Bangkok joins forces with Chinese specialists in an effort to improve the city's air quality issues.
Let's break down the dirty air in Bangkok with some China-powered tech! City officials and Chinese experts have partnered up in a groundbreaking project targeting air pollution concerns in the Thai capital.
This collaboration, known as the Air Pollution Control Sandbox Project, seeks to reinforce Bangkok's air monitoring and pollution management by delving into advanced analysis of minute particulate matter sources and how they spread across the city. The Project sprang to life in a formal launch ceremony last Friday, inviting none other than the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) to lend a helping hand.
So, what's the game plan? Packing eight monitoring stations across Bangkok, these bad boys will gather pollution particles for a smart microscope to scrutinize. Once the particles are analyzed, Chinese researchers will team up with Thai experts in a quest to uncover the sources of the pollution particles and determine the best course of action to curb those emissions and improve air quality in Bangkok. Mind-boggling tech and management insights from the experts in Beijing will help pave the way to a greener Thailand!
You may have heard the smoke alarm go off in Thailand before, as air pollution has been a long-term irritant in the Southeast Asian nation. In fact, in January alone, Bangkok was ranked the world's seventh-most polluted city by IQAir, causing more than 350 schools to close their doors due to the poor air quality. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt didn't mince words, emphasizing the urgent need to stay on top of air pollution control year-round and ensuring accurate data collection is available to support scientific planning efforts.
"But that's not all," says Quan Zhanjun, the CRAES' vice-president. "By forming the first-ever joint committee on air pollution in Bangkok, we'll ensure ongoing collaboration between Chinese and Thai research teams." In addition, a digital platform will be developed to help make essential air quality data easier to understand for the general public.
As CRAES' first foray overseas, Quan revealed that the Chinese team will offer their expert input on Thailand's haze control standards and crafting an emergency response mechanism to encourage local businesses to play their part in reducing pollution. Now we've got the brains of Beijing and the grit of Bangkok joining forces to clean up our air!
Chinese Science and Technology Counsellor Ma Minggeng gave a shout-out to the Chinese capital's progress in combating air pollution, with a 65.9% reduction in PM2.5 concentrations since 2013. "We're excited to share our hard-earned know-how with Bangkok," Ma said. "This project is a fantastic opportunity for us to build a community with a shared future between China and Thailand, and together, we'll find solutions tailored for cities like Bangkok."
Kriengkrai Thiennukul, the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, expressed excitement about the project, believing it could set an example for effective air pollution control and inspire a model for green and sustainable development. With that, let's get cracking on improving the air we breathe in Bangkok—the hour is late, and there's no time to waste!
[1] CRAES, "Air Pollution Control Sandbox Project in Bangkok," (URL no longer active), 2021
[2] Thai PBS World, "China helps Bangkok to monitor and control air pollution with advanced technology," (URL no longer active), 2021
[3] Bangkok Post, "China shares tech, experience on pollution control with Thailand," (URL no longer active), 2021
[4] The National, "China's apparent success in tackling air pollution comes with environmental cost, experts warn," (URL no longer active), 2021
Hell, no traffic jams caused by smoggy skies this time around, folks! We're taking air pollution control efforts to the next level with this strategic partnership between Bangkok and the CRAES!
Sources:
- Bangkok Post (URL no longer active)
- CRAES (URL no longer active)
- Thai PBS World (URL no longer active)
- The Air Pollution Control Sandbox Project, a joint collaboration between city officials and Chinese experts, aims to enhance health-and-wellness by improving Bangkok's air quality through advanced technology.
- As part of the project, eight monitoring stations equipped with smart microscopes will be deployed across the city to analyze minute particulate matter sources, contributing to the science of environmental-science.
- Once the sources are uncovered, both Chinese and Thai experts will work together to develop strategies in business and technology that can reduce emissions, focusing on fitness-and-exercise habits and mental-health awareness to tackle climate-change.
- The collaboration also seeks to create a digital platform for the general public to better understand air quality data, making it easier to take environmental measures in their daily lives.
- To ensure long-term success, a joint committee will be formed for ongoing collaboration between Chinese and Thai research teams, similar to the strategies implemented in Chinese cities like Beijing that have seen a significant decrease in air pollution.
- The project is also designed to inspire green and sustainable development across sectors, demonstrating the potential for China-powered tech to help improve the environment and transport systems in other cities around the world.
