Bangkok, 3 September 2019 – Thailand’s Climate Change Coordination and Management Division (CCMC) of the Office of the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) and GIZ hosted a “Climate Change WE Change” event with the aims to raise public awareness on climate change issue, and broaden the public understanding on what Thailand is doing to tackle it.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej, Secretary General, ONEP, said: “Climate change is a global problem that endangers sustainable development. In response, the Royal Thai Government has pledged to the world community in 2015 at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP) in Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in 2030 from the business-as-usual (BAU) level and may increase to 25% from BAU if receiving appropriate international financial support and knowledge and technology transfer. ONEP is determined and committed to drive such goals. In its capacity as designated National Focal Point of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), ONEP is working closely with key ministries and agencies to implement national and sectoral targets to cut emissions and build resilience.”

Dr. Bhuridej added on this occasion: “Addressing climate change is not the work of one agency nor one sector of society but all must play our parts. This can start from the small act of individuals such as reducing the use of plastic bags and using public transport.”

Mr. Tim Mahler, Country Director of GIZ Thailand and Malaysia said: “Global warming imposes direct threats to people’s lives and their livelihoods in Thailand, and this is not something we will experience in a distant future. The effects of climate change are already happening today. Since 2009, we have provided support to Thailand worth up to 135 million EUR (approximately 4,500 million THB) to implement climate change related project activities in both mitigation and adaptation in the Thai priority sectors: from energy, to water, agriculture, transport, industry and waste management.”

Stressing the importance of acting in concert, he said: “The challenge of climate change threatens not only Thailand, nor Germany, but all living creatures. This requires us to be more collaborative, ambitious, innovative, and to preach not only to the converted.”

Held at Central Ladprao, the event spanned show-and-tell exhibition on climate related issues, a work showcase of GIZ Thailand in the field of climate and environment, as well as interactive games, live music and talk to raise public awareness on climate change.