Bangkok: Members of Parliament from the People's Party and Democrat Party held a press conference to advocate for a systematic and sustainable approach to addressing the issues of wildfires and PM2.5 air pollution, emphasizing that clean air is a fundamental right of all citizens.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party, alongside Ms. Kardee Leowpairoj from the Democrat Party and members of the Kla Tham Party, announced their commitment to tackling the PM2.5 dust problem. They aim to push for systematic and sustainable solutions to combat forest fires and PM2.5 pollution. Mr. Nattapong highlighted that a resolution was passed during the 6th meeting of the House of Representatives to establish a special committee to monitor the resolution of the PM2.5 dust crisis, particularly in the northern region. He expressed condolences for the loss of life in Phrae province due to a volunteer firefighter's death. Mr. Nattapong noted that volunteers and government agencies in Chiang Mai had planned accordingly, including budget allocation, personnel preparation, protective equipment, and welfare, to prevent such incidents from recurring annually. He emphasized the need for government support to include education and accessible equip ment, such as air filtration systems in communities, to maintain safe levels of particulate matter.
Ms. Kardee Leowpairoj expressed gratitude for the continuous efforts of all parties in pushing this issue forward. She stated that "clean air" should be a fundamental right for all citizens, and the House of Representatives resolved to establish a special committee to monitor the resolution of the PM2.5 problem nationwide. Ms. Kardee emphasized that the Clean Air Act is crucial and should not be repealed or allowed to fail. She called for the government to push it through to the Senate for consideration, listening to opinions from all sectors. The problem should be viewed as a health crisis and a crisis affecting future resource management, requiring continuous implementation rather than being restarted with each change in government. Ms. Kardee highlighted the need for serious study and monitoring, with clear indicators and targets, such as achieving clean air throughout the year in Thailand and appropriate budget allocation. The focus should be on systemic solutions across sectors like industry, agriculture , and energy to address the problem sustainably and prevent future recurrences.