NHSO Concludes National Forum, Announces 8 Proposals to Combat PM2.5

At the Second Thailand National PM2.5 Forum held between January 20-21 at Impact Muang Thong Thani, the Health Promotion Foundation (NHSO) and over 200 partner networks officially concluded the event, summarizing 8 key policy proposals. The forum included a panel discussion with representatives from 7 political parties to support the Clean Air Act, aiming to transform problem-solving from short-term interventions to a comprehensive system-wide approach for sustainable PM2.5 management. Veerasak Kovsurin, Chairman of the Bangkok Breathe Council, stated that the meeting's goal was to 'change systems, connect data, and drive concrete and sustainable clean air initiatives.' The network proposed 8 critical measures including: 1) Shifting from immediate solutions to systemic management, 2) Upgrading data collection and prediction, 3) Creating cross-agency work mechanisms, 4) Decentralizing forest fire and dust management, 5) Reforming agricultural practices, 6) Improving air quality standards, 7) Ensuring transparency and public participation, and 8) Driving cross-border collaboration. 'Thailand cannot wait any longer,' Veerasak emphasized, 'because PM2.5 is claiming lives and undermining the health of future generations. What we lack is not knowledge, but decisive action.' Phadet Laithong, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, acknowledged the proposals, recognizing PM2.5 as a complex structural issue interconnecting natural resources, health, economy, and lifestyle, requiring comprehensive multi-sectoral collaboration. The event also featured the 'Air Novation Pitching Challenge', an innovation competition for sustainable clean air access solutions, with the top prize going to the 'E-Smoke Buster' project.