Germany grants Bt690m, will work with Thailand on climate-change projects

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

File photo

 

GERMANY has granted Bt690 million for a four-year climate change programme intended to help Thailand achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.

 

The German government together with the Thai government celebrated the launch of the Thai-German Climate Programme last Monday at the German embassy in Bangkok. The programme’s mission is to provide financial support for climate change mitigation efforts in Thailand, with a team of international and national experts working closely with partners in the Thai government.

 

Funding of 17.9 million euros (Bt690 million) was granted by the German Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Ministry (BMU), while the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will provide support for implementing climate change mitigation projects and personnel support.

 

The 2018 to 2021 Thai-German Climate Programme will support Thailand through a cross-sectoral approach anchored in five sectoral plans, said the BMU. The wide-ranging plans cover implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) at the sub-national level, greenhouse gas measurement, establishing reporting and verification systems, mobilising funds to implement the NDCs, and extension of international cooperation.

 

The BMU and GIZ will work with Thailand’s Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, the Ministry of Energy, the Pollution Control Department, the Department of Water Resources, and the Rice Department.

 

File photo

 

“This will see governmental partners, the private sector and civil society cooperate on climate-friendly development approaches in the energy, waste, water and agriculture sectors, as well as on general aspects of climate change,” according to the statement.

 

In his opening remarks at the launch announcement, German ambassador Peter Pruegel put an emphasis on the two countries working together. His nation will share Germany’s experiences as they work with Thai partners to reach more sustainable sourcing, increased energy efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions, he said.

 

It was through close cooperation and hard work on climate change mitigation and adaptation that the international community could prevent global disasters caused by global warming, said Stephan Contius, BMU Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 

Business-as-usual is no longer an option, said Contius.

 

 “Thailand is an important partner country of the BMU’s International Climate Initiative, as since 2009, the ministry has financed more than 13 bilateral projects with a total value of nearly 50 million euros,” said Contius. The projects so far have “focused on mitigating CO2 emissions and helping Thailand to adapt to climate change as well as to protect forest areas and biodiversity”, he said.

 

“Both governments are very much interested in accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement and of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

 

Thailand’s permanent secretary of Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Wijarn Simachaya, thanked the BMU and GIZ for their continued support over the past years. He said he was pleased that both countries had extended that cooperation to implement this new climate programme.

 

“Thailand has set itself ambitious CO2 mitigation targets and adaptation goals. We have formulated an NDC mitigation road map outlining sectoral measures to achieve our targets,” Wijarn said.

 

“By the end of 2018, Thailand will launch our National Adaptation Plan for adaptation goals. Thai-German cooperation, particularly the Thai-German Climate Programme, has greatly contributed to our efforts.”

 

GIZ will work with civil society organisations and academics, as well as the official Thai partners and public sector, said Tim Mahler, the GIZ country director for Thailand and Malaysia.

 

“GIZ will further seek close cooperation with other projects in Thailand on climate change to ensure that the international support is implemented as effectively as possible,” Mahler said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344399

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-02

Germany must have money to burn !

Mercedes-Benz and BMW must be looking forward to a bumper year...

Well, I read the whole article and it appears that the money is to pay for a whole lot of people to sit around and talk about setting targets. Nothing tangible like vehicle emissions in BKK or the burn offs in the north.

I may be wrong of course. It happens sometimes.

Thais do use a lot of CNG, which has low emissions.  What do they want Thailand to do ?  Reforestation cleans air as water.  The article says a lot without going into any real details. 

I am all on board if the girl in the photo wants to help me find a unicorn after she done with the global warming thing.

Fight global warming is good.

But, Thailand bureaucracy just steal money. Why do?

The 690 m will definitely change the working climate for a number of officials.

4 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

The 690 m will definitely change the working climate for a number of officials.

hahaha you havent worked with germans before lol

hahaha you havent worked with germans before lol

No matter what the Germans plans or intentions are, sooner or later the money will be disbursed into the hands of Thai officialdom. Then the oh so familiar games will begin...

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

all the money down the toilet... thai people like to burn crap, they will never stop

 wed may 2nd.morning on pattaya beach boats getting refueled on the sand ,buses linned up beclching smoke ,garbage and noise,gaggles of thais herding Chinese for their free parasail , huge bags of stinking wet garbage stacked on the side walk..on the other end of the beach 4 large backhoes trying to rejuvenate what is left of a beach that has been abused to point of no return,in the bay opposite the hoes a barge dredging sand and destroying any coral left in the bay,the sand then used to rejuvenate said beach....alas I think we are at the choking point..when thais learn to respect their own environment then mabey we can have this global discussion ...

3 hours ago, tracker1 said:

Germany must have money to burn !

The money is great timing.

Prayut can use it to help fund the next Egat planned coal-fired electric power plant.

Less 30% for "consulting fees."

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

  What do they want Thailand to do ? 

If it was to have Thailand use fuel sources that emit lower CO2 than coal (such as CNG), Germany will be disappointed.

Egat's 2015 Power Development Plan shows that through 2036 it plans for increased CO2 emission  compared to 2015, largely due to coal. It appears that the logic was that Thailand would have depleted its LNG resources and have to purchase more foreign-supplied LNG that would be more expensive than coal. So basically Egat would sacrifice the environment for cheaper power. It would trade security of health for energy.

I hope the German funds come with some restrictions and milestones.

 

They can pump that entire 690B THB into ways for eliminating the seasonal burning of fields and forests which dumps more CO2 into the atmosphere than probably all the 'man-made' pollution from factories and vehicles combined. 

The funds will be distributed in the form of German cars cutting out the middle man. 

At the same time the Royal Thai Ministry of Energy has put a 5 year full stop on  Power Purchase Agreements from Renewable Energy.

9 hours ago, tracker1 said:

Germany must have money to burn !

they are running a nice budget surplus despite having to deal with 1.2 million migrants (although I've heard at least a third of those have been sent elsewhere).

They could do worse than start with the hot air that constantly emanates from the government's offices.

400 to 500m Baht is not big money for projects in this field. Oh, wait, did nobody tell these friendly Germans 30 to 40% of their good money will go straight into the deep pockets of ...always the same, corrupt people?

DO NOT give money to Thais/Thailand, provide focussed help in material and workforce to streamlined projects, when you, really, want to achieve something here, ...and have a choice!

11 hours ago, Srikcir said:

If it was to have Thailand use fuel sources that emit lower CO2 than coal (such as CNG), Germany will be disappointed.

Egat's 2015 Power Development Plan shows that through 2036 it plans for increased CO2 emission  compared to 2015, largely due to coal. It appears that the logic was that Thailand would have depleted its LNG resources and have to purchase more foreign-supplied LNG that would be more expensive than coal. So basically Egat would sacrifice the environment for cheaper power. It would trade security of health for energy.

I hope the German funds come with some restrictions and milestones.

 

Coal comes from China. Nough said?

Germany would have been better off in financing a few garbage disposal and recycling plants all over Thailand (with 5 year maintenance included)....would have been an immediate action to reduce air pollution !!

 

Hopefully the money will end up in the right places (or pockets) ? ?

By the time everyone gets their pay cheque there won't be anything left.  I think Germany will have to increase that 10 fold as these things are expensive in Thailand.