Civil Society Pressures Parliament to Pass Clean Air Bill; Pimphattra Affirms Government Will Move Forward

At 9:40 a.m. on April 30, 2025 at Parliament, civil society networks focused on clean air submitted a letter to a special committee examining measures to address wildfire problems and PM 2.5 pollution. Pimphattra Vijai, a Pheu Thai Party MP serving as committee chair, received the letter on behalf of the committee.

Civil society representatives expressed deep concern about the situation, which they describe as a societal crisis and structural problem. They worried that the Clean Air Bill draft, pending in parliament, might not be prioritized despite vulnerable groups suffering. "The Clean Air Bill will address structural problems," they stated. "We don't want temporary fixes that cycle back. Multiple committees have been established only to loop endlessly. As representatives of the people, we urge you to support a genuine bill draft, not just a cover with empty content. We won't accept a greenwashed version."

Pimphattra responded that the Clean Air Bill has positive momentum, noting that the Prime Minister has stated clean air is a fundamental right for all citizens. She emphasized the bill has already progressed significantly and doesn't need to restart. She confirmed coordinating with Rawee Parisathananon, coalition coordinator and Ang Thong MP, to ensure the Cabinet returns the bill to parliament on time, urging people to ease their concerns and assure concrete results.

When asked how to address delays if the bill misses the May 12 deadline, Pimphattra denied any bureaucratic passing of the buck, stating the Prime Minister has prioritized this as urgent and she has confirmed with both the coalition coordinator and Cabinet that it will be completed.

Meanwhile, at 9:30 a.m., civil society networks also submitted a letter to opposition party representatives, with Prisan Watcharasinthu, a Democrat Party list MP, receiving it.

Prisan stated the opposition is ready to fully support advancing the stalled Clean Air Bill draft. The process requires two major steps: first, the Cabinet must approve advancing the draft before May 12 (60 days after the first parliamentary session). The opposition will closely monitor the Cabinet's May 5 decision. The opposition has invited Cabinet Secretariat representatives to a parallel meeting that morning. If the Cabinet approves a version they support, they will back it; if not, they will ask for explanations and request revision before May 12.

Prisan added that if the Cabinet approves, the bill moves to a joint parliamentary session requiring 350 votes. With coalition party support, passage is assured. He expressed hope the government will consider the health and lungs of all Thais, as failing to advance the bill would be harmful.