United Nations in Thailand

With 21 United Nations entities represented in Thailand, our work encompasses all of the SDGs. The United Nations Country Team supports activities with particular focus on the following goals: SDG1.3 on expanding the reach of social protection; SDG 3.4 tackling non-communicable diseases; SDG 4.1 education for all, with a focus on migrant children; SDG 5.5 advocacy for greater participation of women in political decision making; SDG 8.3 support to small to medium-sized enterprises and youth innovation; 10.2 inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly the LGBTI community; SDG 10.7 migration governance; SDG 13.2 climate change strategies at national and local level; SDG 16.1 supporting social cohesion to end violence in southern Thailand; SDG 16.9 advocacy and support to end statelessness; SDG 17.7 partnerships with private sector for sustainable development; and, SDG 17.9 the sharing of Thailand’s experience and best practices through South-South exchanges.

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07 March 2023

International Women's Day 2023 ー UN SG's Message

Video Message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on International Women's Day 2023. Click here to read the message.

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09 January 2023

Opinion: a model for HIV management

The key to ending Aids is to end inequality, and countries most affected by the disease must lead the effort against the disease by closing the economic gap. Inequality, compounded by stigmatisation, if not, criminalisation, is making it impossible for many people at risk of contracting HIV, as well as those living with the disease, to receive the quality care they need. In theory, people living with HIV have the right to health care, employment and housing without discrimination. Migrant workers too have the right to seek HIV prevention and treatment programmes, just as those who are living on the margins of society, such as LGBTQI individuals, drug users and sex workers, have the right to seek health services from the state. But in too many countries and regions, these are simply not happening. The current paradigm in which Global North leads the world's Aids response taking charge of the decision-making, agenda-setting and public education needs to change. The developing world has just as many inspiring figures and innovations which the rest of the world could learn a lesson or two from in making HIV-related services more accessible to all. There are models from the Global South too, which can show the world how to address the structural, social and legal factors that are slowing the progress towards ending this epidemic. Thailand is among these trailblazers. It has converted political commitment into political will, and political will into action. The results prove it. Thailand was first in the Asia Pacific region to eliminate mother- to-child transmission of HIV. Nine out of every ten people diagnosed with HIV here are receiving HIV treatment and an impressive 97% of these people are virally suppressed! Just recently the country launched its "Undetectable = Untransmittable" or U=U initiative. This strategy is based on empirical testing which shows that people living with HIV who are on treatment and have an undetectable viral load cannot pass the virus on to their sexual partners or to their children. Thailand has demonstrated the value of linking high-level buy-in for the vision of ending Aids with multi-sectoral collaboration. The country has taken a long-term view for planning and coordination through the 2017– 2030 National Strategy to End Aids. HIV response best practices are not cherry picked. Thailand has moved decisively to leverage innovations like same-day treatment for people who are newly diagnosed with HIV, HIV self-testing, and pre-exposure prophylaxis. We are grateful that during Dec 13-16 last year, the government of Thailand was able to host the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNAids) board meeting in Chiang Mai. This meeting brought civil society organisations, including associations of people living with HIV, to the discussion table with member states and United Nations agencies. Together these constituencies provide oversight and strategic direction for UNAids, which guides and supports the global HIV response. For Thailand, the long-term plan is to reduce new infections, ensure everyone in need has access to HIV treatment, end stigma in healthcare, workplace, education, community, shift public perceptions about HIV and work through the justice system to protect and promote human rights for all. Not only has Thailand joined the Global Partnership to Eliminate all Forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination, but it has developed a plan to end HIV-related prejudice. This robust planning and implementation do not happen just everywhere. It is an example to the world. Perhaps the greatest lesson Thailand can share is the importance of prioritising and supporting community-led work around HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. By integrating HIV services into the Universal Health Coverage scheme and increasing investments in people most affected by HIV and community-led health services, the government is working towards a best practice for a long term, financially sustainable and high impact HIV response. More than that, by leaning into the strength of community-led organisations, Thailand is giving itself the best chance of reaching people who are hardest to reach. These are the people who are diagnosed late, who are fearful to access HIV services and/or those who experience discrimination due to their HIV status and other intersecting vulnerabilities. We were thrilled to offer UNAIDS board members the opportunity to see the power of a people-centred approach through community leadership as well as the power of partnerships between the community and public sector and integration of HIV in UHC in action. The government, community organisations and UNAids will continue the work needed to ensure global HIV response is informed by the wealth of experiences from the entire world, particularly from countries most affected by HIV. And, as we have from the start, together we will prioritise community and civil society activism and leadership as a connection to the lived experience of people living with and affected by HIV. This inclusive approach is the only way to end Aids. Written by: Tares Krassanairawiwong, Director-General of Department of Disease Control; Apiwat Kwangkaew, Chairman of the Thailand Network of People Living with HIV (TNP+); and Patchara Benjarattanaporn, UNAIDS Country Director, Thailand. This piece was originally published on the Bangkok Post.

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03 February 2023

Increasing Arrivals of Rohingya Boats; IOM Scales Up Support

Bangkok – The number of Rohingya refugees arriving in South-East Asia via sea and land routes has increased exponentially in recent months. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded almost 3,300 arrivals in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in 2022, marking roughly a 290 per cent increase compared to around 850 arrivals in 2021. As the increase in arrivals continues in 2023 – with nearly 300 as of 23 January, alone – IOM is scaling up its operations in the region to provide vital humanitarian assistance. In Indonesia, where most of the arrivals have been recorded, IOM is working closely with the government, NGO partners and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to facilitate access to basic services. IOM has provided protection, health services – including mental health – in addition to refurbishing temporary shelters and ensuring water supply, access to food, sanitation and waste management. Additionally, IOM teams are conducting information sessions in Rohingya language to support the refugees in identifying the risks linked to human smuggling and trafficking, gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse. In Thailand, IOM is providing health services to Rohingya, as well as promoting alternatives to detention for migrant children and mothers and an increase in education services for those in shelters. Meanwhile, IOM in Malaysia is expanding its cash-based rental assistance programme, following vulnerability assessments, in response to the constant threat of eviction Rohingya refugees face. “Since the beginning of the Rohingya refugee crisis, IOM has been steadfast in providing the necessary humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya,” said Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola, IOM Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. “Along with our UN and other humanitarian partners, we reaffirm our support to States across the region to provide immediate assistance to Rohingya refugees and other vulnerable migrants, and to strengthen the broader response capacity to irregular movements.” Since 2020, over 3,000 Rohingyas in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand received direct assistance from IOM. In a recent statement, IOM urged States in the region to work collectively to avoid a repeat of the 2015 crisis, when thousands of men, women and children faced tremendous challenges in accessing life-saving care and support, resulting in loss of life at sea. IOM continues to advocate for the protection of Rohingya before, during and after their journeys, including combating smuggling and trafficking. Over five years ago, the first of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled violence and persecution in Myanmar and sought refuge in what is now the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Nearly 1 million refugees remain in congested camps, with many others embarking on dangerous journeys to neighbouring countries. IOM’s humanitarian assistance to Rohingya in the region is funded by the European Union and the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). *** For more information, please contact: In Bangkok: Itayi Viriri (iviriri@iom.int, +66 659390934) Miko Alazas (aalazas@iom.int, +66 651190912) In Jakarta: Josephine Imelda (jimelda@iom.int, +62 81318693599) In Kuala Lumpur: Nurdeena Anuar (nanuar@iom.int, +60 196630160)) Siti Munawirah Ahmad (smustaffa@iom.int, +60 196630142)

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Press Release

13 February 2023

Business leaders urge re-think of investing choices in sustainability

BANGKOK (9 September 2023) – Trillions of dollars in assets and resources can be unlocked to speed up the transition away from carbon emissions and put the world on a low-carbon pathway, but corporate planners will need to commit themselves to better strategic investment choices, a United Nations-sponsored high-level forum has heard. The call was made as the United Nations Global Compact launched a regional hub in Bangkok to help businesses across the country redouble their efforts to invest in reducing their environmental and carbon footprints. The event, titled “CEO Forum on Sustainable Finance: Scaling up Sustainable Finance Solutions for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs,” featured a gathering of officials and experts from government, UN, the private sector and public finance from across Thailand. The participants highlighted the potential of scientifically robust, realistic, and profitable climate-aligned financing strategies and business models towards decarbonization efforts and the country’s green economy transition in line with its bio-circular-green (BCG) economic model. Suphachai Chearavanont, chairperson of UN Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT), one of the 69 networks of the UN’s Global Compact initiative, said that interest in corporate sustainability performance has been high among investors and the financial sector in the country. Climate finance is crucial for corporate strategies, with the latest scientific evidence indicating that over half of the world economy is dependent on nature. Without healthy ecosystems and robust biodiversity, economic growth and well-being of the global population cannot be maintained, Suphachai noted. “I believe businesses have the responsibility and power to make it happen, to help reduce emissions and adapt to the potential and inevitable impacts of climate change,” he said. The UN GCNT executive went on to highlight five strategies for accelerating the progress and uptake of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the private sector. These are 1) having clear targets and visibility, 2) leveraging market mechanisms and partners in the value chain, 3) promoting business leadership on sustainability, 4) empowering young emerging leaders to join as changemakers, and 5) creating a culture of innovation. Sanda Ojiambo, executive director and CEO of the UN Global Compact, in turn stressed that “there is ample capital in the world to provide the US$5 to 7 trillion needed to achieve the global goals,” referring to the SDGs, a set of 17 targets that world leaders established at the UN General Assembly in 2015 and encompass a range of sustainable development goals globally with a focus on environmental and societal issues. Ojiambo emphasized the urgency for taking action, noting that development achievements made over the past decade are being eroded as a result of the pandemic, armed conflicts, growing economic instability, global food and energy shortages, and rising temperatures. Stocktaking shows that in Asia, as in the rest of the world, progress on the SDGs has stalled and in some cases has even been reversed, Ojiambo observed. However, even against this backdrop the private sector still has the resources, knowledge and skills needed to make strides in global outcomes, she stressed. The Asia and Oceania region will be of great importance in driving sustainable development forward as it is home to more than 60 per cent of the world's population while more than two-thirds of the projected global growth is expected to take place in the region. The potential for leaps in sustainable development is evident and the UN Global Compact is expanding its presence in the region to support businesses in reducing their environmental impacts, Ojiambo said. Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, concurred, highlighting the importance of the Bangkok event in driving the region’s sustainable development agenda. “Today’s forum is an opportunity to advance the dialogue on the leadership role of businesses in support of the green transition in country and the region,” Sabharwal said. “Importantly, we cannot achieve a true transformation without greening the supply chains to boost circularity and reduce their carbon footprints across the board. We at the UN are assisting these efforts by bringing science, introducing the best available technologies, and convening stakeholders,” she went on to explain. “We are at the midway point to the 2030 Agenda and the leadership of the private sector will remain pivotal in accelerating the achievement of the SDGs in Thailand,” Sabharwal emphasized. “Equally important is the leadership of bankers, investors, and asset managers. They need to take center stage in unlocking domestic financing for sustainable development.” Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said that the public and private sectors needed to work together for maximum benefit. “The government plays an important role in driving the financial sector towards sustainability, including by promoting investments in enabling infrastructure and developing green financial products to ensure climate change targets and the SDGs can be achieved quickly,” Ruenvadee said. “The private sector also plays an important role in managing and evaluating risks arising from climate change and other environmental impacts throughout the business chain,” she continued. “More funds are allocated to low-carbon projects and more sustainability disclosures are available. This is helping to increase the number of analytical reviews of environmentally friendly financial products,” Ruenvadee said. Importantly, the introduction of a green taxonomy at the national and regional levels will further increase the credibility of climate-focused financial ecosystem, which “will be an important force in driving the effective net zero emission reduction (Net Zero Economy), and encourage further investments in green projects,” explained the secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The high-level gathering also included a roundtable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with chief executives from more than 20 UN GCNT member organizations discussing opportunities and challenges in elevating their sustainability finance and investment strategies. The business leaders agreed that in the current economic and social climate sustainability must be a part of corporate strategy for every business. In addition to key performance indicators, organizations need to focus on sustainability target indicators (Key Impact Performance), covering their entire supply chain as well as their suppliers, most of which are SMEs. Common measures include accessing sustainable funding sources, clean technology and knowledge exchanges. The most common indicator relates to the management of greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers are increasingly driven by sustainability-related considerations while the financial sector, banks and investors are increasingly interested in investing in sustainable projects, the business leaders said. They noted that if the financial sector can work more closely with the business sector, a flow of new capital will result. Past examples of this include the Alliance of Financial Institutions Promoting Energy Transition (Just Energy) or the partnership to support the Net Zero goal by an asset management firm, known as the Climate Asset Management, which aims to become the world's largest asset management firm focused on natural capital and low-carbon projects. Representatives of SMEs also discussed their role in greening supply chains in order to add long-term value rather than look only for short-term profits. SMEs in Thailand have an extensive supply chain network as they account for 90 per cent of businesses and over half of employment. SMEs in the country have been recognized as important contributors to economic growth, but still need better access to additional capital. The business leaders noted as an example that if smallholder farmers could access more sources of finance, they could adopt cleaner and more resource-efficient production technologies and increase their knowledge, which will boost productivity while meeting sustainability commitments.

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12 March 2022

Act now: learn what you can do to stop climate change!

To preserve a livable climate, greenhouse-gas emissions must be reduced to net zero by 2050. Bold, fast, and wide-ranging action needs to be taken by governments and businesses. But the transition to a low-carbon world also requires the participation of citizens – especially in advanced economies. ActNow is the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. Every one of us can help limit global warming and take care of our planet. By making choices that have less harmful effects on the environment, we can be part of the solution and influence change. Use the app to log your actions and contribute to the global count. Energy and transport are key Food matters The Race to Zero is on ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ Much of our electricity and heat are still powered by coal, oil, and gas. Airplanes and cars also run mostly on fossil fuels. To reduce your carbon footprint, use less energy at home, switch to a wind or solar-energy provider, skip a long-haul flight, and drive less. • The High-level Dialogue on Energy • The Global Sustainable Transport Conference ㅤㅤㅤ The production, processing, transport, consumption, and disposal of food all contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions. To reduce your impact on the climate, buy local and seasonal food, eat more plant-based meals, use up what you have, and compost any leftovers. • Learn how you can be a food hero • Read about the UN Food Systems Summit ㅤㅤㅤ Concrete steps by all sectors of society will determine our ability to rapidly transition to a climate-resilient future. Speak up: Appeal to world leaders, encourage your city, region and university, and urge businesses to take urgent action toward net-zero emissions. • Mobilize for the Race to Zero • Track the net-zero coalition Start with these ten actions! Our lifestyles have a profound impact on our planet. Our choices matter. Around two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to private households. The energy, food, and transport sectors each contribute about 20 per cent of lifestyle emissions. From the electricity we use, to the food we eat and the way we travel, we can make a difference—make the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle. Start with these ten actions below to help tackle the climate crisis. For more tips, and to log your actions, download the app. Save energy at home Much of our electricity and heat are powered by coal, oil and gas. Use less energy by lowering your heating and cooling, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. Walk, bike, or take public transport The world’s roadways are clogged with vehicles, most of them burning diesel or gasoline. Walking or riding a bike instead of driving will reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- and help your health and fitness. For longer distances, consider taking a train or bus. And carpool whenever possible. Eat more vegetables Eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and less meat and dairy, can significantly lower your environmental impact. Producing plant-based foods generally results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and requires less energy, land, and water. Consider your travel Airplanes burn large amounts of fossil fuels, producing significant greenhouse gas emissions. That makes taking fewer flights one of the fastest ways to reduce your environmental impact. When you can, meet virtually, take a train, or skip that long-distance trip altogether. Throw away less food When you throw food away, you're also wasting the resources and energy that were used to grow, produce, package, and transport it. And when food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. So use what you buy and compost any leftovers. Reduce, reuse, repair & recycle Electronics, clothes, and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and transporting goods to market. To protect our climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, repair what you can, and recycle. Change your home's source of energy Ask your utility company if your home energy comes from oil, coal or gas. If possible, see if you can switch to renewable sources such as wind or solar. Or install solar panels on your roof to generate energy for your home. Switch to an electric vehicle If you plan to buy a car, consider going electric, with more and cheaper models coming on the market. Even if they still run on electricity produced from fossil fuels, electric cars help reduce air pollution and cause significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gas or diesel-powered vehicles. Choose eco-friendly products Everything we spend money on affects the planet. You have the power to choose which goods and services you support. To reduce your environmental impact, buy local and seasonal foods, and choose products from companies who use resources responsibly and are committed to cutting their gas emissions and waste. Speak up Speak up and get others to join in taking action. It's one of the quickest and most effective ways to make a difference. Talk to your neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family. Let business owners know you support bold changes. Appeal to local and world leaders to act now. For more detailed information on low-carbon lifestyles, see the UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2020. Illustrations: Niccolo Canova

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24 March 2023

The Road to Ending Tuberculosis – World Tuberculosis Day 2023: voices from Thailand

View more photos on UN Thailand Flickr. Lee Leh, 77, left his hometown two decades ago. After fleeing persecution in Myanmar in 2003, he rebuilt his life in Mae La – a temporary shelter in north-western Thailand which hosts over 34,000 refugees, predominantly from the bordering Kayin State. Despite emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic relatively unscathed, Lee Leh knows first-hand that life as an elderly individual has its risks, especially in often challenging environmental and living conditions. So, when he started to feel unwell, he was extremely concerned. “I was coughing a lot and had stomach pain. I could not walk properly,” he recalls. Fortunately, Lee Leh’s daughter had heard of tuberculosis (TB) and that coughing is a common symptom, having been tested herself, a few years ago. Though it is a preventable and curable disease, TB remains the deadliest infectious disease in the world, with over 10 million people infected and 1.5 million people dying from it each year. Although TB incidence is gradually declining in Thailand, it continues to be an important public health concern. In 2021, Thailand remained on the World Health Organization’s list of 30 high-burden countries for TB. As of 2021, TB incidence in the country was 143 cases per 100,000 people, down from 150 in 2020. Delays in or lack of access to treatment can lead to transmission in communities – a challenge magnified among mobile and migrant populations who are already commonly at a disadvantage when it comes to health-care access. Through the Global Fund’s Tuberculosis Elimination Among Migrants (TEAM2) programme, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) carries out TB screenings and health education in Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam. The Mae La temporary shelter is the primary target location in Thailand. With encouragement from his daughter, Lee Leh underwent a screening and, as initially suspected, the results were positive for TB. Without hesitation, he opted for treatment and was isolated in a hospital for two weeks. “I was very happy when I recovered. It’s better to be cured than to live without knowing what disease you have,” Lee Leh says. Notwithstanding Lee Leh’s success story, stigma around the disease is still very high in Mae La. “It’s sometimes difficult to encourage residents to get screened; and for those who test positive, to ultimately receive treatment,” says IOM’s Apaporn Tana, who has been working in Mae La since August 2022. “My neighbours are afraid to do the chest X-ray. They don’t want to test positive,” says Kyaw Moo, who had never heard about TB until last year but decided to get screened once he understood the stakes. Though he tested negative, he maintains the importance of knowing if one is healthy or not. “If you know what diseases you have in your body, you can treat them early. I want to reassure others it is safe to get screened.” A huge challenge faced for those who need treatment is the hesitation to isolate for an extended period, Apaporn adds. “For many, their main priority are their basic needs. They need to earn income or take care of their families. When some test positive for TB despite not having any symptoms, they are even more hesitant.” In response, IOM is working with partners to ensure that the families of those who undergo isolation receive the support they need. Language barriers and cultural differences add another layer of difficulty to the programme. “We do not speak their language, so why would they trust us?” explains Pimpika Janthawong, an IOM nurse. To effectively educate residents and mobilize them to get screened, IOM works with an extensive network of volunteers and community leaders. David is one of seven Migrant Health Volunteers supporting the programme. Having learned English seven years ago, he provides critical interpretation support in Karen, the most commonly spoken language in Mae La. “Since you can’t see TB visually, people sometimes ignore what we are trying to tell them. We need to continue working with shelter authorities to raise awareness,” he explains. Kyi Lwe, an elected leader in a section of some 2,200 residents, is one such champion of the programme. “I try to remind people that TB can be fatal. Like COVID-19, it can be a risk to the community if left untreated. More importantly, to have the chance to receive treatment for free is a privilege.” Between September 2022 and February 2023, IOM through the TEAM2 programme screened 4,786 individuals, identified 31 positive cases and supported an additional 8 who were referred. This incidence rate is over four times higher than the national average. Despite the challenges in successfully engaging residents, the team of IOM staff, volunteers and community leaders persists with its work. Since the programme commenced, the team has diligently reflected on the areas they need to improve on – for example, strengthening coordination with shelter authorities or mixing up the formats of health education activities. Reflecting on the goals of the programme this year, Pimpika reminds herself of the bigger picture. “As a nurse, I am in a position where I can help others. Little by little, my work is contributing to the ultimate goal – ending TB.” IOM's Work on TB The fight against TB is one of IOM's key areas of intervention on Migration Health. The Organization offered from its very inception in 1951 to this day TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment services among migrant and other mobile populations. Across the world, annually, IOM carries out over 1 million TB radiological investigations for migrants, displaced persons and other key vulnerable groups. This piece was originally published by IOM Migration Health.

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21 March 2023

A how-to guide to defuse the climate time-bomb.

The climate time-bomb is ticking. But the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a how-to guide to defuse that time bomb. Humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years and concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest in at least two million years. Yet, the IPCC shows that we have never been better equipped to solve the climate challenge. But we must move into warp speed climate action now. The 1.5-degree limit of global warming agreed in the Paris Agreement is achievable, but it will take a quantum leap. Every country and every sector must massively fast-track climate efforts. We need climate action on all fronts - everything, everywhere, all at once. I am suggesting an Acceleration Agenda to super-charge these efforts. We need to immediately hit the fast-forward button on net zero deadlines to get to global net zero by 2050. Leaders of developed countries must commit to reaching net zero as close as possible to 2040. This can be done; some have already set a target as early as 2035. Leaders in emerging economies must commit to reaching net zero as close as possible to 2050 – again, the limit they should all aim to respect. Every country must be part of the solution. Demanding that others move first only ensures humanity comes last. The Acceleration Agenda calls for a number of other actions: No new coal and the phasing out of existing coal by 2030 in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and 2040 in all other countries. Ending all international public and private funding of coal. Ensuring net zero electricity generation by 2035 for all developed economies and 2040 for the rest of the world. Ceasing all licensing or funding of new oil and gas. Stopping any expansion of existing oil and gas reserves. Shifting subsidies from fossil fuels to a just energy transition. Establishing a global phase down of existing oil and gas production compatible with the 2050 global net zero target. We must also speed-up efforts to deliver climate justice to those on the frontlines of many crises – none of which they caused. We can do this by: Safeguarding the most vulnerable communities and scaling up finance and capacities for adaptation and loss and damage. Promoting reforms to ensure Multilateral Development Banks provide more grants and concessional loans and fully mobilize private finance. Delivering on the financial commitments made in Copenhagen, Paris and Glasgow. Replenishing the Green Climate Fund this year and developing a roadmap to double adaptation finance before 2025. Protecting everyone with early warning systems against natural disasters in four years. Implementing the new loss and damage fund this year. The longer we wait on any of these crucial issues, the harder it will become. We don’t have a moment to lose. By António Guterres, UN Secretary-General

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21 March 2023

Models of Integrity: Why Thailand Needs More Women Sports Stars

Professional sports have long been a male-dominated arena. Both regionally and globally, this prevailing domination of the playing field by men disadvantages women and girls from media to participation. A European Union study of five countries found the percentage of media coverage for women’s professional sports was, at best, 14 percent, and, at worst, as low as 2 percent. Regarding the world’s children, in some countries before the COVID-19 pandemic, 90 percent of girls were insufficiently physically active, with rates recently worsening. Gender inequality in sports – whether at school or at the professional level – is indeed deeply rooted. This inequality is a symptom of a broader social condition where women’s pursuits are undervalued across many currently male-dominated fields. But Thailand is bucking the trend impressively. For starters, Thailand has a rich history of producing world-class athletes, and recently, Thai women in sports have been dominating both regional and global headlines. In 2017, Atthaya Thitikul had the distinction, at the age of 14, to become the youngest-ever winner of a professional golf tournament at the Ladies European Thailand Championship. Then there was Panipak Wongpattanakit, who won Thailand’s only gold medal in taekwondo at the last Summer Olympics (Tokyo 2020) – a first for Thailand. And only weeks ago, Nutcharut (Mink) Wongharuthai became the first Thai woman to be ranked number one in the world in women’s snooker. In a world where sports remain dominated by men, such achievements can shift the gender equality needle by updating society’s understanding of women’s important role in sport. Indeed, women’s success in sports can enhance society’s understanding of the potential of women’s larger participation in any traditionally male-dominated field. Fostering and highlighting women’s achievements in sports is a win-win for everybody – both at home and on a world stage. When women professional athletes like Atthaya, Panipak, and Nutcharut achieve this level of success, they become role models of integrity and serve as an inspiration to girls and young women not only locally, but globally. The professional snooker tour, for example, is open to men and women alike. Due to participation barriers for women and girls globally, however, the professional tour remains male-dominated. Yet when Nutcharut takes her place on the professional circuit next season, she will inspire more women and girls globally to participate in the sport. Nutcharut is only the most recent example of what heights are possible to achieve when girls and women are encouraged to excel at professional sports. This year on International Women’s Day (8 March), it is important for Thailand to reflect on how more women and girls might be better supported to meet their full potential, just like Atthaya, Panipak, and Nutcharut, all currently making a splash on the global stage. This is not just a moral imperative, but a practical one. Women’s sports have been growing in popularity around the world, such as in Europe recently with the rise of women’s soccer, and Thailand has the potential to be a major player in this global development. But if Thailand is to rise to the challenge, the country needs to continue to invest in women’s sports, as well as expand exponentially upon current efforts, at both the grassroots and professional levels. In the most concrete terms, investing in women’s sports at the professional level can have a significant economic impact on a country. Just recently, the Board of Control for Cricket, in India, sold five teams for over $US570 million for the newly formed Women’s Premier League (WPL), a lucrative cricket competition that will serve as a counterpart to the Board’s Indian Premier League (IPL) competition. This is only one of many examples of burgeoning commercial interest in women’s professional sports globally. Thailand could tap into this growing market and reap economic benefits by investing in women’s professional sports – whether through government or private sources. This investment is arguably doubly important to consider at present, as Thailand recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and faces the possibility of an economic downturn in the near future. While there is a national financial imperative to invest in women’s sports, there is also a societal need backed up by the United Nations (UN). The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, the lead UN agency for sport and physical education, strongly believes in the role sport can play in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 SDGs provide a global framework for making the world a better place by 2030. Sport is crucial in achieving SDG 5, which sets out to ‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’ by challenging gender stereotypes and gender-based discrimination while promoting the overall empowerment of women and girls everywhere. The accomplishments of Atthaya, Panipak, and Nutcharut demonstrate what women’s sports can look like in Thailand when they are properly supported. Investing in women’s sports is not only important to develop star athletes, but to empower women and girls in general. By continuing to develop strong women athletes, Thailand can act as a global role model for achieving gender equality in sports and for shifting perceptions of what is possible for women to achieve in every sector of modern society. By Kim Encel — Kim Encel, PhD, is an International Consultant for the Social and Human Sciences unit of UNESCO Bangkok, where he specializes in designing sustainable sport for development projects which address a variety of societal needs. Kim’s doctoral dissertation was completed at Deakin University (2020) and focuses on the establishment and evolution of a professional women’s football competition in Australia. Kim continues to lecture and research in sport management at Deakin University; follow him on Twitter @KimEncel. This piece was originally published on the ThaiPBSWorld

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19 March 2023

Opinion: women are leading Covid recovery

Three years after the pandemic was formally declared, the world is now firmly in the recovery stage. But the huge potential contribution from women’s leadership at all levels is still being undervalued, under-resourced, or overlooked altogether. To be truly effective and inclusive, our recovery strategies must better prioritise the needs of women and girls: This means putting women at the heart of recovery efforts by national governments and international organisations, as well as more local initiatives. It is now well established that women have been leading and transforming Covid-19 recovery efforts as community leaders and local first responders. Women-led civil society organisations (CSOs) have been providing emergency aid, psychosocial support services, assistance hotlines for survivors of gender-based violence, and legal services for women and girls. They have worked around lockdowns using innovative approaches and technology to make sure they reach vulnerable women in need, including in remote communities. But despite the evidence that women-led CSOs are best placed to lead recovery efforts, funding for these organisations remains limited. Some of this is due to pandemic fatigue and overstretched aid budgets. But largely, it is because initiatives to empower women and girls as agents of change have remained woefully neglected in Covid-19 recovery planning, and women’s groups continue to be excluded from decision-making processes. Across the region, the average share of women in Covid-19 task forces is less than 15%, even though increasing women’s participation improves performance by several measures. Of course, many of the challenges faced by women in the Asia-Pacific region were around before the pandemic. Just 62% of the region’s women are in formal work, compared with 79% of men. And women hold only one in five positions of management or leadership in the private sector. Regarding political leadership, women make up 36% of seats in local government, and just 20% in national parliaments. Gender-based violence, unequal access to healthcare resources and services, discriminatory social norms, and the burden of additional unpaid care work at home also disproportionately affect women and girls across the Asia-Pacific region. These inequalities worsened during Covid-19. We know that the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing inequalities for women across health, protection, education and livelihoods. We also know that without gender-responsive Covid-19 recovery approaches women and girls will fall still further behind, impeding global commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. To address some of these issues, UN Women, with generous support from the government of Japan, has been running a programme called Gender-Responsive Covid-19 Prevention and Response, focused on Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, and Vietnam, from March 2022 to March 2023. We have reached migrant women and their families in Cambodia who were deported home during the Covid-19 pandemic and helped them to start over. We helped communities in Southern Thailand recover from the health and financial impacts of the pandemic. In Viet Nam, survivors of domestic violence were able to seek help in safe spaces, sheltering from the pandemic and abuse while receiving psychological support. While in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, villagers in remote areas were supported in accessing Covid-19 vaccines and also had opportunity to discuss women’s rights and the importance of sharing the daily workload. Governments and partners, including the private sector, must take action to ensure women and girls are placed at the centre of Covid-19 recovery plans. Key steps to achieve this include the following: Use data that is disaggregated by age and sex, to design policies and programmes that account for the needs of women and girls. There is now extensive data on how Covid-19 impacted women and girls specifically and which responses were effective. This needs to be integrated into post-Covid-19 recovery plans. Ensure women-led organisations have spaces to share their expertise and are included in wider decision-making. Women-led CSOs have proven themselves as gender-responsive first responders. Their input on related policies and programmes is essential. Provide them with more funding. Women-led organisations at the forefront of post-Covid-19 recovery still lack funding. Provide them with more training. More opportunities to develop skills would improve the impact of women’s grassroots work. Invest in livelihoods and vocational training programmes for women. This is critical to help women rebuild their lives and strengthen local economies. These should include closing the digital gender gap, and investing in business and technical skills for women entrepreneurs. We will only recover fully from Covid-19 when we ensure that all sections of society are engaged. If women and girls are left behind, we will fail to achieve our collective goals for health, economic resilience and social protection. Only through achieving gender equality and applying gender-responsive approaches to Covid-19 recovery can we build back better and stronger for the benefit of all. Written by: Sarah Knibbs, Regional Director a.i. of UN Women in Asia and the Pacific. This op-ed was originally published on the Bangkok Post.

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Press Release

09 March 2023

‘Whole of society’ approach needed to action on global water agenda

Co-hosted by the Embassy of the Netherlands and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand, the exchange of views brought together local development partners, along with a host of special guests, including the Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), UN Environment Programme Deputy Regional Director a.i., and UN ESCAP’s Chief Environment and Development Policy Section. Noting how the world can unite for water action, the participants took stock of game-changing objectives to tackle the multifaceted global water crisis, and urged a focus on better governance of water resources, including increased investment and data availability in water-related services. “Water is instrumental for mitigation as well as adaptation in tackling the climate crisis, but there is a need to fundamentally understand, value and manage water better, both locally and at a global scale. The water crisis should get the highest level of attention, raise public awareness, galvanize commitments and accelerate actions on water across multiple sectors. What we need is a whole of government, all of society approach. It is now or never,” H.E. Mr. Remco van Wijngaarden, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Thailand, told the gathering of more than 80 local partners from the diplomatic corps, UN agencies, environmental organizations, and media. The UN will convene from 22-24 March one of the most important water events in history at its Headquarters in New York, co-hosted by the Netherlands and Tajikistan. The conference, known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028), will coincide with World Water Day on 22 March, which is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis this year. Progress towards clean water and sanitation is a means to successfully achieving all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular on climate change, life on land, good health and well-being, food security, gender equality, equitable education, and industry and innovation. Ms. Gita Sabharwal, the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, in turn stressed: “As the highest-profile water-related event at the UN in a half century, the Water Conference will be a perfect opportunity to address the global water crisis, with the involvement of politicians, businesses, scientists, and young people.” She went on to underscore Thailand’s voluntary commitments made to date in line with the Water Action Agenda, saying the country has “an important role to play in this within the region.” This includes filling the data gap on SDG 6 targets and capacity development for skilled water professionals to scale up water security. On behalf of the Thai delegation leader assigned by the Prime Minister to the UN Water 2023 Conference, Dr. Surasri Kidtimonton, Secretary General of the Office of National Water Resources, said, "Thailand recognizes the need to accelerate change to achieve SDG 6 by revising its water master plan, which has been designed to complement the process of cross-sectoral and action-oriented management by shifting from project level analysis to an enabling environment, promoting opportunities for diversifying financial sources, and setting priorities with targeted actions to accelerate towards the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to address climate change and facilitate resilient infrastructure development based on good governance and participation, and seeking international cooperation and engagement with children and youth to address these issues." Mr. Bahodur Rahmonov, Deputy Ambassador of Tajikistan, said: “It is obvious that water is a dealmaker for the sustainable development goals, and for the health and prosperity of the people. We don’t need a conference with bold statements, we need a conference with bold commitments.” During a panel discussion, water experts and representatives including Mr. Pratan Banjongpru, Senior Water Expert from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Mr. Yossapon Boonsom, Co-Founder of We!Park, and Ms. Kotchakorn Voraakhom, Co-Founder of Porous City Network, shared their views on ways to take action on the water agenda, turning waste water management challenges into an opportunity, as well as the way forward to leverage water in blue and green urban development. In response to increasing calls for green urban development and circularity, the Embassy of the Netherlands also showcased its ‘Walk the Talk’ and ‘Thailand-Netherlands Water Dialogue’ initiatives which were part of the ‘Orange Green Days’ series of events launched in September last year to provide a platform for co-creating resilient and livable cities for all, and coinciding with the World Cleanup Day. For media enquiries, please contact: Ms. Pantipa Sutdhapanya Senior Economic Officer, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Thailand E-mail: ban-ea@minbuza.nl Bovornpong Vathanathanakul Communications Officer, UN Resident Coordinator Office in Thailand E-mail: bovornpong.vathanathanakul@un.org

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Press Release

01 March 2023

EU-UN work together for sustainable development and promotion of human rights in Thailand

H.E. Mr David Daly, Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand said: “The EU is a longstanding partner of Thailand on the promotion and cooperation on issues of mutual interest including sustainable development, human rights, and displaced people. Together with the UN family, our aim is to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the country. With only seven years left until the 2030 deadline, it is crucial for all stakeholders to come together to speed up the implementation to succeed in reaching the targets of each SDG worldwide.” Commending the opportunities the new collaboration will provide, Ms Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator to Thailand said: “The new EU-UN partnership will lay the foundations for even more effective cooperation to achieve the SDGs as we deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Thailand. There is immense opportunity, through the new projects, to benefit millions, promote more concrete actions that improve refugee protection, honour human rights commitments, increase local ownership of the SDGs along with openness and transparency in achieved results, and ensure that no one is left behind.” In line with the principle to ‘leave no one behind’, the three new multi-year EU-UN projects will contribute to Outcome Three of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), a roadmap that outlines the work of the UN and is closely aligned to Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy and the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (NESDP). The EU-UN partnership becomes even more pertinent as Thailand is recovering from the deep impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring the joint efforts to promote sustainability, human rights and resilience, along with efforts to preserve environmental gains. In particular, the EU will support the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) co-funded project ‘Strengthening SDGs Localisation in Thailand, 2022-2024’ with nearly EUR 1 million contribution for 18 months. Working with 15 target provinces, the aim is to improve SDG policy dialogue and promote gender-responsiveness with a focus on increasing data availability, raising awareness and building capacity on localising SDGs. The EUR 1.5 million contributions from the EU to the co-funded project with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on ‘Support on Child Protection and Durable Solutions to Refugees in Nine Camps along the Thai-Myanmar Border, 2023-2025,’ will improve the protection and rights of refugee children, and advocate for legal reforms for refugees to gain access to livelihood and education opportunities outside the camps. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) for South-East Asia will receive EUR 1 million funding from the EU to ‘Strengthen the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Thailand, 2023-2024' project, which will advance human rights in Thailand by supporting national efforts to strengthen laws, policies and practices in line with the international human rights norms and standards. Significant steps include promoting engagement with international human rights mechanisms of human rights defenders and civil society organisations, along with improving responsiveness to human rights concerns. View photo album For media enquiries, please contact: Sukuma Uttarak UNDP sukuma.uttarak[@]undp.org View project memo Morgane Roussel-Hemery UNHCR rousselh[@]unhcr.org View project memo Wannaporn Samutassadong OHCHR wannaporn.samutassadong[@]un.org View project memo Bovornpong Vathanathanakul UNRCO bovornpong.vathanathanakul[@]un.org Thanaporn Saleephol Delegation of the European Union to Thailand thanaporn.saleephol[@]eeas.europa.eu

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Press Release

22 November 2022

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety’s South-East Asia tour to advocate for helmets and safe mobility for all

The goal of the mission of the Special Envoy is to advocate for more investment in safe and sustainable mobility in one of the most affected regions in the world: South-East Asia. Starting the tour with Thailand, the Special Envoy will also visit Viet Nam and Cambodia to meet Government Ministers and partners to ensure the effective implementation of the new Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 with the perspective of halving the number of victims on the road by 2030. With 1.3 million people killed on the road every year worldwide, road crashes rank as the first cause of death in young people aged 5 to 29, while more than 90% of road fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries. Road crashes are the leading cause of the fatalities and injuries in South-East Asia. According to WHO (2018), Thailand and Viet Nam are the most vulnerable countries in the region with a fatality rate of 32.2 and 26.4 per 100,000 population while in the European Union, the fatality rate is 5.4 per 100,000 population. 58 per cent of the global road deaths occurred in the Asia-Pacific region. Road traffic death figures in the ESCAP region in 2019 showed an 11 per cent decrease from 2016. Despite this progress, efforts still need to be made in the region, combining policy, enforcement and education targeting the most vulnerable on the roads. In this regard, the Transport Ministers of the Asia-Pacific region adopted the five-year high-level strategic direction for the region through the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Development for Asia and the Pacific (2022-2026) in which road safety has been identified and highlighted as one of the key thematic areas. Road death and serious injuries cost economies $1.7 trillion dollars per year, and from 3% to 5 percent of GDP. In Vietnam, it represents 2.9% of GDP, while it costs 1.7% of Cambodia’s GDP.  A 2017 study by the World Bank (2017),  reports that if Thailand cuts road traffic mortality rates by 50% over a period of 24 years, it could generate additional income equivalent to 22.2% of GDP. Furthermore, the majority of the victims are from families with a disadvantaged background. "In addition to the tragic loss of loved ones, road crashes draw the most vulnerable into a vicious cycle of poverty, from medical costs, material damage, loss of the economic capacity and mobilization of resources", highlights the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt The Special Envoy will start his mission in Bangkok on 20-23 November to speak at the opening of International Transport Forum (ITF) and at the High-level roundtable: Achieving transport-related Sustainable Development Goals through sustainable, inclusive and resilient transport development in the region at the 7th Session of the Committee on Transport organized by the Transport Division of ESCAP. Despite the efforts, Thailand has still one of the 10 highest road traffic fatality rates in the world (WHO 2018). It also has the highest rate of motorcycle-related deaths in the world: the equivalent of 60 deaths a day. According to the World Bank, the situation is particularly alarming in South-East Asia, where motorized two-wheelers account for up to 70% of total vehicles with motorization rate per population far exceeding that of cars. Motorized two-wheelers are also 30 times more at risk than cars on the road and represent 40 % of crash fatalities in the region. Wearing a certified quality helmet reduces the risk of fatality by 42% and injuries by 69%. The ESCAP event will be also the occasion to organize a Side event: Sustainable Mobility for Asia and the Pacific #RoadSafetyMatters, where an exhibition will be launched to highlight projects funded by the UNRSF and implemented by UNESCAP and partners in the Region. The exhibition will also demonstrate how The Global Plan of Action can be implemented at the regional level through the Regional Plan of Action for Asia and the Pacific for the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 and how investment in road safety will contribute to achieve the global agenda and the impact on SDGs such as access to safe and sustainable transport to all, health, mitigating climate change, access to education, jobs or gender equity. In Phnom Penh, the Special Envoy will meet Government Ministers and will close the Achievement Dissemination Workshop on an  Eco-Safe Driver Training Program, organized on the 24 November by the non-profit AIP Foundation, supported by GIZ and VF Corporation. The Special Envoy will close his South-East Asia Tour with a visit to Hanoi on 28 November where he will meet high-level Government representatives and will visit a school engaged on road safety working on speed reduction in school zones. Lastly, the Special Envoy will visit the Protec Tropical Helmet Factory in Vinh Phuc Province, which produces UN-ECE 22.05 standard helmets using latest technology. --------------------- Media Contact: Secretariat of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety: Priti Gautam priti.gautam@un.org Stephanie Schumacher stephanie.schumacher@un.org  ----------------- Notes to Editors: The United Nations has invested significantly in tackling the problem of road safety globally. Following the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020”, the UN General Assembly in August 2020 adopted a resolution on “Improving Road Safety”, that reconfirmed its commitment to halving the number of global traffic deaths and injuries and to providing access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030. In July 2022, the road safety community met in New York City for the first ever High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety at the United Nations General Assembly, unanimously adopting a text titled: “Political declaration of the high-level meeting on improving global road safety”. To galvanize intersectoral actions and raise the visibility of road safety, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by the new UN Secretary-General, António Guterres in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy recently launched a new campaign to raise awareness about road safety #streetsforlife, in collaboration with JC Decaux, launched during the High-level Meeting for Road Safety and to be implemented in 80 countries by the end of 2024. UNECE acts as the secretariat for the Special Envoy for Road Safety. UNECE is the custodian of the United Nations road safety legal instruments applicable worldwide, such as the Convention on Road Traffic, the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, and the 1958, 1997 and 1998 Vehicle Regulations Agreements. UNECE services the ECOSOC Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods, as well as the only permanent United Nations intergovernmental forum on road safety (Working Party on Road Traffic Safety) and the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, both in the framework of the Inland Transport Committee, which is the only permanent UN forum specialized in inland modes of transport. Sources- 2018 WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety

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Press Release

10 November 2022

Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) launched in Thailand

The launch has marked an important step in accelerating partnerships and investments towards the green economy and green recovery policies in Thailand. A focus of the event was to take stock of progress made so far on the Inclusive Green Economy (IGE), Green Recovery Learning Needs Assessment, and Green Recovery Assessment of projects under the rehabilitation fund. The event brought together stakeholders and more than 300 participants (both in person and online), including policymakers, researchers, investors, and other key actors from the government, private sector, academia, think-tanks, social organizations, press and media. During his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong stressed that the government was pleased to be part of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, a global program by the United Nations. The government’s mission is to improve the economic and social wellbeing of people and the quality of the environment in Thailand, Supattanapong said. The focus of government policies also lies on strengthening the country’s capacity to be adaptive and resilient in a post-pandemic world of economic, environmental and technological disruptions. This mission is clearly laid out in the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, undertaken by NESDC. One of the key expected outcomes, which aligns with support from PAGE, involves progress on sustainable development and climate action, the minister noted. Thailand has decided to embark on its Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model (BCG) in alignment with the 13th national plan so as to enhance the resource efficiency of natural assets, capitalize on the country’s strengths in biological diversity and cultural richness, and employ technology and innovation towards a value-based and innovation-driven economy, according to Supattanapong. The model has been inspired by the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), the key pillar of Thailand’s social and economic development which is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The launch also acted as a networking platform for future collaborations among stakeholders around policies and investments in the green economy and green recovery with the aim of strengthening partnerships for synergistic actions towards an integrated green economy based on the SDGs. During a press debriefing Dr. Wichayayuth Boonchit, Chairman of the PAGE Thailand National Steering Committee on PAGE and the Deputy Secretary of NESDC, highlighted the role of NESDC as the core agency coordinating PAGE program implementation in collaboration with other governmental organizations, the private sector, and participating social organizations. These include the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), and Kenan Foundation Asia. PAGE Thailand is targeting the implementation of the inclusive green economy in five key areas: 1) reduction of carbon emissions and pollution; 2) energy and resource efficiency promotion; 3) biodiversity and ecosystem conservation; 4) decent job creation; and 5) a just transition to equality and prosperity for all. These areas of action are aimed at overcoming the challenges of poverty, social inequality and environmental degradation while generating sustainable economic growth in line with environmentally-friendly and socially just principles. To effectively conduct the implementation of PAGE in Thailand, NESDC as the leading coordinating government agency for this collaborative partnership has appointed the PAGE Thailand National Steering Committee to oversee the first-year work plan, which consists of four primary activities. The first aims to construct a Carbon Emission Trading Scheme, or ETS, to act as a mandatory carbon cap and trade for major carbon emitters.The second seeks to facilitate sustainable waste management with proper financing mechanisms.The third involves capacity-building for the green economy through training in economic circularity in the agricultural and other key sectors. And the fourth entails raising awareness through public outreach campaigns, advocacy, and dialogues with local and national partners. PAGE partners are inviting all key actors to join this national drive synergistically towards an inclusive green economy that pursues sustainability, equality and resource efficiency for the sake of future generations. Sooksiri Chamsuk, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), said UNIDO is the lead coordinating agency for PAGE in Thailand tasked with coordinating technical support and sharing international experience from the other four UN agencies : the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Institute for Training and Research(UNITAR). PAGE now has 22 participating countries worldwide. Thailand officially joined PAGE as the 20th country in 2019 and started its inception phase in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic. PAGE is moving towards a three-year implementation phasewith a supporting budget of US$1 million in Thailand. At the launch, PAGE Thailand shared outputs from assessments regarding overviews of the green economy and green recovery learning needs as well as details of ongoing progress on a green recovery project under the government’s rehabilitation funds. “On behalf of the five participating UN partners we are very pleased to be working together with Thailand,” said Sooksiri. “Thanks to all the collaborations with stakeholders that are joining forces to put green economic policies and practices into action, we are creating a low-carbon society, improving resource efficiency, promoting clean production technologies and inspiring green consumption trends that will contribute to sustainable and long-term economic, social and environmental development,” she said.

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