Thailand and Laos Sign Environmental Cooperation Agreement
Thailand and Laos signed an environmental cooperation agreement to jointly tackle forest fires, transboundary haze, and air pollution, with Thailand providing wildfire prevention equipment and expertise ahead of the upcoming haze season.
On September 8, 2025, Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin welcomed Laotian Agriculture and Environment Minister Linkham Douangsavanh and delegation on an official visit to discuss bilateral cooperation and sign a Memorandum of Understanding on natural resources and environmental collaboration. This marked the first visit by Laos's environment minister following the restructuring of Laos's environmental agencies.
Chomklin, acting on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's directive, said the focus is to tackle forest fires, transboundary haze, and PM2.5 pollution through concrete results, emphasizing prevention, monitoring, and addressing root causes. The MOU, approved by Thailand's cabinet on August 25, 2025, aims to promote academic and environmental management cooperation on equal and mutually beneficial terms, covering air, water, and soil pollution control, wetland conservation, climate change adaptation, disaster management, remote sensing technology, and capacity building.
Chomklin described the MOU as a critical step from policy framework to implementation, noting these environmental challenges cannot be solved by one country alone. Thailand will work closely with Laos to address root causes and improve air quality for both nations' citizens.
Beyond the MOU signing, Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Ministry handed over equipment to support wildfire and haze prevention, including automatic air quality monitoring devices and portable blowers for firefighting operations, enhancing Laotian officials' capacity to monitor air quality and respond to wildfires.
This support is part of the "CLEAR Sky Strategy," with Thailand ready to exchange wildfire management knowledge and experience, including the royal rainmaking project for reforesting remote mountainous areas. Thailand will also dispatch wildfire management specialists to train Laotian counterparts before the approaching haze season in 2025.
From September 9-11, 2025, officials from Thailand's Pollution Control Department and Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will guide the Laotian delegation to study Thailand's wildfire, haze, and PM2.5 management practices.
