Adapting to a hotter world
The arrival of rains this week might have cooled off what has been an unusually hot season, which saw temperatures reaching 45C. However, questions remain for the public about what is to come. Will such heatwaves become a permanent feature for Thailand and elsewhere?
Will our government – the responsible ministries and provincial governors – help prepare Thailand to cope with more bouts of extreme heat that might reoccur next year and years to come? Continued …
Greenwashing concerns investors
More than nine in 10 investors (94%) believe corporate reporting on sustainability performance contains unsupported claims, according to the PwC 2023 Global Investor Survey.
The survey queried 345 investors and analysts across regions, asset classes and investment approaches for insights into the factors that most affect the companies they invest in and cover. Continued …
UOB Thailand Launches 2024 Sustainability Program for SMEs
Building on the achievements of its Sustainability Innovation Program 2023, UOB Thailand has now unveiled its Sustainability Innovation Program (SIP) 2024. This initiative aims to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all sectors in Thailand to integrate sustainability into their operations, utilizing UOB FinLab’s extensive network of public and private leaders, mentors, and SMEs. #uobthailand
The program, run by the UOB FinLab, comprises three modules and is organized in partnership with industry leaders such as Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), PwC Thailand, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), Chulalongkorn University, and Sustainism. Scheduled on May 29-30, 2024, in Bangkok, it will offer workshops and master classes tailored for over 200 selected Thai SME businesses. Continued …
Phuket’s Ko Phai Ling closes to protect coral from bleaching
Thailand’s Ko Phai Ling, along with its surrounding coral reefs within Sirinat National Park in Phuket, stands temporarily closed to tourists from today until the situation improves, with the closure slated to remain until further notice.
Park Chief Watchara Songsi-awn, made the announcement following the discovery of widespread coral bleaching across the area. With the Andaman Sea temperatures soaring to their highest in five years this April, the heat has catalyzed severe coral bleaching. Continued …
Modern technology used to deter crop burning
Satellite imagery and data visualization software have become important tools that enabled agricultural buyer Bangkok Produce Merchandising Plc (BKP) to buy produce from plantations that do not contribute to air pollution problems.
The company is a procurer of corn for animal feed from sustainable sources for Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), one of the world’s largest producers of feed and shrimp, and is also a global-top-three producer of poultry and pork. Continued …
Aquion Energy Batteries Store Energy to Light Thailand’s Sky Lane Bicycle Track
Aquion Energy, Inc., developer and manufacturer of hybrid ion batteries and energy storage systems, announced that its batteries are currently being installed in support of Thailand’s newly upgraded Sky Lane – a 14.6-mile (23.5 km) bicycle track at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport.
Sky Lane is the first airport-based track to allow night-time riding, thanks to long-duration Aquion batteries working in combination with nearly 800 solar-powered LED lights. Installation is underway and is targeted to be complete by early December. Continued …
Isuzu allocates Bt32 billion for Thailand investments
Yokohama, Japan-based automaker Isuzu Motors plans to spend 240 billion baht to fuel its investments through 2030, with part of the budget allocated for battery cell and electric pickup manufacturing in Thailand, which will serve as the company’s electric vehicle (EV) export base.
The battery cell and electric pickup production forms part of a 32-billion-baht investment budget allocated for Thailand. A portion of the funds will support projects aiming to achieve carbon neutrality, as well as digital transformation in the logistics sector. Continued …
Drivers in Thailand are turning their backs on the EV hype
Figures just released for electric vehicle (EV) sales in April 2024 are damning. They show a continued decline since the January 2024 peak, with sales further down in March. In total, only 4,088 EV cars were sold in Thailand, just 10.75% of the market.
Even the popular ORA Good Cat car, made in Thailand, only managed to sell 169 units in April despite a government subsidy of up to Bt100,000. These sales declines align with falling trends worldwide, with the EV car share decreasing in the United States and sales down 9% in the first quarter in Europe. Continued …
Thailand tackles electric vehicle disposal
As Thailand’s electric vehicle market booms due to government subsidies, the proper disposal of end-of-life vehicles (ELV) is increasingly crucial to minimize environmental impact and maximize reuse of remaining components.
The Thailand Automotive Institute has embarked on this mission by signing a memorandum of understanding with Better World Green Plc to develop methods of EV disposal that meet international standards and Thai laws. Continued …