.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Why are face masks selling out in Bangkok? googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1449240174198-2'); }); The weather modification technique involves dispersing chemicals into the air to aid cloud condensation, which should in theory result in rain. Others praised the decision, saying some schools lack air conditioning, or are semi open-air.

Only 0.93 million tonnes (19 per cent) was segregated and recycled, it said. People wearing face masks walk on a bridge in Bangkok's central business district. part may be reproduced without the written permission.

Video, 00:01:46, Beach flag tribute to those killed by coronavirus, The 12 Hong Kong activists captured at sea. We do not guarantee individual replies due to extremely high volume of correspondence.

Click here to sign in with "This can be quite dangerous, and pose health risks.". “Plastic inside another plastic, you lose your mind looking at that habit,” is how a European traveller explained, at the border.

Thailand has similar waste management challenges like India, where there are certain endemic issues that prevent the proper implementation of the solid waste management rules. If you bought an orange, the shopkeeper will invariably hand you the fruit inside a plastic bag and will give you another plastic packet with it. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. “Increased education and social pressure to ‘do the right thing’ may help in changing behaviour. In the report titled ‘Booklet on Thailand State of Pollution 2019’, Bangkok generated 4.85 million tonnes of solid waste, which is 17 per cent of the total waste produced in the country. Video, 00:00:51, C$1m cash seized in 'illegal casino' mansion raid, Beach flag tribute to those killed by coronavirus. Reasons for the persistent smog include combustion exhaust from Bangkok's traffic-strewn roads, the burning of fields from farmers outside the city, and pollutants from factories. Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

Read about our approach to external linking. Photographer: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/via Getty Images.

Video, 00:01:37How bad is air pollution? Thailand’s relationship with plastic, notably single-use, is deep-rooted.

Thailand's capital city is experiencing some of its worst-ever air pollution levels, caused by ultra-fine dust particles known as PM2.5. In Thailand, municipal authorities often spend their energies on other areas such as water and sewage infrastructure, road maintenance, public amenities, and disaster response. Chris believes that people and governments already know that plastic and climate change are mounting problems, but they are easily distracted by the problems of the day. CNN's Karla Cripps and Angus Watson contributed to this report. Thai officials held an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon to work out how to tackle the crisis. “Plastic bags are necessary for office life. A circular economy is the need of the hour. The air was classed as unhealthy in nearby Chiang Rai, where finance ministry officials and central bankers from Southeast Asian nations as well as China, Japan and South Korea will meet from Tuesday through Friday. Thailand pollution crisis: The city where face masks sell out In the past two weeks, schools across Bangkok have had to close due to toxic smog. This means that lower value plastics are less likely to be captured,” said Chris Oesterich, Director at the ASEAN Social Innovation Review and co-founder of the Circular Design Lab that brings design, facilitation, systems thinking, and implementation experience to the table. 47. Related: Fine dust and toxic smog are suffocating these Asian countries, More than 90% of world's children breathe toxic air, report says, as India prepares for most polluted season, Related: How to manage the polluted air you breathe. Enter Bangkok, it’s 2 pm. Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to Science X editors. The sunset is seen during a poor air quality day in Bangkok, Thailand, January 29, 2019. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no I am with Jonathan; not sure what good closing schools does for our children. Thailand is set to deploy rainmaking planes to seed clouds in an effort to tackle the pall of pollution that has shrouded the capital in recent weeks. This also serves as a reminder of the failure of the government and the retail industry to bring the national environmental consciousness in sync with the rest of the world. January 30, 2019 9:02 PM ET. Thailand: Hundreds of schools closed as toxic smog chokes Bangkok More than 400 Bangkok schools closed until Monday to protect children from hazardous air pollution. Some of Thailand’s specific waste management challenges include open-air city-centre dumps and waste burning, a total absence of street litter bins, an impractical waste recycling system, no separate collection of waste by authorities, rampant overuse of plastic grocery bags and the need of financial and technical assistance for implementation of policies. All students were allowed to remain at home except for students preparing for upcoming national tests. Medical Xpress covers all medical research advances and health news, Tech Xplore covers the latest engineering, electronics and technology advances, Science X Network offers the most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web. “It’s not that we don’t know there’s a problem, we know how to segregate our waste, we know how to reuse and recycle. Video, 00:01:55, Dublin 'having someone different' as Lord Mayor.

“Governments around the world have had plenty of notice of the need to deal with these issues. "The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation... expects the rainmaking to be done tomorrow (Tuesday) but it depends on wind and humidity levels," Pralong Dumrongthai, director-general of Thailand's Pollution Control Department, told reporters. — With assistance by Suttinee Yuvejwattana, Stocks Slip, Dollar Climbs on Stimulus Impasse: Markets Wrap, A Biden Win May Be Bad News for Thai and Indonesian Bonds. Video, 00:00:59Hair-raising drive through Delhi smog, China’s robot taxis. It should finally lead to reducing the plastic production rather than increasing the production,” she said. And now my daughter's school AISB, has just closed for Thursday and Friday. © 2020 BBC. We have to figure out how to make our resources cycle in a way that’s broadly beneficial while mitigating our impacts as a whole and restoring the ecosystems we’ve long taken for granted.”. "We have got to do something about this air pollution. The content is provided for information purposes only. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. If the challenges are similar, so will some of the solutions. We need smarter air quality management.". The Bank of Thailand has said it will hand out pollution masks to media covering the event. The move to close schools has prompted a mixed reaction from residents on social media platforms; some argue it would have been better for students to remain indoors at school, pointing out that the closures have forced parents to take time off work to look after children.

There is value in waste, undeniably. I know that if it’s wrapped in a plastic bag, it will be clean and fresh,” said Jittipon, 34, whose consumption habits reflect the challenges facing anti-plastic campaigners in Thailand, where plastic bags are handed out without a second thought on any visit to a shop or market. But Greenpeace Thailand country director Tara Buakamsri slammed the drone operation as a "stunt" in an interview with CNN. Thailand's Ministry of Education has ordered all schools in Bangkok and some surrounding provinces to close for the remainder of the week amid concerns over dangerous levels of air pollution. Virus Stimulu... Companies Facilitating Ransomware Payments Could Face Penalt... New York City Under Pressure; CDC Funds Stalled: Virus Updat... NYC Downgraded as Moody’s Warns of Longer Return to Normal. Video, 00:02:28How healthy is your commute? This document is subject to copyright.

By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy For the 2019 fiscal year, the environmental expenditure budget is Bt10.9 billion, equivalent to only about 0.4% of Thailand's total budget of 3.1 trillion baht. Investors Turn to Asia’s Bonds, Tech Stocks in Hunt for Yiel... Oil Drops in Wake of Stimulus Uncertainty and Virus Fears, Forest and crop fires leave gray haze over north of country, Pollution masks prepared for Asean finance ministers meeting. "[The] first action is to close down all schools in Bangkok and some schools in four to five provinces (near to Bangkok). As Tasty Thailand reported a couple of weeks ago, Bangkok, Thailand has been struggling with air pollution at record levels for the last few weeks. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. “Thailand is known for its “easy-going” culture. The order only affects city-managed public schools; private international schools operating in the capital are not compelled to close.

Video, 00:04:45Avoiding war in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Onions, ironing and 'sex appeal' Video, 00:04:56Onions, ironing and 'sex appeal', C$1m cash seized in 'illegal casino' mansion raid. At least we give [it] a try," Tregalnon said. In recent weeks, municipal workers have sprayed water along the roads and into the air in Bangkok to help clear the smog, while authorities have urged people to stay indoors. Keeping schools open could thus be dangerous for the children. If you eat on the street, it’s ok. The Air Quality Index, AQI, is used by cities to determine levels of air pollution; according to the World Health Organization.