Cooling clash in Bangkok: Air con proposal met with heated debate

A proposal to provide classrooms with air conditioning units sparked a heated debate in Bangkok, despite the city’s ongoing concern about PM2.5 safety. The recent rejection by the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) of this initiative aimed at protecting young learners from PM2.5 dust pollution raises concerns about balancing health protection and potential drawbacks in school environments.

The BMC turned down a 219 million baht (US$6.15) proposal to equip 1,743 classrooms in 429 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) schools with air conditioning units. This proposal was a part of the BMA’s total budget bill of 90 billion baht for the fiscal year 2024, kicking off on October 1.

To safeguard preschool children, aged between one and six, from the perilous PM2.5 dust pollution prevalent in the city, this air conditioning project…