MNRE’s Permanent Secretary Responds to PM’s Directive for Immediate Action Plan Against PM2.5 Pollution

On October 30, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), chaired a meeting to strategize on tackling forest fires, haze, and particulate pollution for 2025 in response to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s recent cabinet directive. The PM assigned MNRE to coordinate with relevant agencies to urgently address the PM2.5 issue, especially as winter approaches. The meeting included high-level MNRE officials, the Pollution Control Department Director, National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Director, and Royal Forest Department representatives, held in the MNRE conference room. They discussed practical measures approved by the National Environment Board (NEB) on October 16, 2024, as guidelines for all involved agencies.

Mr. Jatuporn instructed the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to draft a comprehensive action plan for 2025 to implement clear and actionable solutions effectively, addressing forest fires, haze issues, and particulate pollution. Key measures include promoting work-from-home initiatives, establishing clean rooms in flood-affected areas, achieving 100% no-burn cane farming, and agricultural management. He clearly designated responsible agencies for each measure and monitored the establishment of national, inter-provincial, and provincial committees to manage forest, agricultural, and urban areas. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will lead forest management efforts, coordinating with the Royal Forest Department and leveraging MNRE air resources for rapid response in case of forest fires. In addition, the Royal Forest Department will strictly oversee fire prevention in designated land reform and community forest areas. The DNP, RFD, and PCD were also tasked with drafting a central budget proposal for government approval to ensure prompt response to the situation. Details of the final action plan will be presented to Minister Chalermchai Sri-on as directives for regional agencies, who will meet in Chiang Mai on November 8, 2024, to discuss forest fire prevention. The plan will then be submitted to the NEB and the Prime Minister for further action.