Bangkok, May 8 (AseanAll)  — On 7 April 2023,  General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, hosted a trilateral consultation on transboundary haze pollution via videoconference with Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Prime Minister of Myanmar.

Photo source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand，the meeting took note of the overall situation of the transboundary haze pollution in the region and exchanged information and experiences on addressing transboundary haze pollution. 

Photo source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

The meeting also discussed constructive and concrete approaches to tackle this common problem.

At the meeting, Thai Prime Minister Prayut proposed the ‘CLEAR Sky Strategy’ to effectively address transboundary haze pollution as follows:

Photo source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

1. C – ‘Continued commitment,’ to working closely towards the goal of reducing hotspots, as charted in the Chiang Rai Plan of Action adopted by five countries in the Mekong sub-region in 2017;

2. L – ‘Leveraging Mechanisms,’ all countries should leverage relevant mechanisms at all levels. Thailand will promote cooperation on transboundary haze pollution through relevant bilateral mechanisms at local levels with Lao PDR and Myanmar. Thailand will also raise the transboundary haze pollution issue for discussion at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia this May;

3. E – ‘Experience Sharing,’ Thailand supports efforts to exchange information and experience, as well as the legal undertakings by each country to control and contain sources of transboundary haze pollution;

4. A – ‘Air Quality Network,’ Thailand advocates for increased and concerted cooperation among air quality networks of countries in the sub-region; and

5. R – Effective ‘Response,’ Senior Officials of the three countries responsible for transboundary haze pollution will meet via video conference in the afternoon to build on the outcome of their leaders’ meeting in the morning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand initiated this trilateral consultation to create a platform for the three leaders to discuss ways forward in addressing the transboundary haze pollution issue more effectively in a concerted manner. This pressing issue had affected the health and well-being of the peoples among the three countries, and necessitated immediate action and cooperation to find solutions. 

Photo source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

Later in the afternoon, Jatuporn Buruspat, Thai Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment,  hosted a senior officials’ trilateral meeting with the three countries to discuss implementation of the policy direction given by the Leaders.