Ms. Preeyaporn Suwanaged, Director General of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), revealed that the situation regarding haze, forest fires, and particulate matter in Thailand’s upper northern provinces has been continuously increasing. Satellite imagery data indicates an increasing trend in hotspot occurrences due to burning activities both in Thailand and neighboring countries. Dr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, has assigned PCD to coordinate with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) to discuss solutions for addressing hotspots and transboundary haze pollution.

Ms. Preeyaporn mentioned that PCD held a virtual meeting with Dr. San Oo, Deputy Director General of Environmental Conservation Department of Myanmar, Mr. Lienxay Bounmavivanh, Director General of the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Research of Lao PDR, representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant agencies on February 19. Myanmar and Lao PDR outlined the measures they would implement, including stricter law enforcement, raising public awareness, promoting community participation in preventing and resolving forest fires and open burning, as well as increasing patrols and fire surveillance. Notably, the number of hotspots in Myanmar has decreased in 2025 compared to 2024, whereas Thailand and Lao PDR have seen a slight increase. The three countries agreed to enhance their efforts to prevent and control forest and agricultural fires, as well as to manage the transboundary haze pollution. On the afternoon of February 19, 2025, Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened a meeting with relevant agencies at Government House to monitor progress in tackling PM_2.5. She emphasized the urgent need to address forest fires and control hotspot occurrences.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Joint Action Plan to prevent and mitigate transboundary haze pollution under the “Clear Sky Strategy” (2024-2030). Key initiatives discussed included controlling and extinguishing fires caused by burning, forecasting and monitoring haze situations, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, enforcing national laws on transboundary haze management, and establishing a hotline between the Director Generals of PCD of Thailand, Myanmar, and Lao PDR to ensure swift coordination in addressing transboundary haze pollution. During the meeting, the three countries agreed to establish a joint working group to follow up on the implementation of the Joint Action Plan under the “Clear Sky Strategy” (2024-2030). Thailand will host the next discussion within the next 1-2 months, Ms. Preeyaporn said.