Publications: Pioneering renewable energy options: Thailand takes up the challenge by L.Weischer (May 2013)

Pioneering renewable energy options: Thailand takes up the challenge by L.Weischer

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Thailand’s support policies for renewable energy (RE) in the power sector have allowed individual small projects to add up to something substantial, attracting more investment and leading to faster growth in the sector than in most other Asian nations. Thai energy policy is complex, and the development of RE has not been without controversy. While this Inside Story by the Climate and Development Network (CDKN) provides some elements of the context, it cannot cover all aspects of Thai energy policy. Instead it focuses on identifying factors that can explain the relative success of Thai policies and highlights some lessons for future development. The brief highlights that Thailand was among the first countries in Asia to introduce incentive policies for the generation of electricity from renewable energy (RE) sources, leading to rapid growth, particularly in solar power. Civil society involvement strengthened and improved RE policies in Thailand.

For more information: 
http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=65156?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eldis-climate_change+%28Eldis+Climate+Change%29#.UZjiz6KnwVg

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Publication: A Citizens’ Guide to Energy Subsidies in Thailand (19 Apr 2013)

IISD Publications Centre

A Citizens’ Guide to Energy Subsidies in Thailand

» Tara Laan, IISD, 2013.Paper, 64 pages, copyright: IISD, ISBN 978-1-894784-63-4

Thailand has stabilized and subsidized energy prices for decades in an effort to shield consumers from volatile energy prices and improve access to energy. Despite significant reforms to deregulate parts of its fuels market, Thailand’s subsidies for fuel and electricity totalled at least THB 195 billion (US$6.8 billion) in 2012. Fuel and electricity subsidies are clearly benefiting some consumers, including the poor, who rely on subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking and free electricity. However, evidence shows that energy subsidies have unintended consequences for the economy, the environment and social equity. They strain public finances, encourage overconsumption, and benefit wealthier citizens far more than the poor.

Eliminating these subsidies poses considerable challenges. Energy access and affordability are critical factors for development. In addition, poor households, which typically spend a larger share of their income on energy, are highly vulnerable to spikes in fuel prices. Thailand is in the midst of facing these challenges as the government phases out several energy subsidies.

Citizens have a vital stake in this debate, but, as in many countries, there is all too often little solid information on the exact costs and benefits of subsidies. When information is available, it can be scattered across many sources and relate to different fuels, time periods or sectors of the economy. A Citizens’ Guide to Energy Subsidies in Thailand, produced with the assistance of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), gathers the best available information on the costs and benefits of energy subsidies. The Guide is intended as a resource for civil society groups and journalists to use in their efforts to engage the public on energy subsidies and their reform.

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For more information: http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?pno=2778

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Events: 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit organized by Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) on 19-20 May 2013

2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit

Chiang Mai, Thailand : 19 May 2013 - 20 May 2013

• Background
• Asian Water Development Outlook
• Side Events
• Expected Participants

Background

The 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit will focus on the theme “Water Security and Water-related Disaster Challenges: Leadership and Commitment.” The summit is organized by the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) and hosted by the Royal Thai Government in collaboration with international, regional and local partners. The Prime Minister of Thailand has invited the heads of governments of 49 countries in Asia and the Pacific to join the summit to step up their leadership and commitment to water security and water-related disaster challenges in the region.

The first summit was held in Beppu, Japan on 3-4 December 2007, and raised the commitment of the region's leaders for water and sanitation investments through the Message from Beppu. The leaders also called for the establishment of a network of regional water knowledge hubs, which were established soon after.

The summits offer top-level policy and decision-makers an opportunity for dialogue to showcase leadership in decision-making, excellence in practice and innovation, and concrete results that have had substantial impacts at all levels. Leaders from the private sector, local governments, civil society, youth and media in the region are also welcomed. ADB is a founding member of APWF and a key supporter of the summits.

Asian Water Development Outlook

To inform the leaders ahead of the summit, ADB and APWF launched the Asian Water Development Outlook 2013 on 13 March 2013 at Asia Water Week in Manila. The study found that more than 75% of the countries in Asia and the Pacific are experiencing a serious lack of water security, with many of them facing an imminent water crisis unless immediate steps are taken to improve management of water resources.

AWDO 2013 provides the first quantitative and comprehensive analysis of water security on a country by country basis in the region. It examines five key dimensions of water security including household, economic, urban, environmental, and resilience to water-related disaster, and uses indicators and a scaling system to rank the progress of each of the 49 countries under assessment.

Side Events

The days preceding the summit feature a series of technical workshops, exhibitions, and poster sessions. The Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO) will conduct its General Meeting from 15-18 May. Many of ADB's river basin project clients are members of NARBO.

Expected Participants

The summit is expected to engage heads of state and government from Asia and the Pacific, water-related ministers, local government, and leaders from the private sector, civil society, including students and youth. Focus Area Sessions will be held on 19 May for each key dimension of water security and Thailand’s experience with flood management. Heads of state and government will meet in the Leaders Forum on 20 May, chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand.

For more information: http://www.adb.org/news/events/2nd-asia-pacific-water-summit

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Events: 5th NARBO General Meeting organized by NARBO on 15 - 18 May 2013

5th NARBO General Meeting
Chiang Mai, Thailand : 15 May 2013 - 18 May 2013

Background
The Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO) holds its general meeting every two years in accordance with the NARBO Charter to showcase activities of member river basin organizations (RBOs), review past activities, and discuss an action program for the next two years. The meeting usually includes a study visit of the river basin managed by the host RBO and workshops on important issues related to integrated water resources management (IWRM). The general meeting involves:

• Reporting activities and results over the last two years;
• Presenting and adopting the work plan for the next two years;
• Selecting the constitutional body for the next two years; and
• Accepting new members.

Amendments to the charter, as needed, are also approved during the meeting.

ADB supported the establishment of NARBO in February 2004 to promote and achieve IWRM in Asia and the Pacific. NARBO’s 4th General Meeting was held in Makassar, Indonesia in November 2010. This 5th General Meeting will be hosted by the Thailand Water Resources Association and the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority.


Organizers
The meeting is being organized by NARBO in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 19-20 May 2013.


Participants
Representatives from NARBO member organizations will participate. As of March 2013, there are 76 NARBO member organizations. Representatives from organizations interested in joining NARBO and observers are also expected to attend.


Registration
The registration form will be posted at the NARBO website. Member organizations that will also participate in the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit should also accomplish and submit the summit registration form to the NARBO secretariat.

For more information: http://www.adb.org/news/events/5th-narbo-general-meeting

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Publication: A holistic approach to climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment: pilot study in Thailand by S.Chinvanno (Apr 2013)

A holistic approach to climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment: pilot study in Thailand by S.Chinvanno

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Climate change vulnerability and adaptation planning can be taken into consideration across many sectors and at different levels and scales. However, different scales have different contexts, which require different approaches. In a landscape context, inter-linkages between sectors form the context of adaptation planning, as the response of any one sector may have consequences for others. Moreover, climate change is not the only change that may affect the sector; adaptation will have to address future socioeconomic change as well. This report argues that this calls for new foundation for climate change adaptation assessments: a holistic view of the landscape as a complex system with multiple livelihoods or sectors under multiple pressures. The paper points out gaps in using sectoral vulnerability and adaptation assessment for landscape adaptation planning, and proposes instead an extended framework for climate change vulnerability and adaptation with a holistic view of the landscape.

For more information: 

http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=64990?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eldis-climate_change+%28Eldis+Climate+Change%29#.UW1QAKJ-YVg

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Publication: Mainstreaming climate change into community development strategies and plans: a case study in Thailand by S.Chinvanno (Apr 2013)

Mainstreaming climate change into community development strategies and plans: a case study in Thailand by S.Chinvanno

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According to this paper, climate change adaptation planning in Thailand has focused primarily on minimising the impact of future climate change. The resulting preoccupation with the uncertainty of climate change predictions has hindered the implementation of adaptation policies. This case study from Lao-oi district in Thailand demonstrates how climate change can be mainstreamed into a local community development plan. It explains how adaptation was incorporated into the plan to address risks and vulnerabilities associated with farming rice, the main source of livelihood in the community. The study finds that a paradigm shift toward mainstreaming climate change into development planning and away from addressing adaptation separately from development, can reduce the inaction of policymakers. By taking into consideration the range of possible risks and vulnerabilities that may arise, mainstreaming can reduce the reliance on certainty in predictions when developing plans for a community.

For more information: 

http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=64970?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eldis-climate_change+%28Eldis+Climate+Change%29#.UW1RM6J-YVg

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Events: Learning and Leading on LEDS Workshop organized by LEDS Global Partnership (27 Feb - 1 Mar 2013)

Learning and Leading on LEDS Workshop

27 Feb - 1 Mar 2013

The LEDS Global Partnership is convening its second annual global workshop to bring together leading practitioners from countries and international institutions to share lessons and strengthen cooperation on low emission development around the world. The workshop will convene peer learning and collaboration sessions on common topics of interest defined by the African Climate & Development Society, Asia LEDS Partnership and the LAC LEDS regional platform. The workshop will be open to participation by officials and experts from government agencies, international institutions, and technical institutes engaged in low emission and climate resilient development programs.

Workshop Objectives

-Conduct peer to peer learning and capacity building on specific low emission development topics of common interest to countries from all regions

-Share lessons and innovation on low emission and climate resilient development from country and international programs

-Highlight leadership and advance collaboration across countries and international programs on low emission and climate resilient development

-Review progress and plan future activities of the LEDS Global Partnership together with the African Climate & Development Society, Asia LEDS Partnership and the LAC LEDS regional platform.

For any questions regarding the Learning and Leading on LEDS Workshop, please contact the LEDS GP Secretariat:

Caroline Uriarte
Email: caroline.uriarte@nrel.gov

• AGENDA

Agenda

Tags
Cities: Thailand
Topics: Climate change and global warming

For more information: http://cleanairinitiative.org/portal/node/11639

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Publication: Support Of The Capacity Development On Low Carbon Development Policies At The Sub-National Level Through NAMAs In Thailand by Thailand Environment Institute (21 Dec 2012)

Support Of The Capacity Development On Low Carbon Development Policies At The Sub-National Level Through NAMAs In Thailand

Author: Thailand Environment Institute|2012/12|124.

Language: English|Publication Type: Business Reports|Copyright: IGES(Commissioned products)

Keywords:

NAMAS, MRV, LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT, SUB-NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

Geographic area:

Thailand

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File name	Size
NAMA_MRV_Thailand_Final_Report__Dec_2012_db.pdf	1.2 MB

Source: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/view.php?docid=4212

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