Collaboration Needed to Solve Southeast Asia’s Air Pollution Issue

The air we breathe significantly determines our quality of life. Despite its massive impact on our health, poor air quality is a persistent problem everywhere, including in Southeast Asia. Collaboration is required to tackle the region’s air pollution issue.

Hazardous Air

In big cities across the globe, the sight of a clear blue sky often becomes a rarity worth celebrating. One of the reasons behind this is the persistent air pollution issue, which renders the sky hazy and bleak.

Big cities in Southeast Asia are no exception. In January 2025, the air monitoring organization IQAir recorded Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, and Bangkok as among the top five most polluted cities globally. In the same month, over 350 schools in Thailand were closed after the level of PM2.5 exceeded unhealthy levels above 55.5 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), peaking at 87.3 μg/m3.

Exposure to high levels of PM2.5, tiny particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers, is a leading risk factor for death in Southeast Asia. According to a report by the Health Effects Institute, 621,000 deaths in the region in 2021 can be linked to PM2.5 exposure, which can aggravate multiple chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular issues, and respiratory problems.

Tackling Transboundary Air Pollution in Southeast Asia

Industrial and residential emissions, fossil fuel use, land burning, and fires are some of the major causes of air pollution. Although the issue may originate in one country, it can travel across borders and impact other countries, a phenomenon called transboundary air pollution.

Therefore, collaboration at the country and regional levels is crucial to addressing the issue. For instance, Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade hosted a meeting in February 2025, inviting representatives from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar to discuss how to tackle high-level PM2.5.

One of the ways proposed in the meeting is restricting the import of corn for animal feed from plantations that burn their harvest leftovers. The Thai government plans to apply this restriction to all agricultural products while still adhering to international trade guidelines.

Meanwhile, countries have agreed to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution at the regional level. This agreement establishes coordinating centers, guidelines for monitoring, assessment, and emergency responses, and land and forest fire monitoring centers.

Actions Now

We have the right to clean air. Besides national and regional levels collaborations, governments at subnational and city levels can also implement measures to support the overall effort to beat air pollution. As citizens, we must also continuously update our knowledge on the issue and exercise our rights to encourage accountability.

Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website |  + postsBio

Madina is the Assistant Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at Green Network Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Universitas Indonesia. As part of the GNA In-House Team, she supports the organization's multi-stakeholder engagement across international organizations, governments, businesses, civil society, and grassroots communities through digital publications, events, capacity building, and research.

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