Thai industrial groups working on zero-carbon blueprint

The Federation of Thai Industries said last week it is working with government energy officials on a blueprint for achieving zero carbon emissions as the Kingdom strengthens its commitments to combating climate change.

The two sides are drafting a Thailand Integrated Energy Blueprint that will cover everything from oil refineries to supply chains for internal combustion vehicles. Officials involved in formulating the blueprint said they expect it will be complete by April 2021.

The Federation of Thai Industries is a private-sector organization that includes and represents the Kingdom’s leading industrial groups. It works with the government to advance and advise on policies, offers consulting services, and works to gain Thai business international market access and share.

Kulit Sombatsiri, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, said that the blueprint would most likely set a similar timeframe to achieve zero emissions as the U.S. and the European Union, which have pledged to reach that level by 2050.

“But before we determine a date, a long-term plan and list of actions must be clearly made,” Kulit said.

Danucha Pitchayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), said that the energy business model is moving towards independent power production by businesses and householders.

“The private sector will increasingly play a major role in this sector, and peer-to-peer power trade will not be avoided,” Danucha said.

The United Nations has said that Thailand is one of the countries in the world that has already been most affected by climate change. Last month, Thailand updated its existing pledge to reduce emissions, adjusting it to cut 20 percent of emissions by 2030.

Photo courtesy of http://www.eppo.go.th/index.php/th/plan-policy/tieb