On 18 May 2026,GIZ, through the EMPOWER II project, in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) and the Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, officially launched the Low Carbon and Climate Resilience Empowerment Programme (LCEP) at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai, Bangkok. The opening ceremony was presided over by Wat Thabungkan, Director of the Climate Change and Environment Research Center, DCCE. Thawatchai Saengkhamsuk, Project Director of EMPOWER II, presented an overview of the EMPOWER II project, while Associate Professor Wongkot Wongsapai, leader of the consulting team from the Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, presented the training programme structure and expected benefits for the participants.
LCEP is an intensive training programme for 50 DCCE staff who have already completed foundational-level courses. It marks the second intensive programme under the EMPOWER project, which has been running continuously since Phase I. The curriculum was developed based on findings from a Training Needs Assessment Workshop, which was conducted in October 2025.
The training programme is structured around five core pillars as below:
- Mitigation – learning about new technologies and innovations that enable GHG reduction activities, such as green hydrogen
- System and Regulations – learning about the legal acts and legally mandatory mechanisms that support climate action in Thailand
- Adaptation – learning practices for reducing the impacts of extreme events through nature-based solutions and urban planning
- Digital Skills – learning ways to utilise AI and digital tools in supporting climate action work
- Carbon Pricing & Market Mechanism – learning the concept of pricing GHG emissions and buying and selling carbon credits at the national and international level
The programme is being delivered over eight sessions from 18 May to 26 August 2026 in a total of 48 hours. It combines lectures provided by experts in various fields, group assignments, workshops and study visits in Thailand. The curriculum is primarily designed and facilitated by Associate Professor Wongkot Wongsapai and the consulting team from the Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University.
The first session focused on two key topics: the legal and institutional frameworks for climate action, including the operational roles of relevant agencies; and the science of climate change, encompassing the role of innovation in advancing mitigation measures. A workshop was held at the close of the session to support participants’ understanding and prepare them for more in-depth content in subsequent sessions.
LCEP aims to strengthen the DCCE’s capacity to serve as the lead government agency in advancing Thailand’s climate actions to achieve its NDC targets and supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy through national policy implementation and effective coordination with relevant organizations and stakeholders across sectors.
Thawatchai Saengkhamsuk
Director of EMPOWER II project
Email: thawatchai.saengkhamsuk@giz.de