Thailand, Laos & Myanmar launch joint plan of action to tackle transboundary haze issues

The plan outlines specific cooperation between the three nations from now till 2030, covering fire control, hotspot reduction, advanced forecasting, sustainable agriculture, law enforcement, and inter-agency collaboration. 

Thailand, LaoS, and Myanmar have launched the Joint Plan of Action - CLEAR Sky Strategy, marking a significant step towards addressing transboundary haze pollution. 

The launch took place on 29 October 2024 (Tuesday), involving Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, Bounkham Vorlachit, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Khin Maung Yi, Union Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. 

In his opening remarks, the Thai Foreign Minister emphasised the collaborative efforts between the foreign affairs and environment ministries of the three countries, highlighting the importance of capacity building and exchanges in innovation to address the problem. 

The plan outlines specific cooperation initiatives among Thailand, LaoS, and Myanmar for 2024-2030, focusing on fire control and suppression, hotspot reduction, advanced forecasting and monitoring systems, promoting sustainable agricultural management, strengthening law enforcement, and promoting inter-agency coordination. 

Following the launch, a seminar titled "CLEAR Sky Strategy – Tackling Transboundary Haze Pollution in ASEAN" brought together experts from various countries and organisations, including the following:  

• Thailand,  
• Singapore,  
• Indonesia,  
• China,  
• World Health Organisation (WHO),  
• World Bank Group,  
• Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and  
• Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC).  

The seminar provided a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and discussing strategies to enhance cooperation among ASEAN member states, dialogue partners, and international organisations. 

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Lead image / Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs