Showing 1 - 10 of 20
Blended finance for climate action
Oped, Published on 13/08/2025
» It takes policy support, commitment and also money to tackle climate change. For the latter, Thailand needs around 5-7 trillion baht in climate finance to achieve its carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions by 2050 and 2065, respectively. However, that's a target the country is still a long way away from.
Thailand's SDG path shows gains
Oped, Published on 25/07/2025
» Thailand presented its third Voluntary National Review at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in New York. It was a moment to take stock, not only of what has been achieved under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but of the work still to come. Thailand has shown consistent engagement in this process, having previously submitted reviews in 2017 and 2021, underscoring a clear message: sustainable development remains a national priority.
Thailand's cleaner grid is within reach
Oped, Rapeepat Ingkasit, Published on 11/06/2025
» Thailand is approaching a pivotal moment in shaping its energy future. The draft Power Development Plan 2024 (PDP2024) -- currently awaiting finalisation -- outlines the country's power strategy for the next two decades. But as it stands, the draft leans heavily on legacy thermal infrastructure, including continued reliance on fossil fuels.
Role of banks in climate change future
Oped, Sarinee Achavanuntakul, Published on 22/01/2025
» On Jan 10, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that 2024 was the warmest year on record, likely the first year with a global mean temperature of more than 1C above the 1850-1900 average. Despite the alarming fact, the year 2025 is not off to a good start. The same week that WMO made that ominous announcement, JP Morgan became the sixth and latest bank in the United States to withdraw from the UN-backed Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), following the earlier exits of Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs -- all of which left since the start of last month.
Farms and solar energy can co-exist
Oped, Rapeepat Ingkasit, Published on 08/01/2025
» At first glance, the idea of combining agriculture with solar energy seems far-fetched. How can crops and solar panels compete for the same sunlight? My view changed after I visited the Sosa Mega Solar Sharing site in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, last month. As part of a media tour organised by Mekong Watch, a Japanese non-profit conservation group, I had the opportunity to see first-hand how "agrivoltaics" -- an innovative integration of agriculture and solar energy -- are reshaping rural landscapes and revitalising communities.
Energy ghost resurrected
Oped, Editorial, Published on 14/09/2024
» Each new government must apparently now have its own "flagship" energy policy.
The twin challenges of 'climate finance'
Oped, Sarinee Achavanuntakul, Published on 07/08/2024
» As I am writing this in early August, climate finance is becoming a trendier topic in Thailand's financial and business sector. I suspect this is partly due to two recent developments: the upcoming Climate Change Act (the draft of which is making the rounds via public hearing sessions), and the Excise Department's announcement in June 2024 that Thailand aims to become the second country in Asean, after Singapore, to collect carbon tax, which is slated to start at 200 baht per metric ton of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).
Missed energy transition opportunity
Oped, Rapeepat Ingkasit, Published on 22/06/2024
» I recently reviewed the draft Power Development Plan (PDP2024), outlining Thailand's power development roadmap from 2024 to 2037. This draft, which was put for a public hearing process during June 12–19, left me disappointed. The lower-than-expected economic growth, high energy surplus, fluctuating electricity costs due to gas price volatility and a more ambitious net-zero target all signal a need to recalibrate our plans towards low carbon emissions.
Making exports for a low-carbon era
Oped, Published on 27/03/2024
» Exports have been Thailand's important growth engine for many decades. A number of Thailand's export destinations have shown increasing interest in and support for low-carbon products. Failure to meet global demand for low-carbon products risks Thailand's competitiveness in international trade.
Taking steps towards climate action
Oped, Published on 20/03/2024
» In response to escalating global concerns over climate change, Thailand has taken a stride by drafting its Climate Change Act that, if enacted, will be the country's first climate change law.