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Climate change: Children see twice as many hot days/At risk of severe drought/Sustainability: New guidelines for so-called ‘green industry’/Saving the faltering energy sustainability goals/Energy: Retroactive duties on solar panel imports/Banpu to cut carbon emissions/Hazwaste: Ministry tackles chemical waste crisis/Two toxic waste ships banned/Electric vehicles: Thailand aims to become EV hub/Global EV sales up 21%/
500 million children see twice as many hot days as grandparents
Almost 500 million children will experience double the number of extremely hot days than their grandparents’ generation, the United Nations (UN) said, with harmful consequences for their health.
Extremely hot days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95°Fahrenheit) are increasing for nearly one-in-five children globally, many of whom lack access to infrastructure or services that would help them to cope, the United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday. Continued …
10 Northeast provinces at risk of severe drought in next 10 years
Ten provinces in Thailand’s northeastern region are likely to experience severe drought over the next decade, according to drought trends forecast by the Climate Change and Environmental Department on Wednesday. The forecast was based on two climate model scenarios: one assuming moderate greenhouse gas emissions and one with high emissions.
The moderate emissions scenario assumes greenhouse gas emissions in 2100 will be close to current levels, potentially raising the global average surface temperature by about 2.7 degrees Celsius between 2081 and 2100. The high emissions scenario assumes emissions will be double the current levels, potentially increasing the global average surface temperature by about 4.4°C. Continued …
New guidelines for so-called ‘green industry’ introduced
As part of the Industry Ministry’s efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the industrial manufacturing sector, new guidelines for “green” industries have been introduced to help achieve carbon neutrality and net zero by 2050 and 2065, respectively.
Nattapol Rangsitpol, the ministry’s permanent secretary and chairman of the Green Industry Promotion and Development Committee, announced that the committee’s Aug. 7 meeting had approved a new draft of green industry (GI) guidelines, which will help accelerate improvements to infrastructure, regulations, workforce skills, and, most importantly, social and environmental responsibility. Continued …
Saving the faltering energy sustainability goals
Although we are fast approaching five years until the deadline for the sustainable development goals, we are still far from achieving SDG7, which calls for universal access to clean, affordable energy.
Worse, we are in the middle of yet another year that will shatter heat records. Each month since June 2023 – 13 months in a row – has ranked as the planet’s hottest average on record for that month, and June marked the third month in a row that Earth had exceeded the 1.5C limit set by the Paris agreement. Continued …
US group seeks retroactive duties on solar panel imports from Thailand
A group of U.S. solar panel makers led by First Solar and Hanwha Qcells asked the U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday to consider imposing duties retroactively on imported panels and cells amid a surge of products from Vietnam and Thailand.
The U.S. government already has launched a trade case over solar products made in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, which poses the risk of anti-dumping and countervailing duties, and the new filing raises the prospect of duties being imposed even before a final decision in the case. Continued …
Banpu targets investments in technology to cut carbon emissions
Energy giant Banpu Public Co. is stepping up efforts to invest in technology to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, CEO Sinon Vongkusolkit told a media briefing on Thursday.
The move, he said, would include additional investment in carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) technology, battery farms, and battery manufacturing. However, given the current state of the global economy, the company must proceed cautiously, awaiting the right time and price before making a move, he added. Continued …
Ministry tackles chemical waste crisis with 14.9-million-baht cleanup
The Ministry of Industry has initiated a collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other relevant agencies to address areas recently contaminated with chemical waste.
Permanent Secretary of the Industry Ministry Nattapol Rangsitpol acknowledged the issues arising from the illegal dumping of hazardous substances in Rayong, Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phetchabun. The ministry deployed a team to monitor these complaint hotspots while working toward a lasting solution. Continued …
Two toxic waste ships banned from Thailand
Two Maersk ships reportedly carrying hazardous furnace waste from Albania to Thailand have been banned from Thai ports and will be sent back to Europe.
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said on Wednesday that the container ship Maersk Candor’s last confirmed location was off South Africa last Friday. It was scheduled to arrive in Singapore on Aug. 24. Continued …
With Chinese help, Thailand aims to become EV production hub
To achieve the Thai government’s goal of building the country into the electric vehicle (EV) hub of Southeast Asia, the kingdom is welcoming Chinese EV manufacturers and their innovative technologies to integrate with local industrial chains. Thailand has set a target of making 30 % of its car production EVs by 2030.
“We welcome Chinese companies with new quality productive forces to set up their factories and even regional headquarters in Thailand. In return, Thailand will release more incentive measures to support their development,” said Thailand’s minister of industry, Pimphattra Wichaikul. Continued …
Global EV sales up 21% in July as China records biggest jump
Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose by a yearly 21% in July, thanks to China’s strongest growth this year and despite dropping demand in Europe, market research firm Rho Motion said on Monday.
In the European Union, MG Motor, owned by China’s SAIC Motor Corp., expects to be hit hardest by provisional tariffs imposed on EVs imported from China, Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester said. Continued …