Civil Society Urges Parliament Restore "Clean Air Fund" in Draft Bill, Opposition Pledges Support in Key Vote

(SAP NEWS – Ratcha Piyathammadhaj) September 24, 2025, at 11.00 a.m., civil society groups and labor unions called on Parliament to reinstate the “Clean Air Fund” in the Clean Air Management Bill, warning that removing the provision would render the law ineffective. The opposition People’s Party has confirmed it will push for the fund’s inclusion during the second and third readings in the House of Representatives today.

This morning, the State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation and the Thai Labor Solidarity Confederation, led by activist Sawit Kaewvarn, submitted a petition to Pakornwut Udompipatskul, list MP and opposition whip for the People’s Party. They urged lawmakers not to drop the fund, which is designed to finance prevention, mitigation, and relief measures for communities affected by severe air pollution.

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Sawit stressed that without the Clean Air Fund, “this bill would be nothing more than a piece of paper,” adding that citizens across the country continue to suffer from toxic smog while state efforts remain slow and inadequate.

The controversy emerged in the final moments of the parliamentary committee’s review, when several members, particularly those representing the Council of State, reserved their opinions to strike the fund entirely, citing potential conflicts with fiscal discipline and revolving fund laws. Because the concerns were raised minutes before adjournment, relevant agencies were not able to provide clarifications in time.

Photo: SAP News

To resolve the issue, Phattarapong Leelaphat, People’s Party MP and committee member convened a special session under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee, inviting the Ministry of Finance, the Comptroller General’s Department, the Council of State, and clean air advocacy networks. The session concluded that the concerns were merely “operational issues” for the Finance Ministry, not legal obstacles.

The People’s Party has since reaffirmed its commitment to vote in line with the majority of the committee, which favors establishing the fund. Party MPs have prepared to explain during the debate that the fund is legally permissible and crucial to protecting public health.

Sorrapat Sriprach, Saraburi MP and deputy chair of the committee, confirmed that the party’s whip had formally resolved to support the measure. He noted that the existing Environmental Fund is insufficient for tackling the country’s worsening air pollution, hence the need for a dedicated Clean Air Fund.

The House is scheduled to deliberate the bill this afternoon, with debate on the fund expected to be a central point of contention. Lawmakers and activists alike argue that the measure is urgently needed ahead of the seasonal return of hazardous smog in many regions.

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