With the world in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, nature is thriving. People living in the most polluted cities are experiencing the bluest skies and cleanest airs in years.
A special research report by IQAir highlights these findings.
PM2.5 levels are now dropping at “unprecedented rates” in 10 major cities during the periods of government-enforced lockdowns.
In the three weeks between March 23 and April 13, some of the world’s most polluted cities witnessed drastic drops in PM2.5 levels — including Delhi (-60%), Seoul (-54%) and Wuhan (-44%).
Bangkok, suffering from a smog crisis just before the outbreak, is also experiencing this change.
Analysis of air quality in Bangkok between March 15 and April 10 saw a significant drop in air pollution levels by more than 20 percent as compared to the same time last year.
The average PM2.5 levels, in particular, have been reduced by up to 22 per cent in roadside areas and 15 per cent other areas of the city.
Some of these findings are illustrated below, with data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA):
The map above shows that the level of nitrogen dioxide — one of PM2.5’s main sources — steadily declining from January to March 2020, and especially in March, as compared to last year.
However, as cities reopen, the economy reinvigorates and regular activities resume, many experts are now warning of a possible rebound and spike in PM2.5 levels.
This can be seen in China, where levels of some air pollutants rose back to above last year’s levels after the country lifted its tough lockdown measures and resumed its industrial activity.
“Thailand will likely follow a similar pattern,” said Tara Buakamsri, Country Director of Greenpeace Thailand,
“PM2.5 levels have drastically dropped, but they will come back,” he told Thai Enquirer. “That’s why we have to keep a watchful eye on Thailand.”
While the coronavirus pandemic is undoubtedly an urgent issue that must be addressed by the government, the smog crisis is equally pressing and just as urgent. Studies have shown health issues and death tolls as scary as any coronavirus outbreak and it can be traced to the rising levels of PM2.5.
Main culprits contributing to air pollution in Bangkok
Manufacturing industry
Factories scattered around the outskirts of the capital, especially the ones involved in biomass and fossil fuel combustion, are one of the main culprits of PM2.5.
“Thailand currently doesn’t have any PM2.5 quality standard measurements for its manufacturing industries.” Tara said, “In order to control and manage the emissions released by these factories, implementation of this quality standard by the government is a must.”
“It is really good we finally call out the manufacturing industry,” said Marisa Marchitelli, a documentary filmmaker and environmental activist specializing in the smoke crisis in northern Thailand.
“There are no standards for PM2.5 quality levels, and no one talks about that at all. And this [source of air pollution] is done by contributors that go on unregulated,” she told Thai Enquirer.
Agricultural fires
Agricultural burning — the primary root cause of air pollution in Thailand — have contributed to Bangkok’s winter smog crisis. The burning does not all originate from Thailand too. Fires set by farmers as far as Laos and Cambodia have contributed to the smog in Thailand.
“This will be challenging to solve, as it involves cross-border cooperation.” said Tara, “There needs to be a concerted effort from members of the ASEAN community.”
But while it may be easy to blame our neighbours for some of our woes, the local method of clearing land is still predominantly agricultural fires.
The chief culprit is the sugarcane industry but profits and kickbacks mean that the industry has largely gone unregulated despite the negative health impacts.
“People blame the farmers and working-class for these activities, but it’s not their fault — they don’t get paid enough.” said Tara, “The prices of sugarcane will need to increase to incentivise farmers to sustainably source the sugarcanes.”
Traffic
Bangkok is notorious for having some of the worst traffic jams in the world and this contributes to the capital’s smog problem.
The Pollution Control Department recently suggested extending work-from-home policies to help fight the air pollution crisis.
But that only tackles one tiny facet of the entire problem.
“The suggestion that everyone can work from home…caters to very few people,” Tara said. “Not everyone can afford to be working from home. What needs to be done is to improve the quality of our public transportations — from public buses to sky trains.”
What can we do?
“People in Bangkok only started becoming aware of this crisis just two years ago, they are living through air pollution but are not looking at the causes,” said Marchitelli.
“People should be more aware, stop blaming others and start focusing on their own consumption.”
Greenpeace suggests studying the issue, using public transportation, working from home if applicable and most importantly stop blaming others.
If everyone contributes, according to Tara, “This entire crisis can all be avoided.”
