June 28, 2022; Bangkok, Thailand – The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment together with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) organized a stakeholder consultation workshop titled “GGGI’s Thailand Country Planning Framework 2022 – 2026’’, which brought together key related governmental stakeholders for feedback and recommendations in order to finalize the draft Thailand Country Planning Framework (CPF) 2022-2026. GGGI’s CPF is a 5-year in-country delivery strategy that identifies GGGI’s contribution to green growth in member and partner countries in alignment with GGGI’s Strategy 2030.  The meeting objectives were to ensure that government’s national development priorities remain at the center of GGGI’s interventions, to demonstrates government’s support in the implementation of the CPF, and to incorporate relevant national stakeholder feedbacks in order to finalize and launch Thailand CPF.

Photo credit: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning

Thailand, the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, has been transitioning from an agriculture-based economy to a more industrialized one since its export-led economic boom in the late 1980s. Since its graduation to upper middle-income country status in 2011, the Royal Thai Government has turned its focus to escaping the “middle income trap” to sustain its economic growth and low poverty rate, and at the same time achieve greater income equality and economic modernization. Thailand aims to transform higher value-added industries, as defined in the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model, which can increase the value of the production with the cohesive social and environmental impact.

In early 2016, Thailand, with the Cabinet’s approval, became a GGGI Member country. Housed in ONEP under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, GGGI undertook projects in 2017-2021 such as (i) Advancing Thailand’s Access to the Green Climate Fund; (ii) E-waste collection and recycling in Udon Thani; (iii) Initiative for Climate Action Transparency MRV systems with focus on industry and buildings; and (iv) Transitioning to Green and Smart City: Case Study of AMATA.  In December 2021, GGGI and ONEP signed an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding that signaled the start of a new cycle.

Caption: From left to right, Rosalind Amornpitakpun, Director of Measure and Mechanism Development Section, ONEP, Ms. Nareerat Panmanee, Director of Climate Change Management and Coordination Division, ONEP, Mr. Tero Raassina, Thailand Country Representative, GGGI, Mr. Santikorn Pakdeesettakul, Senior Green Investment Strategy Officer, GGGI

Photo credit: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning

To further assist the Royal Thai Government, GGGI has developed a draft Thailand CPF 2022-2026 aligned with the key national policies and priorities including Climate Change Master Plan and the BCG Economic Model. The CPF also supports Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and formulated to support the acceleration of climate-resilient and inclusive green growth with tangible green investment mobilization targets. The Thailand CPF 2022-2026 focuses on solid waste management, green buildings, green industries, and climate action including green investment related mechanisms.

The Thailand CPF 2022-2026 is formulated through a series of analytical exercises and stakeholder feedback sessions, incorporating input from GGGI staffs, national stakeholders, and development partners.  As such, the CPF is an important part of the program cycle where opportunities are explored for synergy between a country’s social and economic development objectives, its NDC and SDG priorities, and GGGI expertise, identifying areas where GGGI can make significant environmental, social and economic impacts.

Caption: Ms. Nareerat Panmanee, Director of Climate Change Management and Coordination Division, ONEP

Photo credit: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning

Ms. Nareerat Panmanee, Director of Climate Change Management and Coordination Division, ONEP, emphasized the country’s priority on climate change in her opening remarks. She stated, “Thailand has announced its NDC to reduce 20-25% GHG emission in transport and energy, waste, and industry sectors by 2030, and recently announced country’s higher ambitious targets in striving to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero emissions by 2065. The country is currently revising the long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) and will be updating the NDC to support the LT-LEDS implementation.”

Caption: Clockwise from top-left, Dr. Jaeseung Lee, Deputy Director and Head of Emerging Economies Asia, Ms. Christina Cheong, Green Buildings and Green Industries Lead, Mr. Santikorn Pakdeesettakul, Senior Green Investment Strategy Officer, Mr. Tero Raassina, Thailand Country Representative, GGGI

Photo credit: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning

GGGI’s experts, Dr. Jaeseung Lee, Deputy Director and Head of Emerging Economies Asia, Mr. Tero Raassina, Thailand Country Representative, and Ms. Christina Cheong, Green Buildings and Green Industries Lead, provided an overview of four programmatic solutions: climate action, waste management, green buildings, and green industries, under the draft CPF. The stakeholder feedback session was moderated by Mr. Santikorn Pakdeesettakul, Senior Green Investment Strategy Officer.