On 27th September 2023, Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, met with Dr. Banthun Setthasiroj, the Chairman of the Clean Air Act Driving Committee. Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD), Mr. Surachai Acharaboon, Director General of Department of Forestry, and representatives from Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation at the meeting room on the 20th floor of MONRE. They discussed ways to solved the problem of air pollution, especially particulate matter with diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), in overall discussion that covers environment, health and economic in order to set a systematic and structural solutions. The limitations in public administration, economic problem, poverty and inequality in accessing resources, and problems in governing the free market system were also discussed.
The meeting considered 7 suggestions on the management of PM2.5 which are 1) managing Big Data system to solve PM2.5 problem, 2) establishing coordinated agencies or mechanisms to solve of PM2.5 problem continuously, 3) coordinating and connecting with trial at the ministerial levels and various committees appointed according to the relevant laws, 4) building working system and networks with private and academic sectors, 5) formulating budget to prevent, confront, restore and threat to both in urgent periods such as budget allocation, private investment budget and loans for economic and social development, and acceleration period including integrating budget, 6) improving regulations that obstruct work to mobilizing implementation of PM2.5 in line with maker period and action Plan on particulate matter efficiently and 7) communicating to public in all charnel to enhance understanding and cooperation in solving the problems, reduce information confusion of PM2.5 and adjust or reduce activities that cause PM2.5 pollution.
In addition, they proposed suggestions on sector-specific management approaches based on sources of PM2.5, particularly in agricultural sector for crops which are corn, rice paddies, and sugarcane, transportation and logistics sector and transboundary haze problem. MONRE focuses on areas with the most burning incidents in 2023 (B.E. 2566) to prevent illegal fires from burning in the forest areas. They also support to mobilize Draft Clean Air Act and participation from all sectors. These will raise collaboration among government, private and public sectors to joint in solving PM2.5 for “Win-Win” and “Quick Win” approach which is a long-term goal for sustainable solutions.
