Thailand's parliament has revived long-delayed legislation to recognize clean air as a protected public right, a major step in a country where seasonal smog has become an annual health emergency.
Last week, lawmakers voted 611-3 to advance the Clean Air Act, which now goes to the Senate, parliament's upper chamber, for scrutiny before it can be submitted to the prime minister and the king for endorsement.
The Clean Air Bill started life as citizen-initiated legislation, first proposed by a coalition of NGOs in 2019 before being taken up by political parties and previous governments. Seven draft versions were later consolidated into a single bill.
The bill would require major emitters in industry, transport and agriculture to pay fees, fines or compensation for damage caused by pollution. It also seeks to trace supply chains, including agricultural imports, to ensure that products linked to open burning or transboundary haze do not escape scrutiny.
At present, air pollution in Thailand is governed by a patchwork of laws, and the new bill is intended to bring those fragmented rules under a more coordinated national framework, while giving local authorities more power to respond to pollution in their own areas.
