Bangkok\u2013 Greenpeace activists today presented an hourglass filled with dust from areas in Bangkok and other provinces most affected by the severe air pollution to a representative of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha at the Office of the Civil Service Commission.<\/p>\n
According to activists, the hourglass symbolizes calls on the government to urgently tackle the air\u00a0pollution crisis caused by fine particulates less than 2.5 micron (PM2.5) from transportation, open\u00a0burning, electricity generation and manufacturing. They also submitted an open letter to the\u00a0government [1].<\/p>\n
\u201cBangkok cannot continue choking on hazardous air. It endangers the lives of people, affects economic productivity and negatively impacts the prestige of one of the most popular cities on\u00a0earth,\u201d said Tara Buakamsri, Thailand Country Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. \u201cThe Prime\u00a0Minister, who is also the chairperson of the National Environment board, should order the Pollution\u00a0Control Department to upgrade the country\u2019s air quality index and immediately implement proper\u00a0air-quality warning systems to protect people\u2019s health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since 2015, Greenpeace compiled a ranking for PM2.5 in Thailand, which consistently indicated\u00a0that air quality in urban areas have deteriorated over the years. Bangkok and urban areas showed\u00a0elevated levels of PM2.5, exceeding the safety limits set by Thailand and the World Health\u00a0Organization. It also one of the key sustainable development goals where Thailand has failed, nor\u00a0is there a target to cope with the current crisis. [2]<\/p>\n
Bangkok has suffered the worst air pollution in its history, of 52 days between 1st January 2018 to\u00a021 February 2018, there were 40 days in which the level of PM2.5 exceeding the World Health\u00a0Organization\u2019s 24-hour safety limits in some areas. [3]<\/p>\n
In the open letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o- cha, Greenpeace emphasized that in order for\u00a0the government to reach its 20-year vision of \u201cSafe Air for All\u201d it needs to:<\/p>\n
Notes to editors:<\/strong><\/p>\n [1] Open letter to the government<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.greenpeace.or.th\/UPP\/Air- [2] http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/seasia\/th\/campaigns\/Urban-Revolution\/Air- Pollution\/Right- [3] https:\/\/www.greenpeace.or.th\/UPP\/Air-Pollution\/PM2.5- and-day- that-exceed- [4] According to State of Global Air https:\/\/www.stateofglobalair.org\/data in 2016 PM2.5 [5] Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to sign the Minamata Convention on For more information:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tara Buakamsri, Thailand Country Director, Greenpeace Southeast Asia
\nPollution\/Letter-to- PM-Prayuth- PM2.5.pdf<\/p>\n
\nTo-Clean- Air\/City-ranking\/<\/p>\n
\nstandard.pdf<\/p>\n
\ncaused 37,500 premature deaths in Thailand. Coal plants in Thailand cause an
\nestimated 1,550 premature deaths every year according to new research by Harvard
\nUniversity and Greenpeace Southeast Asia. That number could climb to 5,300 a year if
\nplans to expand electricity production by building new coal-fired plants go ahead.<\/p>\n
\nmercury. The convention declares that \u201cmercury is a global chemical concern because
\nit can be transported far into atmosphere. Mercury has the ability to accumulate in the
\necosystem and have a significant negative effect on human health and the
\nenvironment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nTel.: 089 476 9977 Email.: tara.buakamsri@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n