Thailand's commitment to climate action showcased at ASEAN Carbon Pricing Conference

This groundbreaking event was held on November 6th and 7th, 2023, at the Eastin Grand Hotel in Phayathai, Bangkok, and brought together representatives from all 10 ASEAN member countries and various international organizations, with over 200 attendees in total.

During a two-day conference, Julie Amoroso-Garbin, Regional Lead for UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Center for Asia and the Pacific set the stage for accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement through regional collaboration. A keynote presentation highlighted the support provided by the United Nations Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centers to Parties in developing carbon pricing instruments for meeting their climate commitments, as part of the Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action (CiACA) initiative introduced at COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco. CiACA is supported by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany and other countries. This voluntary initiative is dedicated to aiding developing countries in a variety of capacities, including the identification of suitable options, the formulation of specific proposals for carbon pricing instruments, and the implementation of these instruments on a national scale. The project is actively assisting countries in Southeast Asia, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Pakistan, Panama, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago and the eastern region of Africa.

The ASEAN Carbon Pricing Conference was the result of a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Center for Asia and the Pacific, the Global Green Growth Institute, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the British Embassy, and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. The conference provided a valuable platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences in developing and implementing carbon pricing mechanisms aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the ASEAN region. Furthermore, it emphasized the importance of international cooperation in designing transparent and reliable policies, measures, and mechanisms to effectively address climate change challenges.

In addition to the conference, Thailand has made the strategic move of establishing the Department of Climate Change and Environment, accelerating climate change initiatives and progressing in the drafting of the Climate Change Act. This initiative is intended to enhance the capacity of government agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and promote increased involvement from the private sector and civil society in addressing global warming issues on the global stage. This underscores Thailand's commitment to playing a leading role in the region's response to challenges by climate change by through carbon pricing instruments.

At the conference, Mr. Kiatchai Maitreewong, Executive Director of Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization joined the panel discussion. He presented on the Thailand’s development of National Greenhouse Gas Registry and innovative carbon trading platform, back by national banks, that buyers and sellers can engage directly. These platforms provide opportunities for climate finance support, foreign investment, advanced technology transfer, capacity building, and can enhance the competitiveness of organizations in Thailand.