On 12th January 2022, the online meeting on bilateral cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar was co-chaired by Mr. Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD) and Dr. San Oo, Deputy Director General of Environmental Conservation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar. The objectives of the meeting were exchanging experience and providing knowledge on monitoring and managing air quality to officers from the Environmental Conservation Department and environmental officers of Shan State of Myanmar.
Mr. Athapol revealed that transboundary haze problem emerges annually in the areas of Northern Thailand during February to April. The main reasons are from open burning in the forest area and agricultural area in Thailand and neighboring countries. To solve this problem, PCD, Thailand International Cooperation Agency: TICA, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar, organized the meeting to exchange experiences and possible knowledges on monitoring and managing air quality under the Myanmar Air Quality Management Promotion Project to address the solution of air pollution issue caused by particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5) which emphasis at Shan State of Myanmar. Thailand will support PM2.5 measurement to monitor air quality and technical information to perform air quality management in that areas in order to prevent and solve the transboundary haze problem in the future.
Mr. Athapol said that in the past, PCD has provided technical training to officer of Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar to enhance the capabilities on air quality management, and also support air quality measurement to the neighboring countries. This activities have promoted the cooperation between Thailand and neighboring countries to protect and solve transboundary haze problem in the Mekong Sub-region. In this regard, Thailand is ready to cooperate with all countries to solve transboundary haze problem that occurs every year.
