Thailand will invite Cambodia to join the CLEAR Sky Strategy initiative, an attempt to strengthen collaboration among neighbouring countries in the fight against transboundary haze, according to Environment Minister Pol Gen Phatcharavat Wongsuwan.
The issue will be raised during Hun Manet's official visit today, his first to a neighbouring country since becoming the Cambodian prime minister six months ago.
Pol Gen Phatcharavat said closer cooperation in preventing and mitigating transboundary haze pollution would give a significant boost to efforts to reduce the health and environmental impact of haze pollution.
To achieve this goal, he said Thailand would like to see Cambodia join the CLEAR Sky Strategy. The scheme was established last year by Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
He said Thailand and Cambodia will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on preventing and monitoring transboundary haze pollution.
Such cooperation will include using aircraft to extinguish fires and applying royal rainmaking techniques to help resolve the problem.
Pol Gen Phatcharavat said Thailand would introduce certification for agricultural products not cultivated on burnt land and provide business incentives for Thai entrepreneurs and contract farming.
"We are willing to share hotspot data for better haze management in the sub-region, including strong mutual efforts to reduce burning that is a major cause of the PM 2.5 pollutant. We are ready to support Cambodia in dealing with the problem together and provide clean air for all," he said.
