(KPL) Laos and Thailand have reaffirmed their commitment to jointly address transboundary haze pollution following a high-level consultation held in Vientiane Capital on April 29, 2026.

The meeting was co-chaired by Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao PDR, and Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Kingdom of Thailand, with participation from relevant officials of both countries.

The consultation aimed to follow up on the outcomes of the trilateral initiative among Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar to address transboundary haze pollution. It also reviewed the implementation of a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two ministries and discussed future cooperation strategies.

Key agenda items included an assessment of the current haze situation, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Laos and corresponding mitigation measures. Participants also exchanged views on preparations for the upcoming Mekong sub-regional meetings, including the 14th MSC-Mekong Meeting and the 20th TWG-Mekong Meeting, as well as the implementation of the “Clear Sky Strategy” in Laos.

Minister Linkham noted that following a virtual trilateral meeting of the three countries’ leaders in April 2023, relevant agencies jointly developed the Clear Sky Strategy Action Plan through 2030. The plan was officially endorsed on October 29, 2024, in Thailand, with the participation of ministers from all three countries.

The Clear Sky Strategy focuses on five key components: fire prevention and suppression systems, air quality monitoring and modeling, sustainable agricultural management, strengthened law enforcement and coordination, and effective implementation mechanisms.

Looking ahead, both sides emphasized the importance of continued cooperation to reduce haze pollution. Priority actions include strengthening fire control efforts in line with national regulations, promoting sustainable agricultural practices to reduce open burning, expanding pilot areas for environmentally friendly farming, and enhancing the capacity of personnel in air quality monitoring and wildfire prevention at both central and local levels.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to intensify joint efforts to improve air quality and safeguard public health across the region.

KPL