Hidden Smoke: Air Pollution, Agrarian Change, and Governance Gaps in Luang Prabang, Laos

Air pollution in Luang Prabang, Laos—despite its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and major tourist destination—is driven less by traditional swidden cultivation than by commercial agrarian changes, including cassava expansion, grass cultivation, and cattle pasture growth, exacerbated by urban landfill fires. This study, combining semi-structured interviews, field observations, and satellite data, reveals that labor shortages, economic pressures, and inadequate waste management contribute to prolonged haze, which has severe health, livelihood, and tourism impacts. Despite these consequences, air pollution remains underappreciated due to weak monitoring infrastructure, fragmented governance, and administrative silence, perpetuating a 'slow violence' model that prioritizes agriculture and tourism over environmental protection.

Marks, D., & Baird, I. G. (2026). Hidden Smoke: Air Pollution, Agrarian Change, and Governance Gaps in Luang Prabang, Laos. Critical Asian Studies, 58(3), 415–437. https://doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2026.2659068