🗞️ Good morning! The Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 opened last week and runs through Feb. 28. Here’s a map and programming.

📍 Correction: An earlier version of our latest feature on heat workshops and a Sukhumvit win crew mistated the projected average temperature increase for Bangkok between 2025 and 2050. The error has been corrected.

Bangkok aims to hold this haze season to 20 or fewer “unhealthy” air days, down from 28 last season. A day is unhealthy when PM 2.5 exceeds 37.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

Why it matters: Haze season runs November through March. Bangkok recorded 52 “unhealthy” days in 2024-25 and 28 in 2025-26.

State of play: Measures include green vehicle registration, low-emission zones that bar high-polluting vehicles, an environmental enforcement team and a joint effort with Nakhon Nayok to curb crop burning.

Bangkok will test its block-by-block infrastructure plans in eight areas, the first step toward covering 425 blocks by 2031.

Why it matters: The plans fulfill one of Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt’s second-term promises. Each block gets its own plan for flooding, tangled cables and the walk to the train.

State of play: City Hall has divided Bangkok into 626 sub-blocks and shortlisted 35 areas. The eight picks:

Zooming in: Each block plan has three parts: a master plan that sets the block’s boundaries; a strategy map covering utilities, flood recovery, traffic and physical infrastructure and the economy and quality of life; and an action plan with timelines

What’s next: City Hall will propose funding the pilots in the fiscal 2028 budget. It aims to expand to 50 blocks across all 50 districts and cover all 425 by 2031.

City councilors want a “tree canopy equity” plan that spreads trees and shade evenly across Bangkok, even as the administration plants more.

Why it matters: Thawi Watthana Councilor Natthanon Nakro said trees are unevenly distributed and some are planted for decoration, not shade.

What they want: A map of the areas with the fewest trees, district canopy plans that prioritize places where people spend their days and measurable targets such as lower temperatures and more covered walkways.

Zooming in: The administration planted more than 2.6 million trees last term and plans 2 million more this term. Deputy Gov. Pornphrom Vikitsreth said the city will plant first in districts with the highest heat index and the most older adult residents.

By the numbers: About 18% of the city’s areas are shaded with trees, Pornphrom said.

Between the lines: Sathorn Councilor Sairam Prakaikij said poorly maintained trees can become hazards. Sathorn recorded nine falling-tree or branch incidents from May to October that caused accidents and car damage, he said.

City councilors want tougher security at the 437 schools City Hall runs, citing bullying, family problems, mental health and access to weapons as drivers of school violence.

Why it matters: Last week’s council call follows the Aug. 7 shooting at a Nonthaburi school. Councilors said the city’s patrols and weapon-free zones aren’t enough.

Already done: The city rolled out 10 security measures after the shooting, including active shooter drills for staff and visitor check-in requirements.

What they’re saying: They proposed metal detectors at school entrances, triple the CCTV cameras, fewer blind spots and quarterly mental health check-ins for students and teachers.

Zooming out: About 30% of Bangkok residents aged 12 to 18 reported stress, according to city data. Surveys show the majority of Thai students have experienced bullying.

The city’s take: Deputy Gov. Sanon Wangsrangboon said the city launched a bullying reporting platform called SoSafe. He also said the first step is easing teachers’ workload so they can check on students individually.

Bangkok wants to spend 1.14 billion of its savings on flood relief after the September floods cut its fiscal 2027 emergency fund from 400 million baht to 28 million baht.

Why it matters: The money would cover home repairs, lost income and medical costs for flood victims. Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said the spending would leave about 281 million baht in savings for emergencies over the next year.

Zooming in: Flood victims can get two kinds of relief. The national government pays a flat 5,000 baht or 9,000 baht, and Bangkok chips in. The city’s own program, funded by the new money, reimburses actual damage.

Big picture: Bangkok’s 2027 budget is about 93 billion baht. The governor directly controls about 1.4 billion of it, including the 400-million-baht emergency fund. The city has spent 372 million baht of that fund on the floods.

State of play: The city is the only local government the Cabinet requires to help fund relief the national government manages. It has paid 310 million of 510 million baht and wants the remaining 200 million baht deducted from what the national government owes it.

The bottom line: City Hall is using its savings to speed up flood payments. It aims to pay every claim by December. The council is expected to vote on the 1.14-billion-baht request this week.

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