Governing Air Pollution Through Agenda-Setting

Effective environmental governance depends not only on policy instruments but also on how environmental problems are prioritized within political systems. This study examines the governance dynamics of PM2.5 air pollution in Thailand and South Korea by focusing on agenda-setting processes. Drawing on the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) and Zahariadis’ 4P’s (Power, Perception, Potency, and Proximity) model, the study employs qualitative documentary analysis of policy developments between 2019 and 2024. The findings show that South Korea’s centralized governance structure and strong executive leadership enabled sustained policy prioritization, leading to the institutionalization of PM2.5 as a “social disaster” and the adoption of comprehensive regulatory measures. In contrast, Thailand’s fragmented institutional arrangements and episodic public attention produced discontinuous agenda-setting and reactive policy responses. The study contributes to the environmental policy and governance literature by demonstrating that the effectiveness of air pollution control is conditioned by the institutional stability of agenda-setting processes. It highlights the importance of governance capacity, policy coordination, and political commitment in sustaining environmental policy interventions.