Send us your news – aim@climatethialand.com
Climate change: Headed toward uncharted waters/Thailand ramps up efforts/Greenwashing Concerns/Three corporate giants reveal plans/Sustainability: Reforestation can help/Grab’s carbon offset journey/Districts to become pedestrian paradise/Energy: Solar power adoption surges/Thailand’s ‘green’ investment/PTT plots path/WHAUP prepares for energy demand/Siam Cement preps green transformation/Solar Power Project In Ratchaburi/Greener Future to Wood Manufacturing/Air: Energy-related CO2 emissions down/Air pollution driving real estate transformation/Tracking air quality/Plastics: The plastic menace/How single-use plastic rules the world/Microplastics found in coral/WWF Thailand teams up with food delivery platforms/Electric vehicles: EV sector crisis/The electric vehicle surge/Bolt’s EV Usage Soars/Wildlife: Local community creates ‘crab bank’ sanctuaries/
The world is headed toward uncharted waters
No sirens are blaring, nobody even looks frightened, but they should be. Last week, the world moved into uncharted territory. The “aspirational” goal of never allowing the average global temperature to rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial norm (+1.5C) has been breached for a whole year — and probably forever.
“Never” is a long time, so the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), when it set that target in 2018, actually said that it should remain achievable until at least 2050. You may have noticed that the year is only 2024, and we are already there. Something has gone wrong, and there is a scramble to cover it up. Continued …
Thailand ramps up efforts to combat climate change
Thailand has intensified its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, positioning itself as a leader in climate action and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
The country’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero emissions by 2065 is reflected in its comprehensive action plan, which is currently under consideration by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). Continued …
Greenwashing Concerns as Thai Companies Rush Climate Targets
Thailand’s draft climate change bill is expected to be presented to Cabinet by October 2024, after which it will be submitted for parliamentary consideration, in order to come into effect in 2025.
However, there are worries that companies might engage in “greenwashing” rather than making genuine efforts to achieve net zero emissions. Continued …
Three corporate giants reveal plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050
Three large corporations unveiled their investment plans to achieve their net-zero carbon emission goal during the event “60 Years Of Excellence” at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Wednesday.
Several companies are working on reducing their carbon footprint to mitigate the impact of climate change and drive Thailand’s carbon neutrality and net-zero carbon emission goals by 2050 and 2065, respectively. Continued …
Reforestation can help Thailand honor Paris climate commitment
Reforestation is one solution for Thailand to meet its climate change pledge, experts said at the “Mae Fah Luang Sustainability Forum 2024” at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok on Tuesday.
Signed in 2016, the Paris Agreement’s goal is to confine the rise in global surface temperature to not above 1.5 degrees Celsius of the pre-industrial levels by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and reach net zero by 2050. Continued …
Planting seeds of sustainability: Grab’s carbon offset journey
As the specter of global boiling looms large, innovative partnerships offer a beacon of hope. Grab, a leading superapp in Southeast Asia, and EcoMatcher, a technology-driven tree-planting platform, have forged an alliance in an effort to combat climate change.
By combining cutting-edge technology with transparency and community engagement, they are planting the seeds of a greener and more resilient future. Continued …
Two Bangkok districts to become pedestrian paradise
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is shaking things up with a plan to transform the eastern districts of Phra Khanong and Bang Na into a pedestrian’s dream. In a move that will have locals leaving their cars at home, the new zones will encourage walking, running, and biking as part of a healthier, greener lifestyle.
Deputy Bangkok Gov. Tavida Kamolvej revealed the ambitious plans during a brainstorming session at Ban Jirayu-Poonsup Library on Sunday. The event, which was part of the Walk-Ride-Run campaign, was organized by Chulalongkorn University’s Urban Design and Development Center (UDDC) in partnership with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth). Continued …
Global solar power adoption surges, Thailand up 18%
The world is on track to add 593 gigawatts of solar power in 2024, a jump of 29% year on year, London-based energy analysis company Ember noted in its latest report published on Thursday. The report said that thanks to declining costs, installations of solar panels maintained strong growth even after an estimated 87% surge in 2023. In 2024, an estimated 292 GW of solar capacity had been installed by the end of July, it added.
Ember’s report said the combined additions of China, the U.S., India, Germany and Brazil are on track to make up 75% of global solar additions in 2024. Meanwhile, Kasikorn Research Center reported that solar panel installations in Thailand grew at an average rate of 17.9% year on year. Continued …
Thailand’s ‘green’ investment tops 938 billion baht since 2019
Thailand’s transition to a green economy has accelerated rapidly since 2019, with promotional privileges granted to some 6,183 projects worth a combined 938.06 billion baht, the Board of Investment (BOI) said. Green investments cover BCG (bio, circular, green) industries, electric vehicles (EVs), clean energy generation, and transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
In the first six months of 2024, the BOI approved privileges for 448 projects in BCG industries with a combined investment value of 118.16 billion baht, and 25 EV projects worth 6.26 billion baht, BOI Secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi said. Continued …
PTT plots path to greener future
PTT Plc, Thailand’s national energy company, has realigned its strategy to balance business growth with sustainability, and advance both its own and the nation’s goals of achieving carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions, says its chief executive officer.
PTT President and CEO Kongkrapan Intarajang recently saidthe company is focused on balancing business growth with sustainability to ensure Thailand’s national energy security. PTT has set an ambitious target of reaching carbon net zero by 2050, well ahead of the national goal of 2065 agreed upon at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. Continued …
WHAUP prepares for energy demand spike through renewables
WHA Utilities and Power (WHAUP), an arm of Thailand’s biggest industrial land developer and operator WHA Corp, is planning to spend 2.3 billion baht to support its business and serve growing demand for water and clean electricity in Thailand and Vietnam.
A portion of the budget will be allocated for renewable energy expansion, with a goal to reach electricity generation capacity of 1,000 megawatts under power-purchase agreements with the government, said Somkiat Masunthasuwun, director and a member of the WHAUP executive committee. Continued …
Siam Cement preps green transformation
Siam Cement Group (SCG), Thailand’s largest cement maker and industrial conglomerate, plans to allocate 200 billion baht to develop its businesses between 2025 and 2030, in a bid to make them more eco-friendly and competitive.
The company plans to spend 40 billion baht of the budget annually to support businesses, especially those under its key subsidiaries SCG Chemicals and SCG Cleanergy, which offers clean energy solutions, said Thammasak Sethaudom, president and chief executive of SCG. Continued …
WHAUP Partners With Animal Feed Leaders For 9 MW Solar Power Project In Ratchaburi
WHA Utilities and Power Public Co. (WHAUP) has announced a major collaboration with S.P.M. Animal Feed Co. and A.P.M. Agro Co., two key players in Thailand’s integrated animal feed and livestock industries, to develop a 9-megawatt (MW) solar power project. This project is set to commence electricity supply by 2025.
The partnership will see the installation of three solar power systems, including solar floating, solar farm, and solar car park, spread across S.P.M. and A.P.M.’s facilities in Ratchaburi Province, with a total investment of 200 million baht. Continued …
Bringing A Greener Future to Wood Manufacturing and Processing in Thailand
J.U.N. EXPRESS, a Thai manufacturer of rough-sawn rubberwood and furniture parts with over nine years of experience, relies heavily on a fully automated production process. This process involves woodcutters, sanders, conveyors, and other equipment that consume significant amounts of electricity.
The demands of uninterrupted production lines and high energy consumption, along with the resulting pollution, are at odds with the principles of green development. Given the rising electricity cost in Thailand, J.U.N. EXPRESS embraced solar power by installing Hi-MO X6 solar panels installed by LONGi, in partnership with Smart Solar Corp. Continued …
Thailand’s energy-related CO2 emissions down 2.5% in first half of 2024
Thailand’s carbon dioxide emissions from energy usage from January to June stood at 121.9 million tons, down 2.5% year on year (YoY), the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) reported on Wednesday. The office said electricity generation emitted the most CO2 at 48.1 million tons, increasing 5.8% YoY.
In second place was the transport sector, which emitted 41.5 million tons of CO2, down 1.2% YoY. The industrial sector, meanwhile, emitted 25.6 million tons of CO2, decreasing 16.8% YoY. Continued …
How air pollution is driving a real estate transformation in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is one of the undisputed jewels in Thailand’s tourism crown. On the doorstep of some of the country’s most stunning nature, the idyllic northern city beckons visitors with its laidback blend of ancient temples, legendary Lanna cuisine, and lively arts and music scene.
But then March rolls around, and the smog rolls in. Every year, for about two months, Chiang Mai is shrouded in pollution, driving tourists away while long-suffering residents endure the poor living conditions. This pollution is exacerbated by the city’s location in a valley, which traps the smoke from agricultural burning in the region. Continued …
Tracking air quality the right way
Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) summarizes global progress on malaria control. It details the number of cases in affected countries, shows year-on-year changes, outlines goals, and assesses the current funding landscape. The United Nations puts out a similar annual report for HIV/Aids.
This regular tracking of serious public-health concerns is essential for addressing them effectively, because it can help channel resources to where they are most needed and identify interventions that are working. Continued …
Saving the planet from the plastic menace
There is no denying that plastics have delivered tremendous benefits over the past century. But as we now know, this progress has come at great cost.
Plastic pollution endangers wildlife, damages ecosystems and poses serious risks to human health. Microplastics, along with the toxic chemicals they contain, are found in the air we breathe, the food we eat and can be absorbed through the skin. As plastic waste accumulates in water, harmful chemicals contaminate the soil. Continued …
‘Easy, convenient, cheap’: how single-use plastic rules the world
Negotiators hope to reach the world’s first treaty on plastic pollution this year, but across five very different countries, AFP found single-use plastic remains hugely popular as a cheap and convenient choice, illustrating the challenges ahead:
On a Bangkok street lined with food vendors, customers line up for Maliwan’s famed traditional sweets. Steamed layer cakes — green with pandan leaf or blue with butterfly pea — sit in clear plastic bags alongside rows of taro pudding in plastic boxes. Continued …
Microplastics found in Thai coral skeletons
Researchers from Japan and Thailand investigating microplastics in coral have found that all three parts of the coral anatomy – surface mucus, tissue, and skeleton – contain microplastics. The findings were made possible thanks to a new microplastic detection technique developed by the team and applied to coral for the first time.
These findings may also explain the “missing plastic problem” that has puzzled scientists, where about 70% of the plastic litter that has entered the oceans cannot be found. The team hypothesizes that coral may be acting as a “sink” for microplastics by absorbing it from the oceans. Continued …
WWF Thailand teams up with food delivery platforms for plastic reduction
The World Wide Fund for Nature Thailand (WWF Thailand) has joined forces with LINE MAN Wongnai and Foodpanda, to promote plastic reduction in the food delivery industry. Operating under the “Reduce-Increase-Exchange” concept, the initiative, piloted in four cities in southern Thailand, aims to expand its impact and drive nationwide change.
Rattaphon Pitakthepsombat, deputy director of conservation, WWF Thailand, said, “Plastic waste is a global issue that affects all of our lives. Every year, 430 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide. In Thailand, 75% of plastic waste, or around 1.5 million tons annually, is discarded and has not been circulated in the system, posing a risk of leakage into nature and remaining in the oceans for hundreds of years.” Continued …
EV sector crisis as Chinese firms trapped between lack of demand, tax penalties
Thailand’s new EV manufacturing world is in crisis. The sector, which has seen Chinese firms invest billions, is now suffering a market glut, as demand for EV cars, both in Thailand and across the world except for China, falls. This year has seen the industry tilt decisively towards HEV or hybrid vehicles.
At this time, it is being reported that Chinese firms in Thailand are holding urgent talks with the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. The firms are bound under Thailand’s 3.0 and 3.5 incentive schemes to ramp up production to match the number of imported vehicles here. However, unable to find export markets for the cars, they are left with a vast dilemma. Continued …
The electric vehicle surge and Thailand’s plastic curse
The streets of Phuket, and indeed across Thailand, are undergoing a quiet transformation. The subtle hum of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids is becoming increasingly familiar, marking a change welcomed by many.
However, this shift isn’t fueled by a sudden wave of environmental consciousness among Thais and expats. Instead, it’s a matter of market dynamics: these vehicles are now affordably priced, offer attractive credit and undeniably fashionable. Continued …
Bolt’s EV Usage Soars as Thailand Goes Green
Ride-hailing company Bolt has reported a significant increase in the use of electric vehicles (EVs) on its platform. The announcement comes as the country celebrates World Car Free Day and demonstrates a growing preference for emission-free mobility options among Thai commuters.
According to data released by Bolt, its green category, which features electric and hybrid vehicles, has seen a 257.5% increase in active EV cars. These eco-friendly vehicles have collectively traveled over 4.51 million kilometers – equivalent to approximately 112 trips around the Earth’s equator. Continued …
Local community helps researchers create ‘crab bank’ sanctuaries
Blue swimming crabs, once plentiful in the Ban Don Bay off the east coast of Thailand, are a crucial part of the local community’s livelihoods. These crabs account for 80% of the locals’ income, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reports, but because of the high catch rates, the blue swimming crab population has been dwindling.
Local fisher Sutham Hemmanee noticed the problem, and female blue swimming crabs with the potential to produce millions of offspring were still being hunted, so he decided to do something about it. Continued …