VZCZCXRO5453
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #0418/01 0491103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181103Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6081
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 7465
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0399
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BANGKOK 000418 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR OES 
COMMERCE FOR NOAA 
USDA FOR FAS 
STATE PASS TO EPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EAGR ECON ETRD TH
SUBJECT:  THAILAND CLIMATE CHANGE EFFORTS FOCUS ON ADAPTATION 
 
REF: A) 08 Phnom Penh 1003; (B) 08 Rangoon 818 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  Although not a major emitter of greenhouse gases, 
Thailand has a strong policy on both mitigating and adapting to 
climate change.  The Royal Thai Government (RTG) and donor experts 
foresee possible severe effects from increased flooding, drought and 
rising sea levels which could threaten Bangkok and jeopardize 
Thailand's role as a leading rice exporter.  With its clean energy 
and adaptation initiatives, Thailand sees itself as a model for 
developing nations and is already a donor country.  Thailand is a 
major partner with U.S. EPA for the Methane to Markets (M2M) 
program, and USAID works with Thailand on climate change activities 
as part of its regional ECO-Asia Clean Development and Climate 
Program.  Thai academics and officials are keen for more cooperation 
with the U.S. on climate change research, and Post is exploring 
several opportunities to expand partnership with Thailand.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
THAILAND'S CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES 
-------------------------------- 
¶2. Thailand's climate change initiatives focus more on adaptation 
than mitigation.  The RTG, donors, and experts view Thailand, along 
with the rest of Southeast Asia, as among the most vulnerable to 
likely climate change (CC) effects. Bangkok is at risk from rising 
sea levels, and increasing salinization of rivers is expected to 
affect fisheries.  Coastal changes would bring erosion and 
destruction of coral reefs and mangrove forests.  A large part of 
Thailand is in the greater Mekong River basin, for which climate 
change is projected to harm crops and fisheries. Himalayan glacial 
melting will probably have less direct impact on Thailand than South 
Asia, as the Mekong Basin is largely fed by rain.  At a recent 
conference by the Mekong River Commission on adaptation to CC, 
scientists appeared to agree on a likely scenario of increased 
flooding during the rainy season coupled with increased drought 
during the dry season; also expected is a large population 
displacement from coastal and riverine areas (including Bangkok) due 
to rising sea levels. 
 
¶3. Thailand is not one of the major global emitters of greenhouse 
gases (GHGs) from fuel use, ranking third among developing countries 
in East Asia after China and Indonesia.  Following years of 
significant deforestation, Thailand banned logging in 1989 and 
absorption of GHG emissions has increased. Major methane emitters 
are rice paddies and livestock operations.  A national solar 
radiation map has been completed which identified great potential 
for Thailand, but so far solar power production has been limited. 
Many rural Thai still use primitive cookstoves, with the resulting 
soot a major contributor to GHG emissions as well to mortality 
(primarily women and children) from respiratory disease.  Around 15 
percent of Thailand's power is from coal.  Major renewable energy 
producers are biomass and hydropower.  Domestic use and production 
of biodiesel is still constrained by limited supplies and the lack 
of clearly defined incentives for biodiesel investment. 
 
 
THAILAND AND INTERNATIONAL FORA 
-------------------------------- 
¶4. Thailand ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.  RTG 
websites assert the RTG's awareness of and support for its part to 
reduce GHG emissions.  As part of the run-up to the United Nations 
Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December, Thailand will 
host the last major round of negotiations in Bangkok 9/28-10/9 (Post 
anticipates a USG delegation of 25-40).  The Ministry of Natural 
Resources and Environment (MoNRE) is the designated national 
authority for UNFCCC for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects 
under the UNFCCC, but projects must be approved by the cabinet. 
 
NATIONAL POLICY ON CLIMATE CHANGE 
--------------------------------- 
¶5. The RTG Cabinet established the National Board on Climate Change 
Policy in 2006 and gave the policy lead to MoNRE. A National Climate 
Action Plan has been incorporated into Thailand's current five year 
national Economic and Social Development plan, setting a target of 
5% reduction from 2003 GHG emission levels by 2012.  The UNFCCC CDM 
is Thailand's key financing mechanism for climate change projects; 
of the last 15 worldwide CDM projects that have been approved and 
registered by the UNFCCC for approval, two have been from Thailand 
and both involved biogas production.  Under RTG policy, CDM projects 
should contribute to the National Sustainable Development Plan, 
effect technology transfer and capacity building, and give priority 
 
BANGKOK 00000418  002 OF 004 
 
 
of benefits to local communities. 
 
¶6. Aree Wattana Tummakird, MoNRE point person for climate change, 
explained Thai climate change policy to ESTH and other donors on Feb 
¶12.  Strategy pillars are reducing vulnerability, GHG mitigation, 
research support, international cooperation and raising public 
awareness.  Key sub-pillars include developing early warning systems 
for water and agriculture issues, databases to identify hot spots, 
and centers of excellence.  Sector focuses are water, 
transportation, energy and agriculture/fisheries. Without minimizing 
the RTG's commitment to mitigation as part of its global 
responsibility, Tummakird noted that Thailand's water resources 
vulnerability makes adaption to climate change the more urgent 
priority.  Thai officials at the February 12 Mekong conference also 
stated that water management to adapt to CC will be the major focus 
for Thai CC policy. 
 
¶7. Thailand's energy policy will affect its GHG emissions, with 
ambitious plans to displace transport fuel with renewable energy 
sources within the next five years and reduce per capita energy 
consumption.  In 2008 the RTG announced various energy conservation 
measures including household appliance loans, industry retrofit 
loans and new building standards.  Thailand has implemented various 
policies to accelerate the development of new energy resources, 
promote energy efficiency, and develop renewable energy.  Policy 
incentives for ethanol include soft loans, "build-own-operate" 
privileges for fuel ethanol plants, and an excise tax holiday for 
ethanol blended in gasohol.  The RTG's Very Small Power Producer 
(VSPP) program gives tariff incentives to small producers of 
biofuel, solar and hydro power. Thailand also intends to develop 
nuclear power by 2020, with a feasibility study underway. 
 
THAILAND AS RESEARCHER AND FINANCIER 
----------------------------------- 
¶8. The ASEAN University Network (a coalition of 22 universities 
based in Bangkok), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Joint 
Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE) (a coalition of 
four Thai universities) are among the institutions that have 
well-respected clean energy and CC programs. In meetings with each 
of these, ESTHoff found administrators keen for more cooperation 
with the USG and U.S. universities. Many donor countries such as 
Japan and the EU have already established cooperation programs. 
Neighbors such as Cambodia have expressed an interest in learning 
about the VSPP and other programs to encourage rural sustainable 
livelihoods while mitigating climate change effects.  The RTG, 
private sector and Thai academia are active in biofuels research and 
development.  Thai banks and firms have been financing hydropower 
development in Cambodia (Ref A), Burma (Ref B) and Laos (although 
the economic downturn has caused re-evaluation of most); these clean 
energy investments remain controversial because of perceived 
inadequate environmental assessments to determine the impact of 
fisheries disruption on food security.  Thai and Chinese investors, 
per some experts, have with their less stringent environmental 
assessments diminished the influence of the ADB and other MDBs.  The 
RTG National Innovation Agency lists a number of CC-related business 
innovations, especially in bio plastics. The national Thai Research 
Fund has supported climate change projects, for example to study 
methane emissions from rice paddies and develop biofuels such as 
jatropha. 
 
THAILAND AS DONOR 
----------------- 
¶9. Since 2003, RTG policy considers Thailand as an "emerging donor" 
that can serve as a model for developing nations and a bridge to the 
developed nations.  With its fairly sophisticated research and 
development combined with aspects of a developing nation, the Thai 
consider themselves well suited to advise ASEAN neighbors and others 
in the developing world on appropriate technologies.  Thailand has 
been active in partnerships for Technical Cooperation among 
Developing Countries.  Thailand has sent experts to provide 
technical assistance, provided academic fellowships, and donated 
technical equipment as far as Africa. Thailand has sponsored various 
private sector organizations that look at climate change, such as 
the Mekong Institute (MI) and International Institute for Trade and 
Development (ITD). The Centre for Energy Environment Resources 
Development (CEERD) is part of the Foundation for International 
Human Resource Development (FIHRD), a Thai Foundation promoting 
technical and economic cooperation to strengthen national government 
capacity in Asia and the Pacific in energy-environment planning and 
policy formulation. 
 
 
BANGKOK 00000418  003 OF 004 
 
 
USG Support 
----------- 
¶10. USEPA works with Thailand as a focus country for the Methane to 
Markets (M2M) program; with large crop and livestock operations, M2M 
converts methane from livestock dung to electricity using 
specialized small generators; the effect is both reduction of 
methane (a GHG) to the atmosphere and clean energy.  USEPA has also 
funded development of the Thai National Strategy on Global Climate 
Change and the RTG National Action Plan.  The USAID Regional 
Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) supports CC and energy-related 
activities in Thailand as part of its regional ECO-Asia Clean 
Development and Climate Program (CDCP). RDMA engages Thailand in 
regional efforts related to harmonizing compact fluorescent lamp 
(CFL) standards, promoting cleaner coal technology adoption, 
promoting clean energy financing, and preparing a regional study on 
options for sustainable biofuels (to be published in early April). 
The ECO-Asia CDCP's leading Thai partner is JGSEE.  The DRAGON 
network for river delta science collaboration, in which USGS 
scientists are applying lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and 
Mississippi Delta research, is focusing on the Mekong river after a 
launch of the DRAGON Mekong collaboration in November.  A June 
global summit will be in Cambodia.  DRAGON collaboration is planned 
to help Bangkok's Chao Phraya river delta. 
 
DONOR VIEWS AND SUPPORT 
----------------------- 
¶11. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has a number of current 
programs and funded a least-costs GHG strategy.  The UN 
Environmental Programme (UNEP) is preparing an assessment report on 
climate change and Thailand, while the World Bank, ADB and JABIC are 
funding another study on mega-city effects.   The ADB hosted a 
meeting February 12 to discuss gaps in its climate change program. 
In ESTHoff discussion with WB, ADB, NGOs and other national donor 
agencies, the view was that Thailand was taking climate change 
seriously but that donor assistance could be well spent in 
furthering Thailand's efforts, both domestically and as a donor. 
The ABD is strongly committed to mitigation, with projects to 
deliver technical assistance and develop policy incentives for clean 
energy, mini-hydropower and sustainable biofuels.  ADB programs 
focus on developing public-private partnerships for hydropower 
export, developing small farm participation in biofuels with pilot 
projects, technical assistance in developing CDM projects and policy 
incentives for electric vehicles.  Nevertheless, ADB and other donor 
representatives noted that adaptation has been relatively neglected 
and needs to become an urgent priority. 
 
¶12.  One area for particular concern is rice production.  Thailand 
is the world's largest exporter of rice.  Nevertheless, many experts 
cautioned in the Mekong and ADB workshops that Thai production is 
inefficient, with high greenhouse gas emissions and is unprepared 
for climate changes. Increased flooding would damage agricultural 
structures while increased temperatures, and longer droughts will 
probably harm output.  Thailand's resistance to genetically modified 
strains of rice as a matter of policy complicates one adaptation 
mechanism. 
 
UPCOMNG EVENTS 
-------------- 
¶13. The NGO Global Change SysTem for Analysis, Research, and 
Training (START) Regional Center at Chulalongkorn University will 
host a workshop, "Cities at Risk," February 26-28 to discuss to 
climate change adaptation for Asia's coastal megacities.  Bangkok 
will be a focus city.  The World Alternative Energy Science Expo 
will be held in Bangkok March 5-7.  The Embassy will participate 
with a booth to showcase Methane to Markets, ECO-Asia, and other 
programs.  EEB in cooperation with USTDA and Commerce is organizing 
a U.S.-ASEAN Clean Energy Conference for the fall, planned for 
Bangkok. ECON, FCS and TDA support this conference.  The June USGS 
DRAGON summit in Cambodia will focus on climate change adaptation 
for large river systems. OES/STC is helping to organize a workshop 
at the AIT in November for U.S. and ASEAN researchers to create 
design teams for the next generation of high-efficiency, 
clean-burning biomass cooking stoves. The belief is that with the 
short atmospheric lifetime of soot, this investment should pay off 
more quickly than CO2 reduction. 
 
¶14. POINTS OF CONTACT: State - ESTH officer Howell Howard, 
howardhh@state.gov; USAID - Orestes Anastasia for 
USAID,oanastasia@usaid.gov.  The RTG's Climate Change website is 
http://www.ortep.go.th/cdm. 
 
 
BANGKOK 00000418  004 OF 004 
 
 
COMMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR USG COLLABORATION 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶15. Post has a clean energy/climate change goal in its MSP to focus 
USG cooperation with Thailand.  USG assistance has helped to improve 
Thailand's ability to monitor and report emissions; future 
assistance should target adaptation as well.   Thai officials we 
have met with are quite positive on our new administration and its 
anticipated engagement with Thailand and the rest of world on 
climate change. The Thai and other donors see USG expertise in 
dealing with water management aspects of natural disasters, for 
example Hurricane Katrina, as having good potential for 
collaboration.  USAID plans to complete by early April a biofuels 
assessment for the region which will help to identify areas for 
collaboration.  USG science cooperation could help Thailand develop 
its perceived gaps in water management for coastal cities in 
agriculture, data bases for decision-making, and centers of 
excellence for climate change research.  After almost 20 years of 
banned logging, USG forestry assistance could help Thailand catch up 
to modern forest management in order to reach its stated goal of 15 
percent of planned 40 percent national forest cover to be in 
commercial forests.  USG collaboration with Thailand would leverage 
the RTG's strong interest in developing its capacity to be a climate 
change/clean energy donor.  The ASEAN University Network presents a 
particularly good Thailand-based avenue to reach a large number of 
climate change researchers.