Preface
The Thailand Environment Monitor series tracks key environmental trends in the country. Its aim is to engage and inform stakeholders on key environmental changes and challenges as they occur. The 2000 Monitor benchmarked general environmental indicators, while the 2001 Monitor focused on water quality. This year, the Monitor concentrates on air quality.
Vehicles, power plants, factories, forest fires, agricultural burning and open cooking all contribute to air pollution in Thailand. While air pollution certainly has regional and global implications, its most severe impacts are felt by people living in cities, where concentrations are higher. Air quality monitoring measures the principal pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. Much of the air quality monitoring information used in this document is drawn from the Pollution Control Department’s monitoring network.
Economic and other activities in and around transport corridors result in a high incidence of pollution-related health problems in Thailand’s cities. Several studies demonstrating the ill effects of air pollution on human health in Thailand have served as an important wake-up call. A decade ago, the health costs of exposure to lead, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide in Bangkok were estimated to be equivalent to between 8 and 10 percent of urban annual income.
The many commendable initiatives taken by the country include: enacting the environmental law in 1992; completing the phase-out of leaded gasoline by 1995; improving fuel quality and engine specification; curbing pollution from power plants; moving enterprises to cleaner production practices; tightening construction standards; improving public transport; and substantially reducing the use of ozone depleting substances. As a result of the improvements in air quality, air pollution costsÂ
to the national economy are now estimated to be equivalent to 1.6 percent of the GDP, down from 2.6 percent five years ago.On the global level, Thailand has demonstrated its commitment by ratifying the Kyoto and Montreal Protocols, among other conventions.
The Constitution of 1997 provides opportunities for civil society and the private sector to play an expanded role in environmental protection, including air quality management. Government agencies should harness this additional capacity while improving coordination among themselves. A multi-stakeholder partnership approach would benefit Thailand as it begins tackling the next set of challenges in attaining bluer skies.
The 2002 Environment Monitor comprises seven sections. The first two sections after the summary deal with the sources of pollution, and the monitoring of air quality. The third section describes the trends for different pollutants. The fourth section estimates health and non-health impacts of air pollution along with the public perception, while the fifth section deals with various policy responses taken to address air quality issues. The sixth section focuses on environmental management (legislation, institutions, and budget) pertaining to air quality management. The final section presents the main air quality challenges.
This Monitor is the outcome of a joint exercise. The Pollution Control Department provided data, reviewed the analysis, and coordinated inter-agency cooperation. The United States-Asia Environment Partnership supported the public perception survey undertaken by the Thai Society of Environmental Journalists. The World Bank team was responsible for analysis, report writing, and quality assurance. In addition, several national agencies, academics, civil society, and researchers participated in preparation of the Monitor. The information contained herein has been compiled from a variety of sources, including published and unpublished data and reports of Government agencies, universities, nongovernmental organizations, individuals, the World Bank, and international partners. Back to top |
 
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