UNFCCC/IGES Regional Collaboration Center for Asia and the Pacific (RCC Bangkok) has worked closely with the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) since the Centre was established in 2015. TGO is the CDM Designated National Authority in Thailand and RCC Bangkok has actively engaged with TGO over the years on CDM-related work, providing guidance on capacity building, emission reduction crediting and carbon pricing through the CIACA project for ASEAN Member States. A Memorandum of Understanding between TGO and UN Climate Change signed on 1 March strengthens this collaboration and fosters more cooperation on climate action.
On the road to COP 27 and beyond, a growing number of businesses, organizations and local governments are on the journey towards climate neutrality and net zero emissions. What does it mean to go climate neutral or achieve net zero? What are the benefits… and what are the challenges? To answer these questions and support Thailand’s net zero efforts, TGO is working with diverse stakeholders in Thailand to support their carbon neutral journey. The launch of the Climate Neutral Now initiative opened an opportunity for a Memorandum of Understanding with TGO. Under the MOU, joint work by Climate Neutral Now and the Thailand Carbon Neutral Network will mobilize the private sector and other organizations towards Thailand’s climate goals.
The MoU will also enhance capacity building for climate action and foster cooperation for learning among the ASEAN Member States. In previous years, TGO has supported governments in the region on capacity building gaps and needs for climate action. This MoU opens more opportunities for RCC Bangkok to enhance capacities of ASEAN states at the international level. Target groups are government agencies, academic institutions, private companies, and the public involved in planning and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. RCC Bangkok is already working with TGO to engage key stakeholders.
The “Gen C Climate Action” initiative of the TGO Climate Action Academy aims to educate the younger generation and prepare them to respond to climate change through technical collaboration. RCC Bangkok supported this initiative by participating in the launch and then sharing information on COP processes and UNFCCC mandates. This will enhance cooperative knowledge development on climate change and build the capacity of university students and other stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
At the TGO Climate Action Leaders Forum, RCC Bangkok engaged to enhance climate action knowledge among stakeholders alongside the UN Resident Coordinator and other UN country offices. RCC Bangkok Regional Lead Jens Radschinski spoke on “Global Trends on Paris Agreement and Carbon Neutrality”. He shared COP26 outcomes, the importance of LT-LEDS as well as trends in global and regional climate action. The forum convened executives from different sectors in Thailand to discuss and exchange views on tackling climate change in Thailand as well as to increase Climate Action Literacy of the society.
Moving forward, RCC Bangkok will continue to work with TGO under the Memorandum of Understanding and develop training courses on climate action areas such as net zero, the race to zero, carbon neutrality, climate finance and more. The topics of training courses under the MoU are determined based on the need and demand from ASEAN governments through survey assessment. In engaging with country requests, the Bangkok advances elements of carbon pricing, including support at global, regional and individual jurisdiction levels.
