NXPO President Dr. Kitipong Promwong revealed that the recent meeting of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (Policy Council) has reviewed measures supporting Thailand’s goal of carbon neutrality and net zero GHG emissions. The measures are outlined in three mechanisms:
- Collaboration mechanism by establishing a network of universities as service providers to support climate initiatives of various sectors, a network of GHG reduction innovation in industry, and a link between policy and practice.
- Technology development and transfer mechanism by developing a platform that facilitates the development and transfer of technology at the national and international levels, technology localization, and design a technology roadmap for climate actions.
- Financial mechanism by devising a joint program drawing investments from local and international investors to support R&D, scale-up, and demonstration projects.
Dr. Kitipong further added that NXPO is Thailand’s national designated entity (NDE) in the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). NXPO’s role is to support technology and innovation, exchange knowledge, and develop collaboration mechanisms, networks and policy recommendations.
The roadmap to achieve net zero GHG emissions in five years consists of three pilot programs.
Program #1. Saraburi, Mae Moh and Rayong Models. A sandbox will be launched in Saraburi and Rayong to become a model for net zero GHG emissions, whereas Mae Moh will be a model for livable eco-friendly city by rehabilitating brownfield and building three low-carbon economic zones.
Program #2. Green Campus. Eighty universities are expected to join the program that will support the creation of 400 green communities, 10,000 enterprises committed to green policy, and 300 companies adopting green technologies.
Program #3. Manpower Development and Carbon Credit Certification. The capacity building platform is expected to develop 100,000 workers with knowledge in carbon credit and 50 service providers in green technology.
The Policy Council approved the proposed measures and assigned NXPO to work with the Office of Permanent Secretary for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Thailand Science, Research and Innovation (TSRI) and relevant agencies to drive the implementation.
