10 April 2024 – The Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) with support from the Climate, Coastal and Marine Biodiversity (CCMB) project implemented by GIZ Thailand, is in the process of drafting Thailand’s first climate legislation, namely the Climate Change Act. The draft Climate Change Act, consisting of 14 chapters, establishes various carbon pricing instruments, including Thailand’s Emission Trading System (ETS), carbon tax and carbon credit, as well as the National Climate Change Fund. The draft Act also establishes mandates on climate adaptation, Green Taxonomy and mandatory greenhouse gas reporting, along with other components.

Dr. Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Director General of the DCCE, emphasised the imperative nature of the Act, stating that due to accelerated changes, utilising existing tools may not suffice to effectively address the escalating challenges. Therefore, this Act introduces new mechanisms essential for our nation. It empowers us to bridge existing gaps and streamline processes, fostering sustainable development with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This draft Climate Change Act focuses on framing and defining the necessary mandates to support the country’s sustainable and low greenhouse gas emission development pathway,” he said,

The DCCE Director-General mentioned the National Climate Change Fund to be established by the Act, which aims to support relevant stakeholders, including small businesses and those affected by climate change and by climate mitigation measures. He also emphasised the necessity to have mandatory greenhouse gas reporting, as this will be beneficial for insightful and long-term planning of the government’s carbon pricing instruments.

As part of the legislative proposal process, public hearings were conducted to gather public input for crafting the draft Climate Change Act, to increase public participation in the legislative process and to address participants’ questions and concerns about the Act. From February to March 2024, the DCCE, supported by GIZ, organised a series of public hearings on the draft Climate Change Act. These hearings took place nationwide across six regions.

1. 14 February 2024 in Khon Kaen
2. 1 March 2024 in Chonburi
3. 8 March 2024 in Ratchaburi
4. 13 March 2024 in Nakhon Si Thammarat
5. 21 March 2024 in Chiang Mai
6. 26 March 2024 in Bangkok

More than 1,500 people from different sectors attended the public hearings from online conferences and onsite. The participants included private sectors firms, government agencies, civil society, communities, and international organisations. Each public hearing consisted of a presentation about the Climate Change Act both in framework and detail, feedback, Q&A, interactive exchange, and a questionnaire session.

Following the nationwide public hearing process for Thailand’s Climate Change Act, the DCCE, together with consultants from The Creagy Company Limited and GIZ Thailand, plan to revise and refine the draft Act based on the feedback and recommendations gathered. Subsequently, the DCCE aims to present the revised draft Act to the Cabinet by July 2024. While the draft Act undergoes scrutiny at the Council of State and later in Parliament, the DCCE will continue its efforts to develop approximately 40-50 subsidiary laws. These laws will outline clear procedures and modalities to implement various mechanisms established by the Act, such as the Emission Trading System (ETS), Carbon Credit regulations, and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting System.

Read the full Draft Climate Change Act: HERE
Watch Video about the Draft Climate Change Act: HERE