Cambodia, Thailand vow to prevent environmental pollution to protect public health

The leaders of the Ministry of Environment of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand are committed to jointly preventing smog and pollution in the environment to protect the well-being of the people of both countries.

The commitment was made during a courtesy call and discussion between Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, and Jakkapong Sangmanee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, by telephone on the afternoon of February 2, 2024.

Also present at the meeting was Cherdkiat Atthakor, Ambassador of Thailand to Cambodia, who received permission to pay a courtesy call in person at the Ministry of Environment. Cherdkiat Atthakor thanked the Minister of Environment for allowing him to pay a courtesy call, especially for allowing Jakkapong Sangmanee to discuss with him over the phone.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has raised concerns about the annual haze problem affecting health in both countries. Thailand needs Cambodia’s assistance in addressing regional issues through bilateral cooperation, including establishing a technical equipment working group and a special hotline system. In the past, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has met with Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet, twice.

Sophalleth thanked the Thai Deputy Minister for taking great care of the regional environment. The Minister stated that, of course, the environment is not as limited as the borders of each country, and we need to work together to prevent and clean up our country, as Cambodia’s Environmental Strategy 2023-2028 has set out, and the Ministry of Environment is implementing three priority goals: cleanliness, green, and sustainability.

The Minister of Environment reported that Cambodia regularly monitors air quality through automated equipment and stations in Phnom Penh and other provinces. The air quality index is displayed at an optimal level with minor variations, with PM2.5 inertia averaging between 9.21 µg/m3 and 32.68 µg/m3. The past air quality index levels did not pose health risks to the Cambodian people.

Sophalleth added that Cambodia is ready to respond to pollution both on land, in the air, and in the water. For the past 100 days, he has launched a blue sky campaign similar to Thailand’s Clear Sky.

According to the Minister, Cambodia and Thailand are jointly committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation through the exchange of good experiences in response to the prevention of smog, pollution, and plastics in the environment to promote friendly countries in the ASEAN region to have a clean environment, a clean heart, and clean health. Dap-news