How will the new “Clean Air Act” change Thai lives and businesses?
Thailand is facing a major environmental turning point as the “Clean Air Act” was approved by the House of Representatives on October 21, 2025.
This is a historic environmental law driven by public demand, with over 30 organizations, led by the Thailand Clean Air Network (THCAN), continuously advocating for more than 5 years.
Summary of Latest Status
- The draft law has “passed its third reading” in the House of Representatives on October 21, 2025.
- It will then be sent to the Senate for consideration within 30 days.
- The Clean Air Act is expected to come into effect in early 2026 after its publication in the Royal Gazette.
Why does Thailand need this law?
- Bangkok has only 43 “good air days” (AQI below 50) throughout the year. In some major cities like Chiang Mai, there are more than 200 days of “unsafe” air quality per year, according to 2024 statistics.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes more than 32,000 premature deaths in Thailand annually from heart, lung, and cancer-related diseases linked to fine dust.
- The question many people have is whether the “Clean Air Act” that just passed parliament will actually help, or if it's just a broad framework law.
What is the Clean Air Act?
The Clean Air Act, or its full name, the Air Quality Management Act B.E.…, aims to protect public health and guarantee the fundamental right to breathe clean, safe air and live in a good environment, in accordance with Section 57 of the Constitution.
The spirit of the law is to “restore the right to breathe clean air to the people” and establish a national air quality management system, with key provisions as follows:
- Guaranteeing public rights
Everyone has the right to clean air and can file complaints or sue government agencies when air quality exceeds standards. - Establishing national and local air quality management systems
Such as the National Clean Air Committee and Provincial Clean Air Committees
to define strategic plans, prevention measures, and air quality alert systems. - Applying the “Polluter Pays Principle”
Polluters exceeding standards will be responsible for damages or pay compensation into the Clean Air Fund. - Promoting the use of clean technology and reducing open burning
Including supporting the agricultural sector to change production methods to reduce PM₂.₅ generation. - Mandating government agencies to disclose real-time air quality data
So that the public can access information and protect themselves promptly.
Not just PM₂.₅, but covers “all types of air pollution”
This Act is not limited to PM₂.₅ but defines “air pollution” to cover dust, toxic gases, odors, and volatile chemicals that may be harmful to health or the environment, such as:
| Type of Pollution | Source | Primary Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Particulate Matter | PM₂.₅, PM₁₀ from open burning, factories, exhaust pipes | Damages respiratory system, increases risk of cardiovascular diseases |
| Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) | Burning fossil fuels such as coal, fuel oil | Causes acid rain, irritates lung membranes |
| Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ) | Diesel vehicles, power plants, steel production processes | Causes ground-level ozone and asthma |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | From factories, paints, oils | Causes cancer and ozone (O₃) |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | Incomplete combustion from engines and factories | Displaces oxygen in blood, harmful to the heart |
In other words, the law empowers the state to set air quality standards for each substance and designate special control areas to manage all types of pollution, not just PM₂.₅.
What should businesses prepare for?
Businesses in the industrial, transport, energy, and agricultural sectors will be directly affected.
What businesses should start doing now is:
- Inspect their organization's “pollution sources” and assess whether there is a risk of exceeding new standards.
- Establish an Air Quality Monitoring system within the organization.
- Adjust production processes or use pollution reduction technologies to comply with the forthcoming subordinate legislation.
Will it actually help reduce dust and pollution?
The answer is “more likely,” but it won't be an immediate change, as it relies on “subordinate legislation” and “local enforcement.” The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) estimates that if the system is fully implemented, it could reduce average PM₂.₅ levels by 20–30% within 3 years.
Conclusion
The “Clean Air Act” is the first step in transforming the right to breathe into a legal right.
However, its effectiveness depends on actual enforcement and the cooperation of all sectors. If the government can issue subsidiary laws and enforce them against major sources of emissions, this will be the first time Thailand has a dedicated legal tool for clean air.
🌍 Is your business ready for the new law?
In an era where “clean air” is a public right and “carbon neutrality” is a global mission, Carbonwize is the bridge between these two worlds. We help your organization turn legal obligations into business opportunities with a platform for measuring and reporting GHGs, an automated MRV system compliant with legal standards, and expert consulting services to prepare your organization for the Climate Change Act and Clean Air Act.
📧 Contact the Carbonwize team: Contact Us
Related articles
- Clean Air Act and Climate Change Act: Two Laws Changing the Game for Thai Businesses
- When the Climate Change Act comes into effect, will all companies have to report carbon?
Sources: The MATTER, ThaiPBS, Greenpeace, SEI, Parliament.go.th, กรมควบคุมมลพิษ
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