Environment News
Thailand environment news, climate change, sustainability, and natural disasters—stay updated on eco-initiatives, biodiversity conservation, and renewable energy efforts. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for environmental news in Thailand.
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Series of Earthquakes Felt Near Thailand as Regional Seismic Activity Intensifies
Thailand’s Earthquake Monitoring Division has issued a cautionary update after a series of earthquakes were recorded in and around the country in the early hours of December 21, underscoring heightened seismic activity across the region. According to the Thailand Earthquake Monitoring Division, tremors were detected multiple times overnight and into the morning, with the strongest nearby activity occurring close enough…
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Rare big cats return to spotlight in Thai national park
In a nod to Thailand’s biodiversity, Office of Conservation Area Management 12 has reintroduced footage of a pair of elusive wild cats, a leopard and a black panther, captured roaming together in the forested terrain of Khlong Lan National Park in Kamphaeng Phet. The footage was first recorded in June 2020 by camera traps set up by the World Wide…
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Thailand releases four leopard sharks in first rewilding effort
Conservationists released four Indo-Pacific leopard sharks off Koh Maiton on Monday, December 8, in Thailand’s first endangered shark rewilding project. The release took place near Maiton Resort, around nine kilometres from Cape Panwa, and aquarists at Aquaria Phuket bred the sharks, named Maiton, Hope, Spot, and Toty, who are all nearly two years old. Each shark, measuring between 100 and…
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BMA expands WFH plan to battle air pollution
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to increase participation in its work-from-home (WFH) programme to 300,000 people next year in an effort to reduce PM2.5 air pollution across the city. This target represents a major jump from the roughly 200,000 people who joined the scheme this year. The expansion aims to reduce traffic emissions and protect public health during the…
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Rare pink dragon millipede amazes tourists in Uthai Thani
Tourists flocked to Hup Pa Tat in Uthai Thani to witness the annual appearance of one of the world’s top three newly discovered species, the rare pink dragon millipede. Large crowds gathered on December 1 at Tham Prathun Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Lan Sak district’s Mueang subdistrict, as visitors explored the forest landscape, often compared to a real-life Jurassic Park.…
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Bangkok’s PM2.5 smog hits crisis levels in several districts
Bangkok woke up to dangerously high levels of PM2.5 today, December 2, with air quality across all 50 districts hitting the red-zone threshold. Data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) at 6am revealed that smog covered every district in the capital. Gistda recorded the highest PM2.5 reading in Nong Khaem district at 102.5 microgrammes per cubic metre…
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Air quality reaches unsafe status as PM2.5 levels spike
Bangkok and 47 other provinces have reported hazardous air quality status as ultrafine particulate matter (PM2.5) has risen in the past 24 hours, according to researchers. The government considers the PM2.5 level of 37.5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) to be the safe limit. As of 3pm yesterday, November 30, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported that levels…
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Thailand pushes sustainable gem industry with GIT standard programmes
The Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand, or GIT, has launched a new national initiative to advance Thailand’s position as a global hub for sustainable gem and jewellery production. The programme, titled Thailand Towards a World Sustainable Gem and Jewellery Hub, aims to help SMEs meet international standards in sustainability, governance, and environmental responsibility as global trade rules continue to…
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Rare great hornbill spotted in Chiang Mai after 10 years
A great hornbill was spotted in a Chiang Mai national park, marking the first confirmed sighting in over a decade and signalling improved forest health. Chiang Mai’s Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is celebrating a major ecological milestone after spotting a great hornbill, also known locally as nok kahang or nok gak, for the first time in over a…
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Bangkok dust levels spike as orange alert hits 3 districts
Bangkok residents are being warned to take precautions as PM2.5 dust levels have reached health risk levels in several districts across the city. Today, November 12, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported that while most areas in the capital recorded acceptable air quality, PM2.5 dust levels surged to orange-alert status in three districts, meaning the fine particulate matter is high…
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Amnuay Silpa School celebrates its 100th anniversary with sea turtle conservation and mangrove reforestation in Sattahip
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Amnuay Silpa School (ANS), in collaboration with the Amnuay Silpa Alumni Association, organised the Sea Turtle Conservation and Mangrove Reforestation activity on Saturday, November 8, in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province. The initiative reflected the school’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. The event brought together parents, students, teachers, and alumni who actively…
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Bangkok launches campaign to battle toxic dust threat
Health and city officials in Bangkok have launched a new campaign to educate the public on how to protect themselves as smog season approaches. The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), has launched a new campaign titled Knowing PM2.5 for Sustainable Protection to educate the public on how to protect themselves from harmful fine dust particles.…
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Bang Saen Beach turns black, vendors fear tourist drop
Seawater at a popular beach in eastern Thailand turned black, raising concerns among visitors and vendors about health risks and a drop in tourism. Seawater along Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri has taken on a strange black hue, believed to be caused by a plankton bloom triggered by recent storms and rainfall. While there’s no unpleasant odour or danger…
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Officials raid Chon Buri plant over foul stench complaints
Officials inspected a recycling plant in Chon Buri after residents complained about foul odours, uncovering waste violations and environmental concerns. The inspection, carried out on November 5, was led by Ploylapas Singtothong, adviser to the industry minister, as part of the “Full Throttle” mobile inspection campaign. The facility, located in Bo Kwang Thong subdistrict, handles industrial waste processes including sorting,…
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Bangkok hauls in 390k krathongs after quieter festival night
City Hall workers in Bangkok collected over 390,000 krathong floats after the Loy Krathong Festival, marking a notable drop from the previous year’s total. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials collected a total of 391,027 krathong floats from canals, rivers and lakes across the capital following last night’s (November 5) Loy Krathong festival, a 24% drop compared to the same event…
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DHL powers up Thailand’s first solar-run logistics hub
Thailand has taken a major step toward green logistics as DHL opened its first fully solar-powered facility, aiming to boost sustainable trade in Southeast Asia. The new Bangna Sustainable Logistics Centre, launched by DHL Supply Chain Thailand, is the logistics giant’s first global facility powered entirely by on-site solar energy. Backed by a 1.39 billion baht investment, the site showcases…
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Bangkok ramps up safety checks ahead of Loy Krathong Festival
Bangkok’s governor has ordered safety checks at piers across the city ahead of Loy Krathong, urging residents to use eco-friendly floats for the festival. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered safety inspections at all piers and floating platforms across the capital ahead of this year’s Loy Krathong Festival on November 5. The move is aimed at ensuring public safety and…
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Thai House passes Clean Air Bill in sweeping 308–0 vote
Thailand’s House of Representatives has unanimously passed a new Clean Air Bill, aiming to crack down on pollution and protect public health nationwide. All 308 MPs present, from both coalition and opposition parties, voted in favour after three days of heated debate. The bill, which passed its third reading yesterday, October 21, will now move to the Senate for further…
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Thailand tourists face 100k fine for toxic sunscreen on reefs
Thailand has warned tourists that using banned sunscreens in marine parks could lead to fines, as officials crack down on products harmful to coral reefs. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has issued a strict warning to tourists: using certain sunscreens in Thailand’s marine parks could see you slapped with a fine of up to 100,000…
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Water woes: Phuket MP calls for urgent fix as crisis worsens
Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee has called on the government to urgently tackle the island’s chronic water shortage, warning that the issue could spiral out of control during the upcoming High Season if action isn’t taken immediately. Speaking in Parliament, Chalermpong, who represents Phuket District 2, said water demand has surged due to a booming tourism industry and a population now…
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Dugong numbers plummet as seagrass vanishes in Andaman
Conservationists in Thailand are working to restore seagrass beds in the Andaman Sea after dugong numbers dropped sharply due to food loss and habitat damage. The Thai Coral Reef and Marine Life Conservation Foundation has launched a renewed campaign to restore seagrass beds in the Andaman Sea, after recent drone surveys revealed a drastic decline in dugong numbers, from 248…
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Baby turtles make a break for it on Koh Thalu Beach
Over 100 endangered hawksbill sea turtles hatched on a beach at Koh Thalu Beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan Noi district, marking a significant win for marine conservation efforts. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) confirmed that 101 hatchlings were born, following 65 days of careful monitoring by rangers and marine conservation teams. The eggs…
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Thailand bets big on solar to fast-track net-zero goal
The Energy Ministry has unveiled an ambitious 720-billion-baht investment drive to accelerate Thailand’s transition to clean energy, aiming to hit net-zero emissions by 2050, 15 years ahead of its previous target. Part of the government’s Quick Big Win campaign, the initiative prioritises solar power, carbon capture storage (CCS), and economic revitalisation. Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon said that the campaign will…
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Crocodile scare grips Nakhon Sawan after flood alert issued
Terrified locals have been put on red alert after officials warned that crocodiles could be lurking in floodwaters across Nakhon Sawan province. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The Nakhon Sawan Provincial Fisheries Office issued the warning as parts of the province continue to suffer from heavy flooding and waterlogging this year.…
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Thailand climbs climate ranks but flunks on clean energy
Thailand was ranked 24th in a global climate index, receiving praise for emissions control but criticism for its weak renewable energy efforts and policies. The ranking highlights a high score for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, a medium score for energy use, but a disappointing low score for renewable energy adoption and a low score for climate policy. To further align…
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Bangkok cracks down with new fees for unsorted household waste
Bangkok has introduced higher waste collection fees, penalising households that fail to sort rubbish while rewarding those who properly separate their trash. From today, October 1, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will increase the waste collection fee from 20 baht to 60 baht per month. However, households that join the This House Doesn’t Mix waste separation scheme will still pay…
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Hooked turtle rescued in Phuket as another dies from net injury
Marine officers in Phuket rescued an injured sea turtle found with a fishhook in its mouth, while another died after being entangled in a discarded net. At around 6.45pm yesterday, September 24, Cherng Talay Police received a report of a stranded turtle near Leypang Beach. Police Lieutenant Suwarin Mueat Muang, a patrol officer from Layan, was dispatched to the scene,…
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Thai youth shaping a greener future through innovation through the project Wonder Lab: Youth for a Greener Tomorrow
Sustainability is one of those topics that can feel abstract until you see it in action. In Thailand, a group of young people recently showed that tackling environmental challenges does not always require big budgets or government programmes. Sometimes, it starts with students, a few bold ideas, and a platform that believes in their potential. That platform was Wonder Lab:…
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Patong lifeguards warn as venomous bluebottles wash up
Lifeguards at Patong Beach have issued a warning after venomous Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish washed ashore, urging tourists to stay cautious in the water. Lifeguards raised the alarm after several of the creatures were found along the sand. Patong Surf Life Saving urged beachgoers not to touch or play with them, stressing that anyone stung should immediately seek assistance…
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Monkey madness: Hundreds escape cages and run riot in Lopburi
Chaos erupted in Lopburi when hundreds of monkeys broke free from a shelter, invading homes, ransacking cars, and even storming a police station. Residents of Lopburi faced a wild spectacle today, September 16, as more than 100 monkeys escaped from the Pho Kao Ton Monkey Shelter in Mueang district. The mass breakout sparked panic in the area, with troops of…
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