Lao People's Democratic Republic

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (hereinafter Lao PDR), historically an agrarian economy, has experienced growing industrialization, but its reliance on fossil fuels, inefficient production technologies, and weak pollution controls has led to significant environmental challenges. Urban centers have seen a rise in vehicle numbers and increased use of charcoal and wood for household cooking, while migration from rural areas has further strained air quality. Agricultural activities, including slash-and-burn farming and biomass burning, are major pollution sources, worsening air conditions. Additionally, Lao PDR is highly vulnerable to climate disasters, including floods and extreme heat events, which exacerbate poverty and contribute to rising emissions. As a result, the annual mean PM2.5 exposure is 21 µg/m³, which is 4.2 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. In 2019, 1,376 deaths were attributed to fine particulate pollution, equivalent to 19 deaths per 100,000 people. The leading causes of premature deaths from air pollution include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9%), lower respiratory infections (7%), and stroke (7%).

Air pollution in Lao PDR is driven by biomass burning, vehicular emissions, and transboundary pollution, particularly from crop and forest burning in neighboring countries. Pollution hotspots include the provinces of Bokeo, Phongsaly, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, and Savannakhet, where elevated levels of NO₂, SO₂, O₃, and absorbing aerosols have been recorded. Lao PDR also experiences high air pollution during the dry season (November to April) due to waste burning, deforestation, and agricultural land clearing.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been rising, with net emissions in 2014 totaling 24,099.98 Gg CO₂-equivalent. The Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector accounts for 78% of total emissions, with significant methane contributions from agriculture. The energy sector is the second-largest emitter (15%), followed by industrial processes (15%) and waste disposal (2%). The cement industry alone accounts for 94.93% of industrial emissions, making it a major contributor to pollution. Recent data from 2020 shows that Lao PDR produced 30,491.44 kt of CO₂ equivalent, representing 0.07% of global GHG emissions, with the electricity and heat sector responsible for 45.2% of total emissions.

According to recent data, Lao PDR produced 30,491.44 kt of CO₂ equivalent in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020, representing a 1.7 per cent increase from the previous year. This figure accounts for approximately 0.07 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, placing Lao PDR as the 104th largest emitter worldwide. The energy sector is the primary contributor to Lao PDR's GHG emissions, accounting for 57.2 per cent of the total in 2020. Within this sector, the electricity and heat industry is the largest emitter, responsible for 45.2 per cent of total emissions. Land-use change and forestry, along with agriculture, are the second and third largest emitting sectors, contributing 42.2 per cent and 33.9 per cent of total GHG emissions, respectively.

In terms of specific greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO₂) makes up the majority at 62.9 per cent of Lao PDR's emissions, followed by methane (CH4) at 26.3 per cent and nitrous oxide (N₂O) at 10.3 per cent. Regarding air pollution, recent data from February 2024 indicates that Lao PDR is experiencing unhealthy levels of air quality in three main provinces. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Vientiane Capital reached 155-160, while Luang Prabang Province and Pakse district in Champasack Province both registered around 158-160. These elevated pollution levels are typically observed during the dry season, from November to April, due to increased waste burning, deforestation, and agricultural land burning practices.

To monitor pollution, Lao PDR uses satellite data to track key atmospheric pollutants, including O₃, NO₂, SO₂, and CO. However, air quality remains unhealthy, with AQI levels in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse ranging from 155-160 in early 2024. Addressing air pollution will require stronger regulatory frameworks, improved monitoring, and regional cooperation to mitigate transboundary pollution. Without significant action, Lao PDR will continue to face worsening air quality and increasing climate-related challenges.