Thailand has postponed retiring key units of its Mae Moh coal power plant, extending operations to 2048 despite pledges on clean air and emissions. Communities already suffering respiratory illnesses fear worsening health impacts, while activists warn the move undermines Thailand’s climate goals. Mae Moh, the nation’s top CO₂ emitter, symbolizes the tension between energy security, economic reliance, and public health. The plant continues to emit mercury, SO₂, and PM2.5 at dangerous levels, with residents doubting EGAT’s 2050 closure pledge. Critics argue the delay locks Thailand deeper into coal just as its renewable energy transition lags behind regional peers.