Bangkok suffocates in smog
Air pollution in the Thai metropolis of Bangkok is alarming. According to IQAir, a company specialising in international air quality monitoring, particulate matter levels are currently 15 times higher than recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This makes Bangkok one of the ten most polluted cities in the world.
The causes of the extreme smog are manifold: industrial and traffic emissions are just as much a part of it as the seasonal agricultural fires in which farmers burn the stubble fields. The annually recurring problem is exacerbated by the dry weather and an inversion weather situation over the region, which makes air exchange more difficult and leads to dense smog.
The consequences of this intense air pollution are serious and can already be felt: at least two million people in Thailand required medical treatment due to air pollution in 2023. The prolonged periods of high air pollution have also led to school closures and other disruptions in recent years.
The Thai government is under pressure to do something about this serious situation. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who took office in August last year, promised to put the fight against air pollution on his agenda. In January, a draft law on air pollution control passed the cabinet and a Thai court ordered the government to submit a plan for air pollution control within 90 days.
In addition to legal measures, structural changes are also necessary in a city like Bangkok. Public transport is not yet sufficiently developed and is often unaffordable for low-income earners. The city's tall skyscrapers make air exchange difficult and exhaust fumes from cars and motorbikes contribute significantly to air pollution.
Air pollution in Bangkok is not only a health problem, but increasingly also a political issue. The middle class is becoming increasingly dissatisfied and noisy. According to Prime Minister Thavisin, measures such as a temporary construction freeze and a restriction on diesel vehicles in the city centre could be the next steps.
Particulate matter and air pollution are currently a major issue worldwide. It is not only in Bangkok that particulate matter levels are far above the WHO limits. China and Italy also have high exceedances. Short-term measures such as those in Italy are helpful, but will not be enough to improve air quality.