Bangkok has become the twelfth city to join the Breathe Cities initiative, a global network dedicated to improving air quality.
The Thai capital is aiming to reduce air pollution by up to 30 percent by 2030, and through the partnership will receive support for gathering air quality data, capacity-building and community engagement.
“As Governor, I recognise the critical importance of addressing air pollution in our city, and realise [that] the greatest environmental risks to human health are due to air pollution,” said Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok.
“We, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, are firmly confident that the partnership among Breathe Cities members will help us improve air quality and shape public advocacy and policy measures for clean air in the city.”
Since 2010, the city has embarked on efforts to improve air quality by monitoring and mapping pollution sources and expanding the public metro system, electrifying public buses and increasing green spaces.
Impact
In 2023, 10 million people in Thailand sought treatment for pollution-related illnesses and Bangkok endured some of the worst impacts of poor air quality in the country, with over 5,000 premature deaths.
Pollution was also blamed for economic losses in the country’s tourism industry.
The Breathe Cities initiative is delivered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clean Air Fund and C40 Cities – bringing together air quality data and local government “to equip cities to develop tailored policies and initiatives at the local level, and to collaborate globally”.
Other cities in the network include Accra, Ghana; Brussels, Belgium; Jakarta, Indonesia; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, United Kingdom; Milan, Italy; Nairobi, Kenya; Paris, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sofia, Bulgaria and Warsaw, Poland.
“Improving air quality is critical to curbing the effects of the climate crisis,” said Antha Williams, who leads the environment programme at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
“Bangkok has made great strides in improving air quality with robust data collection, upgraded public transportation, and the expansion of green spaces. We’re looking forward to working closely with Bangkok’s communities to further the development of air pollution solutions that work and enhance public health.”
Currently, 41 percent of cities globally have air pollution over seven times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommendation, contributing to 8.1 million premature deaths each year.
Image: connor-williams–unsplash
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