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Climate change: Push toward green economy/Sustainability: Making Bangkok a sustainable city/Food industry embracing sustainability/Mae Fah Luang Foundation awarded/Kao, CP forge partnership/Mangrove carbon credits/Green Hotel Awards/Energy: Solar power household rooftops/New duties on solar imports/Probe into Thai solar cells/New renewables investment/Solar Panels Withstand Super Typhoon Yagi/Super Energy looks for partners/ASEAN Solar PV & Energy Storage Expo/Water: Climate change making typhoons worse/Safeguarding Thailand’s Coral Reefs/Air: Efforts to cut carbon/Plastics: Countdown To Save Oceans/Transforming Plastic Waste/Bacterium that destroys plastic/Recycling: ASEAN Energy Project Award/Electric vehicles: BYD’s affordable EVs/

Siam Cement chief calls for unified push toward green economy

Collaboration between the business and government sectors is crucial to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon society, said Thammasak Sethaudom, president and CEO of Siam Cement Group (SCG). He made this point during a speech on Monday at the Sustainability Expo 2024 on “Driving Inclusive Green Transition”.

He cited SCG’s efforts over recent years to promote an inclusive green transition toward a low-carbon economy and increase Thailand’s global competitiveness on the issue. He suggested stakeholders push for laws and regulations to make clean energy accessible to everyone, including liberalizing clean energy trading through the smart grid. Continued …

Chadchart unveils his mission to make Bangkok a livable and sustainable city

Sustainable urban growth is not solely about environmental factors but also about the sustainability of citizens’ lives, Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said on Wednesday at the Sustainability Expo 2024 being held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Taking part in a panel discussion titled “Pathways to a Sustainable Urban Future”, he unveiled his vision for “Bangkok: A Livable City for Everyone”. He said this requires cooperation among the government, private sector, and communities to invest in enhancing quality of life and sustainable development, to make Bangkok a livable city for all. Continued …

Why the Thai food industry is embracing sustainability

The very act of eating is often perceived as a “destroyer” of the planet, contributing to deforestation, pollution, and climate change. However, a growing movement suggests that food consumption can be a powerful tool for positive change.

Is “eating to save the planet” a realistic goal? While it might seem far-fetched for the average consumer, it’s a concept that businesses are taking very seriously. Continued …

Mae Fah Luang Foundation awarded for environmental sustainability

The Mae Fah Luang Foundation has been awarded the SX Shaper Award for contributing to environmental sustainability and community development. The foundation, established in 1972 by Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, the late Princess Mother of King Rama IX, aims to improve the quality of life for hill tribes in Thailand through health, education, and livelihood development initiatives.

The award, presented at the Sustainability Expo 2024, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant positive changes in sustainability and community support. The foundation has focused on empowering local communities to become self-reliant and independent, guided by the principle of “helping people to help themselves.” Continued …

Kao, CP forge partnership for sustainable products

Kao Corp., a global manufacturer of consumer and industrial chemical products, and Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive collaboration in co-creating sustainable consumer and chemical products.

Yoshihiro Hasebe, representative director, president and chief executive of Kao Corp. of Japan, said the two companies agreed to jointly create a new house brand for CP Group, with product and innovation support from Kao Group. Continued …

Thailand turns to mangrove carbon credits despite scepticism

Watchara Kumpai, 68, spends most of his time in boots, stomping through coastal mangrove forests in southern Thailand. He used to work in the tin mining and logging industries that contributed to mangrove loss, until all concessions in mangrove areas were canceled in 1991.

Today, Watchara is dedicated to restoring and protecting these vital ecosystems in Ranong province, as Thailand aims to restore 500,000 rai (80,000 hectares) for carbon credits by 2031. Continued …

ERAWAN Group Receives Green Hotel Awards for Environmental Excellence

Two hotels of The Erawan Group Public Co. were honored with Green Hotel awards, recognizing their commitment to environmental sustainability. The awards were presented by the Department of Climate Change and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok received the prestigious Gold-level award, while Hop Inn Chaeng Watthana was honored with the Silver level. Continued …

Solar power push for household rooftops

Energy authorities are considering buying more solar power from households as part of efforts to promote clean energy and increase installation of rooftop solar panels, says an energy official.

The National Energy Policy Administration Committee earlier approved a plan to buy a total of 90 megawatts of solar power from homeowners under a long-term purchase plan running from 2021 to 2030. Continued …

US sets preliminary new duties on solar imports from Southeast Asia

The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday announced anti-subsidy countervailing duties on solar cells imported by companies in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand that were lower than some expected for several major Chinese producers.

The announcement is the first of two preliminary decisions expected by the Commerce Department this year in a trade case brought by South Korea’s Hanwha Qcells, Arizona-based First Solar and several smaller companies seeking to protect billions of dollars in investments in U.S. solar manufacturing. Continued …

US launches probe into Thai solar cells

The U.S. Commerce Department has initiated anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) probes into solar cell imports from Southeast Asian nations, including Thailand.

In April, a group of domestic producers of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells and modules petitioned the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission to combat the practice of dumping such products from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Continued …

Bt300 billion in new renewables investment expected

Investment in new renewable energy development in Thailand is expected to reach 300 billion baht in value, as authorities accelerate efforts to promote clean power usage, says an Energy Ministry official.

The latest projection was made by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which launched a renewables scheme to increase the nation’s renewable power generation capacity, said the official who requested anonymity. Continued …

LONGi Solar Panels Withstand Super Typhoon Yagi in Hai Phong

A solar PV system using LONGi solar panels installed four years ago at the Aeon Mall in Vietnam’s Hai Phong province, remained intact and fully operational in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yagi, which devastated the city and flattened many factories and warehouses.

With crack-free smart welding technology, LONGi solar panels have seen enhancements in power output, efficiency, and load resistance. While the performance and quality of these panels are vital to their durability, the role of the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor is also indispensable to a robust installation. Continued …

Super Energy looks for renewable power partners

Super Energy Corp., one of Thailand’s largest operators of solar farms, is restructuring its business and forming new partnerships to expand its renewable power plants throughout Southeast Asia.

The restructuring plan is to run in parallel with development plans for new solar, wind, waste-to-energy and hydroelectric power plants, said Jomsup Lochaya, chief executive of Super Energy. Continued …

ASEAN Solar PV & Energy Storage Expo in Bangkok March 5-7

The ASEAN Solar PV & Energy Storage Expo 2025 will be held on March 5-7 in Impact Exhibition Center, Bangkok, Thailand.

This event brings together industry professionals, experts, and leaders from across the globe to explore the latest advancements and opportunities in the solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage sector. With a focus on sustainable development and renewable energy, the expo provides a platform for networking, learning, and showcasing innovative solutions. Continued …

Study shows climate change is making typhoons worse in Southeast Asia

A joint scientific study released in July examined the effects of climate change on typhoons in Southeast Asia. It found that typhoons in the region are forming closer to coastlines. They are also intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land.

A statement from the study warned that coastal communities and cities like Hai Phong in Vietnam and the Thai capital, Bangkok, face threats from longer-lasting and more intense storms. Continued …

Safeguarding Thailand’s Coral Reefs and Ecosystems with ‘Coral Screen’

Wadwalai Rujipornpong, a dedicated young researcher and environmental advocate, has taken significant steps to address the detrimental impact of chemical sunscreens on Thailand’s vital coral reefs.

Through her initiative, “Coral Screen”, she has developed a locally produced, reef-safe sunscreen that prioritizes both efficacy and affordability for the Thai population. Thailand’s coral reefs, essential to the global marine ecosystem, face threats from climate change, pollution, and notably, toxic sunscreen ingredients. Continued …

Exploring Thai efforts to cut carbon

Thailand is racing against time to meet its international commitments to reduce global warming, cutting carbon emissions by one-third within six years. While the goal aims to support the Thai and global environment, it also poses an economic challenge because of the connection between economic conditions and environmental preservation.

Global warming, the increase of the Earth’s average temperature through the greenhouse effect, is primarily caused by humans increasing carbon dioxide emissions through activities such as burning fuel, transport and industrial production. Continued …

Scientists Unveil Countdown To Save Oceans From Plastic Pollution

A report published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin by researchers from Japan’s Kyushu University has, for the first time, established a clear numerical target for addressing global marine plastic pollution. Through their mapping of plastic waste movement and its impacts on the oceans, the team determined that a minimum 32% reduction in plastic littering is required by 2035 to avert further harm to marine environments.

Marine plastic pollution has been a growing issue for the world, and unless considerable interventions are placed the situation will only get worse. For several years, Prof. Atsuhiko Isobe from Kyushu University’s Research Institute for Applied Mechanics has been working to monitor and track plastic pollution in the ocean. In 2022, his research team reported that an estimated 25.3 million metric tons of plastic waste has entered our oceans, and nearly two-thirds of that cannot be monitored. Continued …

Transforming Plastic Waste Management in Rayong

Researchers from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi have conducted an in-depth study on enhancing plastic waste (PW) management in Rayong, a coastal city in Thailand. The study aims to improve the current systems of plastic waste handling by exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while increasing economic value.

The city, located on Thailand’s eastern Gulf Coast, faces challenges in managing significant amounts of plastic waste, much of which is either incinerated for energy or ends up in landfills. By analyzing existing practices and proposing new strategies, the researchers present a roadmap to transition Rayong’s waste-management system toward a more efficient and environmentally sustainable model. Continued …

Scientists have found a bacterium that destroys plastic

Scientists from Northwestern University in the USA have found a way to combat the problem of plastic pollution in the environment. They identified a wastewater bacterium that can break down PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate). This bacterium is capable of fragmenting plastic, breaking it down and using it as a carbon source.

Scientists have established that this process is due to the presence of a certain enzyme in the bacterium. It has been found that the bacterium Comamonas testosteri, which occurs in water bodies and sewage, can feed on plastic waste. Continued …

CPF Wins ASEAN Energy Project Award for Waste-to-Energy Initiative

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) has been awarded the ASEAN Renewable Energy Project Award 2024 by the ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE) for its innovative waste-to-energy project at the Wang Thong Layer Complex in Phitsanulok Province. The project, which converts chicken manure into renewable energy, showcases the company’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly egg production.

This marks the second time CP Foods’ egg business has received this prestigious award, following the recognition of the Chok Chai Farm Complex in Nakhon Ratchasima province in 2022 for renewable energy development. Continued … 

BYD and its affordable EVs

It may not yet be a household name, but BYD is gaining recognition outside China for its affordable and accessible electric vehicles (EV). Despite regulatory scrutiny in the West, it’s determined to lower the boundaries to manufacturing and transporting its vehicles across the globe.

Five years ago, BYD was just another Chinese carmaker in a crowded field. Since then, the Shenzhen-based company has rapidly become the undisputed leader of China’s automotive industry, as well as the world’s biggest producer of electric vehicles (including both pure EVs and plug-in hybrids). Continued …