Laos, Thailand and Myanmar have reaffirmed their commitment to jointly tackle transboundary air pollution, endorsing a 2026-2027 Joint Action Plan aimed at addressing the root causes of the seasonal haze that smothers the Mekong sub-region.

Thailand is facing one of its most serious environmental crises as toxic pollution from rare earth mining in Myanmar’s Shan State contaminates the Kok and Sai rivers. Arsenic levels far exceed safety standards, threatening ecosystems, public health, and livelihoods in northern Thailand.