One of the most significant climate change related news in the year 2018 is about Thailand’s annual carbon dioxide emissions and the respective emissions reduction strategies in place. The Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) estimated Thailand’s annual emissions in 2018 where it is found that carbon dioxide emissions were the greatest, which reached at 196.5 tonnes during the first nine months of 2018. Comparing Thailand’s annual carbon dioxide emissions, the EPPO determined that in 2018 there was a 0.98 percent increase in carbon dioxide emissions with respect to the year 2017. Here, the EPPO also stated that even though large proportion of carbon dioxide emissions is generated from the power sector; overall due to the increased power generation from renewable energy sources the power sector is emitting relatively lower proportions of greenhouse gases as compared to other sectors. In order to reflect upon the increased carbon dioxide emissions in 2018, Raweewan Bhuridej, the secretary general from the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Office argued “This increase in emissions will not affect Thailand’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Since Thailand is a developing country, we do not have to lower our emission rate as significantly as wealthy nations, who ought to cut down their net CO2 emission rate every year”.

Raweewan Bhuridej further argued about the active emissions reduction strategies Thailand has in place by saying, “thanks to this positive reduction effort, Thailand has already achieved its Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action, in which the country pledged to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 7 to 20 percent within 2020”. Finally, Raweewan Bhuridej also advised about more room for improvement in Thailand’s low-carbon society policy for enhancing Thailand’s emission reduction strategies. Here, she stated, “However, despite us having done great work in reducing emissions in Thailand’s energy sector there is still room for improvement in order to transform the country into a low-carbon society. For instance, the government is investing in a mass transportation network so as to encourage people to use public transport instead of driving, in a move to lower emissions in the transportation and logistics sector”.

For more information please view the December 7, 2018 news report by the Nation at http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30359964

Through the facilitation of mass transportation system as noted by Raweewan Bhuridej, Thailand is certainly headed in the right direction in terms of enhancing its emission reduction strategies in place. However, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a larger-scale and for strengthening Thailand’s Paris Agreement pledge, more work needs to be done. For instance, there needs to be an annual review and regular monitoring of the emissions reduction strategies in place. This will help in determining about the scope, strengths and areas of improvement of the emission reduction strategies, which are in place. Similarly, a concrete roadmap needs to be designed, which needs to account for emissions reduction in transportation, power as well as other relevant sectors. Finally, for enhancing the effectiveness of greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies in Thailand in the long-run; specific emission reduction targets should be established and emission reduction strategies should be designed according to the set targets.

To help Thailand in implementing effective greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies, you can contact the members of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning with the following Action Alert message:

We congratulate the Government of Thailand for proposing a roadmap to facilitate mass transportation system in Thailand. A well-designed mass transportation system in Thailand will certainly help in decreasing large amounts of vehicle generated greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. However, in order to enhance greenhouse gas emission reductions at a larger-scale in Thailand your role will be crucial. As a prominent member of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, I kindly request you to take three key steps for strengthening the emissions reduction strategies, which are in place. First, there needs to be an annual review and regular monitoring of the emissions reduction strategies in place. This will help in determining about the scope, strengths and areas of improvement of the emission reduction strategies, which are in place. Second, a concrete roadmap needs to be designed, which needs to account for emissions reduction in transportation, power as well as other relevant sectors. Finally, for enhancing the effectiveness of greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies in Thailand in the long-run; specific emission reduction targets should be established on a regional as well as national scale; and appropriate emission reduction strategies should be designed according to the set targets.

Send Action Alert Message to:

Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej
Secretary General
Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning
60/1 Soi Pibulwatana 7, Rama VI Road,
Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
Telephone: 0-2265-6506, Fax: 0-2265-6506
Email: rawewan@onep.go.th

Dr. Asadaporn Kraipanont
Deputy Secretary General
Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning
60/1 Soi Pibulwatana 7, Rama VI Road,
Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
Telephone: 0-2265-6505, Fax: 0-2265-6506
Email: kasdaporn@gmail.com