The global project “Green Cooling Initiative (GCI) III” officially started in August 2021 with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). For three years, the GCI III project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, will support its partner countries in enhancing awareness and competence of different public and private stakeholders for the “Green Cooling Approach” – using natural refrigerants and promoting energy efficiency.

In Thailand, the GCI III project focuses on providing support for the end-user uptake of green cooling technologies through technical and policy instruments. As the project’s chosen regional hub for Asia, the GCI network in Thailand will promote exchange of knowledge and experience in the country and throughout the region. Safe handling of green cooling technologies is an important element in promoting their end-user uptake and requires that the proficiency of technical experts and technicians is updated and communicated. For this purpose, under the project, GIZ is now cooperating with the Department of Skill Development (DSD) of Thailand to prepare for establishing an MoU on “Cooperation on Sustainable Skill Development for Technicians in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC)”. The goal of the cooperation is to enable skilled personnel in relation to the RAC advancements, including the Green Cooling Approach.

On 25 February 2022, the project arranged a meeting with Acting Sub Lt. Somsak Promdum, Deputy Director-General of DSD, to further discuss the process of establishing the MoU and also to agree on the concrete areas of cooperation and implementation framework. This focuses mainly on the RAC-sector development and promotion of (1) upgraded training courses and programmes, (2) national skill standard and occupational licensing scheme, (3) know-how dissemination and information exchange, and (4) joint activities in the field of green cooling. Given the economic and climate relevance of the sector, this cooperation will support Thailand’s efforts in increasing the competitiveness of the cooling industry and its workforce whilst achieving the ambitious national climate and energy targets.

Acting Sub Lt. Somsak Promdum, Deputy Director-General of Department of Skill Development (DSD) said: “According to Thailand’s Prime Minister at COP26 in 2021, Thailand has committed to reaching carbon neutrality in 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065, and has underscored the importance attached to the problem of climate change. DSD, as the main agency responsible for the national development of labour skill standards, training curricula and licensing certification, is determined to support and collaborate with the GCI III project in Thailand for the sustainable cooling transformation, especially relating to Thai personnel capabilities, which is also in line with the national climate change policy and strategy.”

Elaborating on the next steps of cooperation and implementation, Ms. Denise Andres, Lead of GCI III project in Thailand, said: “Strengthening and improving advanced capacity and qualifications of Thai RAC technicians is one of the identified keys to ensure sustainability of the approach in the country and to enhance Thailand’s potential, along with its visibility, in the sector at both regional and global levels.”

The MoU will come into effect on the date of signing by both participants, expected to be within the third quarter of 2022, and will remain effective until the project ends.