Resident Coordinator’s Remarks to the Standing Committee on Economics, Monetary and Finance of the House of Representatives

Thank you very much for this opportunity to address you all on how we can accelerate Thailand’s green transition.  

Experts from 5 UN agencies will speak to actionable policies and best practice to incentivize carbon taxation and trading, investing in biodiversity, low carbon technologies and greening education.

Before they take the floor, I will briefly set out the big picture of UN’s work in Thailand.

The UN Country Team has 21 Agencies working together with the Government to turn Thailand into a prosperous, climate-resilient, and inclusive nation for all its citizens and residents premised on the Cooperation Framework, through which we are prioritizing three broad areas. 

These include, one, supporting a transition to a green and low-carbon economy; two, speeding up a digital transformation to empower communities and people of all ages; and three, addressing inequalities to make sure no one is left behind.

Underpinning these interlinked targets is our promotion of gender equality, inclusion, and human rights for all to leave no one behind.

Our annual budget is $85 million with a third coming from the Government.

We are adding value to Thailand’s progress on the BCG transition by bringing the best of science, cutting-edge policy advice and UN’s convening power to bring together the public and private sector for 5 key areas:

One, we are supporting to introduce low-carbon technologies in polluting industries such as steel, and aluminum.

Our pilots in scrap-processing smelters, regenerative furnaces, and carbon-absorbing solvents have reduced GHGs by 6%. These technologies are being scaled up to 70% of aluminum and 40% of steel plants nationwide. UNIDO will speak more to this.

Two, we are piloting waste assessments and financing mechanisms including developing mobile applications for improved waste management at 20 hotspots in partnership with provincial administrations and cities to inform effective long-term strategies.

Three, we are working on cutting food waste in partnership with 50,000 fruit framers, boosting organic rice production, and introducing smart farming technologies for rice and durian cultivation.

Four, we are promoting responsible tourism to preserve natural resources and biodiversity while also boosting the creative economy to provide livelihoods in local communities at tourism hotspots nationwide.

As part of this, UNESCO’s Sustainable Travel Pledge in partnership with the private sector is reducing the use of plastics and supporting marine conservation with the participation of over 1,100 large and medium-sized hotels/

Five, we are providing policy advice and program support for upskilling and green job creation, especially for young people, people with disabilities and the most vulnerable led by ILO.

And six, we are working with members of the Global Compact Network in Thailand to reduce GHGs across the private sector towards the goal of net zero by 2050 while also protecting 30% land and marine areas nationwide.

At the same time, we are working with bankers and investors to speed up lending and investments in green infrastructure and transformative sustainable initiatives.  

Let me pause here and give the floor to my colleague at UNEP, who will speak on mechanisms for carbon taxation, and trading.

Thank you.