It should not be a privilege to inhale clean air. Air is a biological necessity and a basic human right. Yet in most Asian cities, it has become a costly luxury. 

Bangkok, also known as the “City of Angels” — the city of my birth — is choking under a canopy of imperceptible yet lethal particles. The contrast is stark, especially for those who have watched the city transform over the years.

On every return trip to Bangkok, one sour observation stands out: the air feels heavier. By the second day, our throats begin to itch, followed by a persistent cough. These physical reactions are not imagined. They point to an environment saturated with fine particulates, fumes, and factory dust. For those of us born in Thailand but now living abroad — in Switzerland in my case — the difference is glaring. Bangkok can no longer catch its breath. It is suffocating. And that troubles me deeply.

A public health crisis

The essence of the problem can be summed up in two letters and two numbers: PM2.5. These fine particles, less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. The World Health Organization (WHO) links them directly to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, strokes, and lung cancer. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), PM2.5 levels in the capital consistently exceed safe limits.

In January 2025, Bangkok recorded concentrations of 88.4 µg/m?, resulting in higher hospitalization rates and reduced productivity. Greenpeace reports that in 2021 alone, 29,000 people in Thailand died prematurely from air pollution, with more than 4,000 of those deaths in Bangkok. The trend is climbing steadily.

A preventable affliction is an unnecessary one. The causes are well known — and they can be addressed. Bangkok’s pollution stems from:

1. Traffic emissions: In 2023, Thailand registered over 44 million vehicles. In Bangkok, most are old, poorly maintained, and diesel-powered. Some years, they have accounted for over 60% of the city’s particulate matter.
2. Crop residue burning: Farmers in surrounding provinces burn crop residues to prepare land, sending particles hundreds of kilometers.
3. Industrial activity: Poorly regulated factories emit vast quantities of pollutants.

This is not a natural occurrence or inevitable urban plague. It is the result of economic choices, weak policies, and short-term compromises.

Climate tech and clean transportation startups

Government efforts toward climate change mitigation have historically been tepid at best, empty at worst. But a new wave of entrepreneurs, startups, and citizen scientists — part of Southeast Asia’s emerging climate movement — is rising.

At the Decarbonize Thailand 2025 Symposium in May at True Digital Park, more than 30 startups showcased innovations in electromobility, agritech, carbon accounting, and more. Standouts include:

• CHOSEN: A smart EV charging platform with integrated load control to reduce peak demand and prevent outages. Trials with the provincial electricity authority showed up to 70% energy savings.
• VEKIN: An AI + blockchain tool enabling real-time carbon footprint tracking and verifiable carbon credits — even allowing a simple QR scan to offset emissions.
• LOCOL: A livestock feed additive made from cocoa pods that would otherwise go to landfill. Feeding it to livestock cuts methane emissions by nearly 45% and generates carbon credits for farmers.

Other innovators include GeoAgni, deploying scalable geothermal energy systems, and Gideon One, offering carbon accounting and trading solutions for SMEs.

Thailand is rich in history, culture, and biodiversity. To let its cities choke is to abandon the dream of a livable future for its people.

Yet these pioneers face a financing gap. Scaling their solutions will require catalytic capital — green bonds, carbon pricing mechanisms, and pay-for-performance structures that align financial incentives with environmental outcomes. With the right ecosystem support and enabling policies, Bangkok could fast-track these innovations, proving that market-driven approaches can fill the void left by government inertia.

Lack of proper response

Faced with crisis, the Thai government’s actions have ranged from well-meaning intentions to half-hearted measures.

Bangkok joined the Breathe Cities initiative, aiming to reduce pollution by 30% by 2030 — a step forward, but too slow without stronger, immediate action. The government briefly introduced free public transport at certain times, tightened some pollution restrictions, and offered EV purchase incentives. Yet, conventional farming remains largely unregulated, and the dirtiest vehicles still roam freely. Without stricter enforcement, these efforts will remain marginal.

What must happen — now

Reversing the trend requires coordinated, decisive measures:

• Restrict polluting vehicles via urban tolls or low-emission zones.
• Accelerate clean transport adoption by expanding subway lines, subsidizing EVs, and improving public transit access.
• Ban uncontrolled agricultural burning and promote composting and recycling of organic waste.
• Educate and empower the public with transparent air quality data via platforms like Air4Thai and accessible pollution alerts.
• Enact air quality laws with a public emissions register (PRTR), strong penalties, and continuous monitoring.

Thailand has the right to clean skies

Thailand is rich in history, culture, and biodiversity. To let its cities choke is to abandon the dream of a livable future for its people.

Bangkok stands at a crossroads: continue down the path of endemic pollution, health crises, and political denial — or become a model for ecological transformation.

The choice is clear. What’s missing is the will.