Thailand

PAGE in Thailand

While Thailand has achieved impressive economic growth, it has simultaneously faced considerable environmental challenges, including deforestation, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. High pollution levels, inadequate waste management, and water contamination adversely affect quality of life and result in significant economic costs. Unsustainable production and consumption patterns, particularly in the industrial sector, exacerbate these environmental issues.

Thailand joined PAGE in 2019, with the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) serving as the government’s focal point for this initiative. UNIDO and ILO are the primary implementing agencies, with UNIDO leading the coordination of the PAGE project in Thailand. PAGE and its partners are focusing on carbon emissions trading scheme, waste management and the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) within the agricultural sector.

Decarbonization

PAGE is assisting the Thai government in formulating the carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS) policy framework. This initiative aims to identify the additional policy measures necessary for implementing the system, including legislation, institutional frameworks, technology, capacity building, financing, and communication.

Waste management

Thailand is facing considerable challenges in managing the extensive volumes of household and industrial waste, particularly plastics, which are predominantly unrecycled. Currently, around 87 percent of recyclable materials remain unprocessed, leading to an annual economic loss estimated at $4 billion. The PAGE initiative is actively promoting recycling and enhancing waste management capacity in selected pilot locations. Additionally, PAGE is promoting the development of financing mechanisms for sustainable municipal waste management.

Bio-Circular-Green Economy

The Thai government is committed to transitioning toward an inclusive and sustainable economy based on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model. PAGE, in collaboration with the government and private sector, is enhancing capacity for green methods and technologies, integrating green economy objectives into national development plans, and piloting BCG projects in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, and biodiversity restoration.

PAGE Milestones

2023
Release of the publications:

Green Economy Policy – Scoping Report of Thailand 2023

Green Recovery Learning Needs Assessment in Thailand 2023

Thailand Green Jobs and Just Transition Policy Readiness Assessment in the Agriculture Sector 2023

Green Jobs Policy Readiness Assessment in Thailand 2023

Thailand Green jobs and just transition policy readiness assessment
2022
PAGE Thailand officially launched the implementation phase of the PAGE Work plan relating to green economic transformation.
2021
Working group meeting held, led by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and attended by key agencies

Green Economy Stocktaking Study under development
2020
Inception phase initiated, with analysis of COVID-19 economic impacts

Government focal point for PAGE appointed within Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)

Thailand’s application to PAGE Support for Green and Inclusive Economic ‎Recovery approved
2019
Thailand joined PAGE
2018
“20-Year National Strategy 2018-2037” developed