The 9th Seminar on Climate Change Projects and Programmes (CCPP) convened in Seoul, Korea from 15 to 17 November 2023. Hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Korea, the 9th CCPP aimed to drive the implementation of climate initiatives and foster collaborations under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – a fund established as a financial mechanism by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The seminar was attended by executives of the national designated entities (NDEs) for the development and transfer of climate technologies, GCF’s accredited entity (AE) partners, and representatives from more than 10 developing countries in Asia and Africa.
Dr. Saravanee Singtong, Director of Sustainable Policy Division, and Ms. Chaniporn Ruengrit, Policy Analyst, represented Thailand NDE at this seminar. They shared climate initiatives implemented in Thailand and explored opportunities to apply for GCF grants.
During the seminar, the project titled “Innovation Net Zero Cities by Cement Industry” proposed by NXPO was selected as the case study for group exercises. This project, also known as “Saraburi Sandbox” in Thailand, represents a public-private partnership initiative, is the development of net-zero emissions city which will serve as a model for national expansion. The implementation of Saraburi Sandbox is led by the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA), with the government’s facilitation. The cement industry forms an integral part of Saraburi’s economy and thus offers significant potential for emission reduction in various areas, including energy, waste management and manufacturing. The project seeks financial assistance to access and implement carbon capture utilization (CCU) technology, solar floating, and hydrogen energy, with a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 MtCO2eq.
Thailand is currently formulating a national hydrogen strategy and action plan to accelerate the country’s net-zero target. This endeavor is supported by technical assistance from the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) of the UNFCCC and will be highlighted in the Thailand Pavilion during COP28 in Dubai.
The Saraburi Sandbox garnered significant interest from seminar attendees, recognized for its applicability to other countries. Further discussion is expected during COP28.
