Thai year of environmental upheaval

From toxic rivers and a mega-quake to floods, smog and elephant diplomacy, 2025 tested resilience, writes Apinya Wipatayotin

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n 2025, Thailand faced a convergence of challenges that had laid bare its vulnerability to environmental degradation, natural disasters, and complex regional dynamics.

From polluted rivers and hazardous air quality to seismic disturbances, destructive floods, and sensitive diplomatic disputes, these developments have tested the nation’s preparedness, governance, and capacity for cross-border cooperation. Together, they underscore mounting pressures on ecosystems, public safety, and national values amid an increasingly volatile regional landscape.

Toxic rivers shock

Northern Thailand is grappling with rising fears of cross-border pollution after high levels of arsenic and other heavy metals were detected this year in the Kok, Sai, and Mekong rivers, critical waterways that support millions of people in the region.

The alarm first sounded in March when residents along the Kok River noticed unusual discolouration in the water.

Tests conducted by the Department of Pollution Control (DPC) confirmed that arsenic levels had exceeded safe limits.

Additional samples taken from the Sai River and parts of the Mekong revealed similar patterns of contamination, prompting broader concern over water safety, agriculture, and fisheries that depend heavily on these rivers.

Environmental data points to the rapid growth of unregulated mining activities in Myanmar's Shan State, an area known for rare-earth and gold extraction.

With weak oversight in the semi-autonomous region, waste from mining sites is believed to be leaching into upstream tributaries that flow into Thailand.

Although Thai authorities previously pledged to raise the issue with Myanmar, no concrete progress has been reported, leaving affected communities frustrated and vulnerable.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat has classified the situation as “moderately serious.”