Thailand

As a dynamic and emerging market economy, Thailand recorded strong growth in recent decades, but this has come at a high human health and environmental cost including climate-related hazards, depletion of forests, reduction of soil fertility, and loss of biodiversity. Simultaneously, the country has embraced green economy principles under its ‘Sufficiency Economy Philosophy,’ which incorporates a green growth development model and is deeply rooted in the National Strategy (2018-2037). The green economy transition and low-carbon development are the key priorities identified to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change commitments under nationally determined contributions (NDCs). 

Since 2020, when Thailand joined PAGE, the challenges of COVID-19 emerged as a new reality across the nation, including falling GDP and rising unemployment due to the economy’s dependence on external demand, particularly tourism and exports. To minimize these impacts, PAGE is supporting the greening of Thailand’s economic and social recovery projects funded under the government’s 400 billion Baht Rehabilitation Fund through technical assistance and capacity building.

In 2021, PAGE’s work on conducting a green economy stocktaking study was able to provide timely support to the National Economic and Social Development Council – as a focal point of PAGE programme in Thailand – in developing the National Economic and Social Development Plan for 2022-2026, by exploring the gaps and necessary drivers to expedite the implementation of existing Thailand’s green economy principles.