Bangkok, Thailand – On 12th October 2022 the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), the National Designated Authority of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), launched the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme to help Thailand curb greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) a public entity, ,Kasikornbank Public Company Limited, and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The launch of the initiative was chaired by Mr. Phirun Saiyasitpanich, ONEP Secretary-General.
Photo credit: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning
“The GCF readiness programme aims to accelerate the operation of both policy and implementation to support Thailand to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets, which include Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Carbon Neutrality, and Net Zero Emission,” Mr. Saiyasitpanich said. “The programme will give Thailand the ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change by providing capacity building, technology transfer and finance which are important mechanisms that will drive the country’s climate change operations,” Mr. Saiyasitpanich added.
Under the initiative there are two projects funded by GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme in 2022 which are: (1) a cooperation project between ONEP and TGO to encourage local governments to understand climate change and have access to necessary resources to implement climate change projects in their areas; and (2) a cooperation project between ONEP, Kasikornbank, and GGGI to develop financial strategies for climate change and prepare Kasikornbank to be accredited by GCF as a Direct Access Entity.
The implementation of both projects plays an important role in contributing to Thailand’s climate change efforts. Particularly, the projects will help build Thailand’s future access to the Green Climate Fund and other international funds. Furthermore, the projects will contribute to helping Thailand achieve its climate change targets including reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065.
From left to right, (1) Mr. Jiravat Ratisoontorn, Deputy Secretary General, ONEP, (2) Ms. Chalarat Phinitbenchaphol, Executive Vice President, Kasikornbank, (3) Mr. Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Secretary General, ONEP, (4) Ms. Natarika Wayuparb Nitiphon, Deputy Executive Director, TGO, and (5) Mr. Tero Raassina, Thailand Country Representative, GGGI Photo credit: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning
About GGGI:
Based in Seoul, GGGI is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization- with 44 Members and over 20 countries and regional integration organization(s) in the process of accession – dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. With operations in over 30 countries, GGGI serves the role of an enabler and facilitator of Members’ transition into a low-carbon green economy, providing policy advice and technical support in the development of green growth plans, policies and regulations, mobilization of green investments, implementation of green growth projects, and development of local capacities and knowledge sharing.