H.E. Mr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, has assigned Ms. Preeyaporn Suwanaged, Director General of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), to be a leader of the Thai delegation at the Thirteenth Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution in the Mekong Subregion (13^th MSC Mekong). The meeting, held on December 4, 2024, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, brought together representatives from (1) the Pollution Control Department, (2) the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, (3) the Royal Forest Department, (4) Division of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and (5) the Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting also included participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, and ASEAN Secretariat, along with experts from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre.

Ms. Preeyaporn revealed that the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre reported the total number of hot spots in the Greater Mekong Subregion for 2024, which decreased by approximately 12.5% compared to 2023. The center forecasted that neutral and La Niña conditions would occur in a short period between December 2024 and March 2025, resulting in normal to above-normal rainfall during this period. However, the dry season from February to April is expected to still lead to drought issues, so caution must be taken regarding the potential for severe haze during this time.

Ms. Preeyaporn stated that, in considering the target for reducing hot spots in the Greater Mekong Subregion under the Chiang Rai 2017 Plan of Action, Thailand proposed setting a target to further reduce hot spots for the period 2026-2030 in line with the second ASEAN Roadmap for a Haze-Free ASEAN, which aims for a haze-free ASEAN by 2030. The meeting agreed to extend the annual hot spot reduction targets until 2030, and will consider the specific annual target numbers as a collective goal for preventing and resolving haze issues in the Greater Mekong Subregion. These targets will be finalized during the 14th MSC Mekong meeting, which will be held in Lao PDR in 2025.

Thailand continues to support air pollution management efforts with member countries and is committed to enhancing cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion and neighboring countries for effective problem-solving. This will be achieved through the Chiang Rai Plan of Action at the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Joint Action Plan to prevent and resolve transboundary haze issues under the CLEAR Sky Strategy (2024-2030) for Thailand, Lao PDR, and Myanmar. These will serve as key mechanisms to drive progress for the better quality of life of the people in the Greater Mekong Subregion, Ms. Preeyaporn said.