Thai agencies to collaborate on climate and energy initiative with Germany

A series of Thai government and public agencies have signed a landmark agreement to collaborate on climate targets under a German government-backed initiative, which includes a plan for Thailand to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065, according to a statement by the parties Nov. 6.

The Thai-German Cooperation on Energy, Mobility, and Climate initiative, funded by Germany's International Climate Initiative and overseen by the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, seeks to integrate various sectors through a comprehensive approach known as "sector coupling," a strategy designed to enhance sustainability through optimizing energy use and reducing emissions.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by representatives from Thailand's Department of Climate Change and Environment, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, the Energy Policy and Planning Office, the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, the Office of Agricultural Economics, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in Thailand's efforts to combat climate change, demonstrating the power of international cooperation and innovative solutions in achieving sustainable development goals.

"For each sector to put in their best effort in pursuing decarbonization is simply not enough," said DCCE Director-General Phirun Saiyasitpanich. "It is time that we go beyond our sector boundaries and start connecting and linking with each other. Only by genuinely working together in an integrated manner can we realize our potential and achieve our ambitions."

"The sector coupling is really a new thing for Thailand," according to one renewable energy market source. "We still need to work with partners to see the suitable sector coupling solution for Thailand. But in my opinion, there might be additional demand for Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) from some sectors. We heard that some EV charging stations have already developed a model of RE100 for EV charging. They use REC to do RE100 claim on that."