Transcription
I don't know if the rich can't bear it, but Thai people can't bear to be covered in dust anymore. Hey, and where has the Clean Air Act gotten to? What's holding it up? Why might it not proceed?
Right now, PM 2.5 dust in the North is severe, especially in Chiang Mai. And this is the air that Chiang Mai people use to breathe. It's ranked among the most polluted cities in the world every year when the dust season arrives. People in the area have to solve problems on the ground, both wildfire problems and dust problems. They place their hopes on the Clean Air Act, hoping that at least this will solve the dust problem once and for all, so they don't have to wait to solve problems when the dust arrives like this.
Where has the Clean Air Act gotten to? The latest draft of the Clean Air Act is currently under consideration by the Senate. However, the parliament was dissolved before it could be considered. According to the law, all draft bills that were being considered were rejected. This means that if the Clean Air Act is to proceed, the new cabinet will have to ask the parliament to reconsider the original draft within 60 days from the date of the first parliamentary session, which is March 14, 2026. This means that if it goes beyond 60 days, or after May 13, 2026, this draft bill will be permanently rejected, and we will have to start all over again, which might take another 1-2 years.
However, many parties are now concerned that the government might not bring back the original draft for consideration. This is because, most recently, Mr. Suphachai Jaismut, a Member of Parliament from the Bhumjaithai Party, debated in parliament on April 1st, stating that the draft Clean Air Act should not proceed because there are many aspects that need to be reviewed, such as duplication with several laws, the establishment of an unnecessary committee, excessive power for officials, and unclear mechanisms. And here's the highlight: Mr. Suphachai said it also creates a cost burden for businesses, such as clean air fees, at a time when the world is like this.
In reality, there have been signs that this draft would not proceed even before the election. This is because the private sector, such as the Thai Chamber of Commerce, had previously objected, saying it would drive away foreign investors. As for SMEs, they would have to bear enormous cost burdens. The Clean Air Network says there is now a tendency that it might be replaced by a draft that lacks a clean air fund, lacks a new management structure, and might not address the root cause of the problem seriously.
So, we have to count down the 60 days and wait to see if this cabinet will proceed with the original draft or start anew amidst the PM 2.5 dust crisis.