News 10 September 2024
Today, at a convening of local government leaders, Bangkok announced the city’s new partnership with the Breathe Cities initiative to reduce air pollution, cut carbon emissions, and improve public health. Breathe Cities was the focus of a government stakeholder workshop hosted by Breathe Bangkok for over 40 city representatives to discuss strategies and support for local efforts to bring clean air to Bangkok communities.
Breathe Cities is a cohort of twelve cities around the world working to reduce air pollution by an average 30% by 2030; in Bangkok this means avoiding thousands of premature deaths and cases of childhood asthma, as well as lowering healthcare costs by the end of the decade.
“As the Governor, I recognize the critical importance of addressing air pollution in our city, and significantly realize the greatest environmental risks to human health due to the air pollution,” said Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, Thailand. “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.”
Currently, 41% of cities around the world have air pollution over 7 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommendation, contributing to 8.1 million premature deaths each year. In 2023 alone, 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 a year and significant economic losses.
As part of Breathe Cities, Bangkok will receive support with gathering air quality data, capacity-building and community engagement, and join an international network of city leaders to share knowledge. Breathe Cities is delivered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clean Air Fund and C40 Cities and brings together air quality data, communities and local government to equip cities to develop tailored policies and initiatives at the local level, and to collaborate globally. Other cities in the initiative are 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.
Since 2010, Bangkok has made significant progress on air quality improvement by undertaking a number of measures, such as enhancing air quality monitoring, mapping air pollution sources and carrying out preventive inspection (such as emission testing). The city has also focused on expanding the public metro system, electrifying public buses, managing traffic congestion, upgrading emissions standards, controlling burning in the open air, and increasing green spaces to limit air pollutants and reduce harmful emissions. Bangkok also offers mobile screening service for air pollution related illness for local communities to help mitigate health impacts.
These efforts were part of the reason why Bangkok was selected to join Breathe Cities, and the initiative aims to help the city build on this progress. Participation in Breathe Cities involves meeting criteria including air pollution and emissions intensity, strong political interest and leadership, scalability potential, and a capacity to implement action plans, among other metrics.
“Improving air quality is critical to curbing the effects of the climate crisis,” said Antha Williams, who leads the environment program 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.”
As our twelfth Breathe City, Bangkok joins a growing network of ambitious cities taking action to save lives and address the climate crisis. By working with the Governor, city officials and local communities, we aim to clean the city’s air and ensure a healthier, fairer and more prosperous future for the millions of people who call Bangkok home.
Jaime Pumarejo, Executive Director of Breathe Cities
“By joining Breathe Cities, Bangkok isn’t just adding its name to a list; it’s stepping up as a dynamic leader committed to a healthier and more sustainable future for its 11 million residents,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40. “The urgency of addressing air pollution has never been clearer and Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s proactive work sets a compelling example for cities across the region and around the globe. Next week, I’ll be joining Breathe Cities partners during New York Climate Week to ensure air quality remains a top priority for leaders around the world, and I’m excited to see the impact we can continue to achieve together.”
As the newest Breathe City, Bangkok is set to take advantage of the huge health and economic advantages of clean air for its citizens. Millions of people will breathe the benefits of effective, community-led action against harmful air pollution.
Jane Burston, CEO of Clean Air Fund
