Climate Policy / Natural Resources & Biodiversity

CCMB

Climate, Coastal, and Marine Biodiversity

CONTEXT

In 2020, Thailand ranked as Southeast Asia’s third-largest CO2 emitter[1] and was ninth globally in terms of the 2000-2019 Long-Term Climate Risk Index[2]. Despite achieving a 15.4% reduction in emissions from the expected business-as-usual scenario in 2020[3], significant challenges remain in achieving the 2050 Carbon Neutrality and 2065 Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission pledges, due to capacity and data gaps in key sectors.

The country’s vulnerability is exacerbated by its 3,100 kilometres of densely populated shorelines, exposing it to threats such as storm surges, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels. These climate vulnerabilities, coupled with resource exploitation, pose substantial risks to marine and coastal ecosystems, jeopardising biodiversity and the vital marine and coastal tourism sector, which constituted 46% of the country’s total tourism revenue in 2019, whereas revenue from tourism made up about 12% of Thailand’s GDP.

The Thai government has taken proactive steps to address global climate and biodiversity challenges, by committing to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065, as well as endorsing the Global Biodiversity Framework and the 30×30 High Ambition Coalition targets., The Climate, Coastal, and Marine Biodiversity (CCMB) project actively supports Thailand’s endeavours.

OBJECTIVE

To support Thailand to make significant progress along a climate-resilient and low greenhouse gas emission development pathway, as well as effectively safeguarding national marine and coastal biodiversity for the sustainability of tourism and coastal community livelihoods in the context of the sustainable Green Economy. CCMB’s primary focus is on climate policy, climate finance, marine and coastal biodiversity protection and sustainable tourism in Thailand. The project applies various area-based instruments, including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and Ecologically and Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs).

APPROACHES

To facilitate Thailand’s transition toward decarbonisation, climate resilience, and nature-positive development, the following work streams are highlighted:

Enhancing and mainstreaming climate and biodiversity policies
Increasing data, monitoring and evaluation capacities and awareness
Improving vertical integration and synergy of area-based climate and biodiversity actions

The CCMB project employs the following key approaches to fulfil its objectives:

CAPACITY BUILDING – Enhancing capabilities, expertise, in-depth knowledge and awareness of the main partners and relevant stakeholders to develop policies, plans and guidelines to drive forward and monitor the progress of climate and biodiversity actions in Thailand

COLLABORATING – Supporting inter-agency collaboration to coherently implement climate and biodiversity actions, enhance synergies across key sectors, and encourage collaboration among national and international experts

MAINSTREAMING – Assisting in the mainstreaming of climate and biodiversity objectives into sectoral policies and policy instruments, particularly marine and coastal resource management and sustainable tourism

BRIDGING Promoting dialogues among international and national partners as well as supporting the creation of platforms that bridge the interests of relevant stakeholders to ensure sustained collaborative actions and scaling up

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT

[1] World Development Indicators 2023, [2] Germanwatch 2021, [3] Thailand’s Fourth Biennial Update Report 2022

About the International Climate Initiative (IKI)

Since 2008, the German Federal Government has supported international climate and biodiversity action through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). Thailand is one of IKI’s focus countries. Today, the IKI plays a pivotal role in advancing climate action and biodiversity protection in Thailand. Learn more about the IKI in Thailand by subscribing to our newsletter HERE : Please select ‘Project and Programme Newsletter” scroll down to select “IKI Thailand”. Fill in your email address and click ‘Submit’,and verify your email from the link in the inbox. If you have any questions on the IKI in Thailand, please contact: IKI-Thailand@giz.de To report any wrongdoing of IKI projects, please use the independent IKI Complaint Mechanism: Independent Complaint Mechanism | Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative (IKI)