08 December 2022 – Representatives from the German and the Thai governments celebrated Thailand’s milestone accomplishment to advance the climate agenda and its implementation in five sectors during the closing event and exhibition of the Thai-German Climate Programme (TGCP). Through the technical collaboration under TGCP, Thailand developed key climate policies and sectoral guidelines. These include the “Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy” along with updated national climate goals (Nationally Determined Contributions, NDC), the Action plan for the Agriculture Strategic Plan on Climate Change (ASPCC) 2017-2021, Integrated Provincial Energy Planning Platform (IPEPP), the national action plan for NDC implementation in the waste sector, the policy brief on integrating climate change adaptation in the water sector and guidelines for Climate-Sensitive River Basin Master Plan development and the application of ecosystem-based adaptation.

Launched in 2018, TGCP is the five-year cooperation programme funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).  Implemented by GIZ, international and national experts worked closely with the Thai governmental partners across the five key areas of climate policy, agriculture, energy, waste and water to support Thailand’s policy and planning capacity towards 2050 carbon neutrality and 2065 net-zero emission pathways, with enhanced NDCs.Synergies between policy-making and implementation sectors are also enhanced through joint activities in five fields of work including climate policy development, subnational implementation, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E), climate finance and international cooperation.

Dr. Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Secretary-General, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), said during his opening remarks, “As a result of the five-year implementation across all related sectors, Thailand has made progress in transforming the results of international climate negotiations into national policies. The Thai-German cooperation, particularly the Thai-German Climate Programme, has greatly contributed to our goal to fight climate change.”

Mr. Georg Schmidt, Ambassador of Germany to Thailand, emphasised the significant success of the capacity building and development programme. “The year 2022 marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Germany. Since the beginning, our two countries have collaborated and exchanged knowledge, goods, technology, culture and science. Today this strategic partnership of Thailand and Germany also includes addressing climate change. The economic development of the last decades, the related consumption of natural resources and energy, as well as recent events following Russia´s invasion of Ukraine put pressure on not only Germany but also Thailand to support a global framework that aims for more resilience, sustainability and more efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emission throughout the whole economy. We are united in the sense of urgency and a strong commitment to achieve the sustainable development goals. Over the past years, the Thai-German Climate Programme has been the flagship of our cooperation. It has supported Thailand in building a strong foundation for the implementation of ambitious climate action. Germany remains Thailand’s most important partner for climate action and we will continue to invest in this partnership with cooperation projects that turn policy into action and deliver for both people and planet. Together we will work closely to address the climate crisis and to build better futures for both of our countries.”

Dr. Philipp Behrens, Head of Division International Climate Initiative Division, BMWK, applauded Thailand for the successful delivery of its revised Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy and the submission of the second update to Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). He emphasized the great value of the continued partnership with Thailand, citing concrete examples of ongoing and upcoming cooperation projects and programmes. This included the Thai-German Cooperation on Energy, Mobility, and Climate (TGC-EMC), which will address decarbonization in energy, transport and agriculture sectors, complemented by the Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE) regional programme. He also highlighted the Urban Resilience Building and Nature (URBAN) project, which will address adaptation in urban areas, complemented by the Urban-Act regional programme and the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG) initiative. While crediting the now ending Thai-German Climate Program (TGCP) for its accomplishments during the last five years, he also outlined the ambitions set by the new Climate, Coastal, and Marine Biodiversity (CCMB) project. It will function as the new backbone of Thai-German cooperation and continue to support Thailand in its climate ambitions set through the NDCs and NAPs (National Adaptation Plans). However, for the first time, the project will also act to address the climate-biodiversity synergy in the marine and coastal as well as tourism sectors in support of sustainable and biodiversity friendly development and growth.

The panel discussion held during the event provided an opportunity for all related stakeholders from the five TGCP components to discuss lessons learned from the five-year project implementation and feasibility of future collaboration with related stakeholders in Thailand on climate action in relevant sectors while strengthening the network among national stakeholders on climate-related issues.

Mr. Reinhold Elges, GIZ Country Director Thailand and Malaysia, congratulated Thailand for successfully building a strong national climate coalition that can support the sustainable transformation of the country. “The Thai-German Climate Programme was designed to support Thailand in the creation and strengthening of national framework conditions for the implementation of its climate targets and the transition towards a climate-resilient and carbon neutral society.”   We are proud that after five years, Thailand has a stronger foundation for ambitious climate action than ever before. This transformation will bring positive changes in all sectors of the economy and society and GIZ will continue to support our Thai partners to turn their ambition into action.