A Chinese company has expressed interest in investing in the Yuam River water diversion megaproject in Thailand, which aims to divert water to refill Bhumibol Dam in Tak. The 70-billion-baht project has passed an Environmental Impact Assessment and awaits consideration by the National Environment Board. Weerakorn Khamprakorb, a Palang Pracharath Party MP, suggests that with Chinese expertise, costs could be reduced and construction time shortened. However, local villagers and environmentalists express concerns over potential land expropriation, ecosystem damage, and the project's rapid progress despite its complexity and cost.

The article discusses the severe issue of illegal sand mining in Thailand's section of the Mekong River, which has led to environmental degradation and cultural loss. Had Hae, a beach that serves as a community hub and tourist attraction, is shrinking due to excessive sand extraction. The Mekong River Commission's 2018 report identifies sand mining as a major factor contributing to sediment loss. The sand mining industry, worth US$175 million annually, is poorly regulated, with influential people often involved in illegal operations. Despite laws and bilateral agreements, enforcement is fragmented and ineffective. The article also touches on the global sand crisis and the need for sustainable alternatives, such as using recycled materials. The story is part of the “A Thirst for Sand” series by the Environmental Reporting Collective, highlighting the environmental destruction and human toll of the sand mining industry.

In the Mekong region, the demand for sand has surged due to urbanization and construction, leading to environmental degradation and riverbank erosion. Sand mining, particularly in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand, has intensified, with volumes extracted potentially exceeding sustainable levels. The Mekong River, shared by six countries, is a major source of sand, but lacks a regional regulatory framework. The industry is poorly regulated, and local communities suffer from land loss and property damage. A collaborative transboundary approach is needed to address the environmental and social impacts of sand mining.

The Thai government's strategy to address garbage pollution through small localized waste-to-energy projects is facing criticism from environmentalists and experts. These projects, which are expected to increase in number, are seen as potentially exacerbating environmental degradation and haze pollution. Critics argue that the government's approach, which includes exempting these projects from certain environmental assessments, prioritizes energy recovery over sustainable waste management and overlooks the importance of waste generation prevention. Environmentalists are concerned about the emission of hazardous pollutants and greenhouse gases, and experts suggest a waste management hierarchy that emphasizes prevention and recycling over disposal.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt, COP27, established a 'loss and damage' fund for developing countries but failed to make significant commitments to phase out fossil fuels. Climate activists and organizations like Greenpeace International and Amnesty International expressed disappointment, citing a lack of substantive climate actions to limit global warming to 1.5C. The influence of the fossil fuel industry was criticized as a barrier to stronger commitments. Despite these setbacks, Thailand's Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning views the conference's outcome positively, with Thailand announcing strategic plans for climate mitigation and greenhouse gas reduction.

Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is facing criticism for its carbon sequestration policy, which uses forest ecosystems as natural carbon sinks to fight climate change. The policy, announced at the Thailand Climate Action Conference, aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065. It includes carbon credit trading in the forestry sector, which has garnered interest from corporations for reforestation to gain carbon credits. Critics, however, argue that this strategy could allow for greenwashing by the fossil fuel industry and concentrate forestland management in the hands of authorities and large companies, undermining climate change mitigation efforts. The government is accused of monopolizing forestland management, and there are calls for respecting the communal rights of forest communities.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is redeveloping Bangkok's drainage system to combat flooding, with a focus on enhancing canal efficiency and tunnel projects. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt emphasized the importance of both systems and the need for regular maintenance, including canal dredging and waste management. The BMA, with support from various agencies including the army, is prepared to address flood-related issues. Expert Sitang Pilailar from Kasetsart University highlighted the need for increased pipe capacity and better water management infrastructure.

The article discusses the conflict between Thailand's climate change mitigation efforts, which involve the construction of numerous water management projects, and the preservation of the country's unique freshwater biodiversity. It highlights the discovery of a species of loaches thought to be extinct, in a protected forest area, which is threatened by a proposed dam project by the Royal Irrigation Department. The article also touches on the potential environmental damage from nearly 3,000 water projects proposed in 2022, the centralization of water management under the Office of National Water Resources after the 2014 military coup, and the increase in budget and number of water projects in recent years. It raises concerns about corruption and the lack of transparency in public spending on these projects. The article concludes with the ONWR's shift towards incorporating nature-based solutions and the need for meaningful public participation in water management decisions.

A hawksbill sea turtle was found dead on Na Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand, with its stomach full of plastic waste and fishing net pieces. The Royal Thai Navy’s Sea Turtle Conservation Centre conducted an autopsy and confirmed the debris as the cause of death. Marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat highlighted the tragic frequency of such incidents in the Gulf of Thailand and called for urgent action from Thai authorities to address the marine debris problem and regulate marine activities to protect sea turtles.