The meeting last week among the leaders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos to address the issue of haze and air pollution is a welcome development. However, it is unlikely the virtual meeting, which the prime minister hosted at Government House, will lead to any immediate or effective solutions.
The public health crises caused by the fine-dust particles PM 2.5 demand urgent action from governments. Thailand, in particular, bears the brunt of the pollution, with its popular tourist destinations of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai located in the affected areas.
The impact of this problem is especially critical for Thailand, as it affects highly populated urban centres. In Laos and Myanmar, it is mainly concentrated in border areas with lower population density, including areas inhabited by ethnic groups such as Shan State in Myanmar. Given these differences, it is difficult to expect equal efforts and dedication from all countries in addressing the issue.
The joint effort to combat transnational haze also lacks clear accountability and enforcement mechanisms. Although the three leaders have expressed support for the initiative, it remains unclear how they will work together effectively and who will be responsible for implementing and monitoring the measures.
For starters, the prime minister asked each country to reduce fire hotspots in its area. Thailand will also discuss the matter further at the Asean summit in Indonesia next month.
The transboundary nature of the haze problem, involving multiple countries and factors such as weather patterns and land use, explains why past initiatives to reduce haze levels have not been successful. They lacked adequate transboundary pollution regulations and economic incentives, and were hampered by limited public awareness and engagement, and insufficient funding.
The joint effort requires a clear action plan and procedures, including the adoption of new legislation and compliance with the existing law.
It is widely accepted that the cause is mainly due to fires, particularly from crop burning by contract farmers and wildfires. However, no information has been released on which companies are responsible for the burning, and no government has ever held these agribusinesses accountable or penalised them for the burning.
Legislation to control air pollution is a crucial starting point for resolving this issue. The proposed "Clean Air Act" in Thailand, which is citizen-driven, aims to make clean air a basic right for all citizens and provides tools to address the underlying causes of this public health crisis.
This rights-based approach establishes the public's right to clean air and obliges the state to protect this right. It also includes economic incentives to encourage major polluters to reduce their emissions.
The bill has been awaiting lawmakers' consideration for about a year, yet no progress has been made. The citizens residing in the affected northern areas are demanding the government declare those regions disaster zones to secure more resources and effective measures to solve the problem but there has been no response.
Although the tripartite meeting between the leaders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos is a positive step, it is not enough. The meeting should not be merely an image-building exercise to deflect public criticism. A genuine concern for the health and lives of their peoples must be shown.
