Environmental issues won’t solve themselves

The Thai populace has for decades been accustomed to plastic bags, drinking straws and food containers that they could discard after one use with nary a thought to what happened to them next. We now know of the damage being caused as we dispose of millions of tonnes of the stuff on a daily basis. We’re causing a massive accumulation of plastic waste not only on the land but also in our rivers and seas. Only lately have we learned about micro-plastic and nano-plastic waste entering the marine ecosystem, where it causes deadly havoc, choking sea creatures and afflicting the human food chain.
Boosting public awareness via national educational campaigns was the first logical step. Next, the government needs to enact legislation to regulate single-use plastic, especially the types used frequently on a daily basis in the retail and food sectors. The European Union has already enacted landmark legislation to become effective in 2021, banning single-use plastic across all 28 member-nations. The Thai authorities should be studying this in a bid to effectively deal with the issue here.
The worsening air quality in Bangkok and surrounding provinces is another major environmental challenge needing strong political will to resolve. Since December, PM 2.5 – airborne particulates 2.5 microns or less in diameter – has frequently exceeded the safe level of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air in Bangkok, largely due to vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and construction-site dust.
While the air quality will improve beginning in April, the problem 
will return around December. 
And next time it will be worse, given the rising number of vehicles on Bangkok streets. The city already has about 10 million cars, trucks and motorcycles. New vehicle sales, especially those using diesel fuel, will worsen the problem until 
the government implements a 
number of crucial measures.
First, new diesel-fuelled vehicles need to meet Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards as soon as possible, up from the current Euro 4 requirement, which is no longer adequate as far as air quality is concerned. Second, electric motorcycles and electric vehicles have to be promoted by the government with tax incentives to boost affordability. China has already announced its policy to phase out fossil-fuel-driven vehicles by 2040 in favour of 100 per cent electric vehicles. Third, the government is on the right track in speeding up construction of multiple mass-transit lines in Bangkok and its periphery with a target to have a total of 300 kilometres of elevated and underground lines operational in the next decade.
Unless the twin environmental challenges of massive single-use plastic waste and worsening air quality are effectively tackled, the quality of life in Bangkok and nearby provinces will further dip, leading to long-term negative health and economic consequences. In addition, Bangkok will lose appeal as a leading tourist destination, affecting a major source of foreign exchange, which currently contributes to more than 10 per cent of the country’s GDP.