Management of PM2.5 Air Pollution in Thailand: A Case Study on the Effectiveness of Policy Implementation to Improve Population Quality of Life

Abstract

The management of PM2.5 air pollution in Thailand, based on a case study of policy implementation effectiveness for improving people’s quality of life, has two main objectives: 1) to examine the government’s approaches to addressing the PM2.5 problem, and 2) to analyze the effectiveness of policy implementation in mitigating PM2.5 pollution. The scope of the study focuses on government policies and operational measures undertaken by relevant state agencies. The findings reveal that the government’s approaches consist of enforcing multiple measures, such as controlling agricultural burning, preventing and suppressing forest fires, managing transboundary haze, and regulating emissions from the industrial and transportation sectors. Efforts have also been made to advance the Clean Air Bill to establish an integrated framework for air quality management. However, policy implementation continues to face limitations stemming from centralized administrative structures, insufficient regulatory enforcement, and coordination mechanisms that do not align with local contexts. These challenges have resulted in suboptimal effectiveness in controlling and reducing PM2.5 levels. The study further identifies key obstacles, including the mismatch between burning-ban measures and local community lifestyles and constraints, ongoing challenges in transboundary haze management due to the lack of clear enforcement mechanisms, and insufficient economic incentives for the industrial and transportation sectors.