming haze season. They say the government needs to strengthen its pollution control regulations to better mitigate the problem at its source and protect the people’s health. Speaking at ...
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
Bringing Clean Air to 4 Billion People in Asia
As the lives lost to COVID-19 edge closer to 5 million globally, policymakers have demonstrated sharply growing interest in how protecting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and addressing other planetary crises can improve public health. One planetary crisis that benefited temporarily from COVID-19 lockdowns but requires ...
Kaoru Akahoshi and Eric Zusman
Air pollution cuts Hanoian lifespan by 2.5 years: study
Life expectancy among Hanoians is reduced by 2.49 years on average due to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a recent study indicates. “Research on the impact of air pollution caused by PM2.5 dust on public health in Hanoi in 2019” by the Hanoi-based non-profit organization ...
Minh Nga
Thailand’s Chiang Mai Province Ranked 3rd in Worlds Worst Air Quality
Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai was ranked as the third most city in the world with the worst air quality index on Wednesday, with an average PM2.5 dust level higher than 200. Chiang Mai province is once again battling with a critical air quality levels due ...
CTN News
New lung of Bangkok expected to fully ready in Feb 2022
The first phase of redeveloping the Benjakitti Park will be completed by June 2021 to be open for Mother’s Day, deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said. The overall construction plan is expected to be completed by February 2022. The first eight months in phase one are focused ...
Nearly 3K illegal burn sites identified across Kingdom
Illegal burning of rice stubble and land at the periphery of forests continues to occur throughout the Kingdom’s rural areas, especially in the north and northeast regions, according to officials who documented the activities on site. Wong Devorn, a civil servant and history professor, told The ...
Voun Dara
Ceasing fire: Thai sugar farmers struggle to change polluting ways
Thailand is one of the world’s largest sugar producer, turning out about 10 million tons of the sweet stuff each year. But the traditional method of harvesting it is being criticized for polluting the environment. The government wants the industry to modernize, but some farmers ...
Tammarin Dejsupa
Deciphering the Black Box of Air Pollution Data In Thailand
Air pollution has become a serious environmental and health issue in Thailand. The pollution levels in the country follow predictable patterns, which highlight the presence of a peak pollution season. For Bangkok, the highest levels of pollution are seen between November and February each year. The ...
Stefanos Fotiou
PM orders intensifying air quality control measures
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked ministries and People’s Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces to step up the implementation of programmes and tasks to improve air quality control. The move aims to intensify the control of air pollution, ease its impact on people’s health and ...