On 20 May 2021, Mr. Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD), head of the Thai delegation, attended the virtue meeting with head of delegation from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and the ASEAN Secretariat to summarize the situation and results of the operations in solving transboundary haze problem in the Mekong Subregion during January to May this year.

Mr. Athapol said that Thailand, by PCD, coordinated the ASEAN Secretariat to hold the ad-hoc meeting to discuss significant agenda after the end season of haze situation in the Mekong Subregion via virtue meeting. Thailand thanked to neighboring countries for their collaboration in solving transboundary haze problem in this year. Consequently, the situation has been well done, particularly, the total number of hot spots  in the Mekong sub-region has been lower than last year. At the meeting, member states presented the previous situation of haze and forest fires including various operational measures to control the situation. Thailand also presented After Action Review (AAR) to show lesson learned and emphasize neighboring countries to develop AAR after the end of transboundary haze prevention and solution period. This will make more arrangement and preparation for the situation next year.

Thailand also invited neighboring countries to focus on problem management through landuse reformation in order to reduce the transboundary haze problem that will occur next year, especially plantations, including crops that use fire in land preparation in which may increase open burning and make more serious situations next year. Thus, Thailand requested all parties to cooperate to prevent and solve haze problem in the region. In this regard, all countries are ready to cooperate closely in monitoring the situation and accelerate the measures implementation to solve the problems both at the national and regional levels in order to lead to sustainable prevention and solution, Mr. Athapol said.

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