Thailand Pushes Cross-Border Environment Plan With Myanmar
Thailand and Myanmar are advancing cross-border environmental cooperation to tackle transboundary forest fires, haze pollution, and water contamination affecting both nations. The initiative, presented at a high-level committee meeting in J
On July 4, 2025, Environment Minister Suchath Chomklin ordered the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to coordinate with the Border Affairs Department (BAD) to advance cross-border environmental cooperation at the ninth Thai-Myanmar High Level Committee (HLC) meeting. The effort seeks to strengthen collaboration in preventing and addressing transboundary forest fires, haze pollution, water contamination, and heavy metal problems to improve environmental quality and living standards for both nations' citizens.
Dr. Surin Vorakijthamnrong, PCD Director, revealed that on July 3, the PCD met with the BAD to prepare environmental issues for submission to the HLC-9 meeting. The collaboration focuses on managing transboundary fires, smoke pollution, and water quality in key shared river basins including the Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong, Salween, and Kraburi rivers.
Dr. Surin reported that the PCD and military border affairs have continuously driven cooperation on forest fire and haze prevention. They have supported establishing three war rooms in Myanmar—at Tachilek, Chiang Tung, and Tong Yi—to serve as coordination centers for monitoring, data exchange, and operational alignment. The departments plan to provide air quality monitoring equipment to expand future cooperation.
Regarding transboundary water pollution, the PCD proposes both countries jointly monitor water quality and sediment continuously while sharing data. The PCD will provide technical expertise and water quality monitoring stations in suitable areas to enhance joint basin management systems.
The PCD requested the Border Affairs Department present these issues at HLC-9 to promote concrete bilateral cooperation on preventing, addressing, and monitoring transboundary forest fires, haze, water pollution, and heavy metal contamination. This would lead to sustainable cross-border environmental management and improved environmental quality for both nations' populations.
