This past week, two of Thailand's largest cities, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, earned the ignominious privilege of being among the 10 cities of the world with the worst air quality during that period. The Ministry of Public Health has blamed air pollution for causing 200,000 hospital admissions in the past week alone.
Air pollution is one of Thailand's largest killers, more than obesity, smoking, and even Covid-19. It accounted for over 50,000 premature deaths in 2021, reducing average life expectancy by two years. Further, there is widespread public concern that air pollution will reduce one of the country's main sources of income, tourism, in places like Chiang Mai.
