Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar recently reaffirmed their commitment to jointly addressing transboundary air pollution and formally approved a joint action plan for 2026-2027. The core objective is to solve the seasonal haze problem plaguing the Mekong subregion and address transboundary air pollution at its source.
According to a report in the Nation newspaper on January 24, the joint action plan was successfully approved at a high-level meeting held in Vientiane, Laos. During the meeting, a Thai delegation led by Thanamchai Vanasuk, Deputy Director-General of the Thai Pollution Control Department, met with officials from corresponding departments in Laos and Myanmar to discuss in depth technical collaboration and policy coordination in transboundary air pollution control, further deepening trilateral cooperation.
The core measure of this approved joint action plan is the use of satellite technology and a real-time data sharing mechanism to accurately monitor transboundary wildfire hotspots and air quality. Officials from the three countries defined this innovative cooperation model as a new stage in the development of "satellite diplomacy," providing technological support for regional environmental governance.
Unlike previous governance models that focused on emergency response, this plan breaks through traditional limitations, shifting its focus to the early detection, source prevention, and long-term mitigation of air pollution, striving to build a comprehensive and sustainable governance system.
The plan outlines several key implementation measures, including jointly developing fire risk maps, establishing a unified air quality reporting system, and vigorously promoting sustainable agricultural practices, with a focus on curbing slash-and-burn agriculture, a major cause of regional air pollution, thereby reducing pollution emissions through production methods.
To ensure the plan's effectiveness, the three countries also reached a consensus to establish a dedicated technical working group to ensure that all policy decisions are supported by scientific evidence and verified data, free from political interference, and to enhance the professionalism and impartiality of the governance work.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the delegations of the three countries stated: "Haze is a shared trauma of our region. It is not about the survival of any one country, but a collective effort to ensure that clean air becomes a permanent right, not a seasonal luxury."
A core component of the 2026-2027 Joint Action Plan is to conduct a high-level, wide-reaching public awareness campaign, dedicated to guiding the public to change their production and lifestyle habits. By mobilizing local communities, farmers, and the private agricultural sector, the three countries will utilize science education and technology promotion to raise awareness of the dangers of open burning and actively promote sustainable alternatives, thereby curbing transboundary air pollution at the public level.
Targeted outreach to local communities and the agricultural sector, along with incentive policies encouraging the adoption of open burning alternatives, will be key pillars for the implementation of this strategy, laying a solid foundation for long-term governance.
At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives from Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar reiterated their firm commitment to the joint action plan and its related responsibilities, clearly expressing their shared determination to strengthen regional cooperation and jointly build a more resilient and healthier regional ecological environment.
