On November 3, 2021, at 08.00 pm (Thailand time), Mr. Wirat Manassanitwong, Director-General of Department of Environment (DOE) assigned Ms. Woranuch Suaykakaow, Deputy Director General of Department of Environment to act as a representative of BMA and to join the seminar in the side events at the 26th UNFCCC COP (COP26) through the online video conference.

          BMA has given priority to climate change issue. In this regard, BMA and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have continuously conducted the project for strengthening the institutional capacity for the implementation of Bangkok Master Plan on Climate Change 2013 – 2023 since 2018. JICA invited Department of Environment (DOE) to take part in the side events at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom from 1 – 12 November 2021. For such meeting, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha joined the 26th UNFCCC COP (COP 26) delivered remarks at the World Leaders Summit of COP 26 conference on Thailand’s aim to enhance in taking accelerated actions for tackling climate change issues.

          Ms. Woranuch Suaykakaow, BMA’s Deputy Director General of Department of Environment, presented the challenges of climate actions and driving the implementation toward Carbon Neutrality. According to the continuous operation on climate change cooperated between JICA and City of Yokohama, BMA initiated Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Action Plan on Global Warming Mitigation 2007 – 2012. To continuously take actions, BMA developed and has driven the implementation of the Bangkok Master Plan on Climate Change 2013 – 2023 (current issue). To be in line with Paris Agreement and higher national policies and plans such as Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy (2017-2036), Thailand’s Climate Change Master Plan 2015 – 2050, Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Roadmap on Mitigation 2021–2030, 20-year Development Plan for Bangkok Metropolis, and so on, BMA has set the 2030 target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation at 19 per cent from 4 sectors namely environmentally sustainable transport, energy efficiency and alternative energy, efficient solid waste management and wastewater treatment, green urban planning. In this regard, BMA also adjusted the climate measures on adaptation to climate change to alignment with Thailand’ NAP. 

          Ms. Woranuch Suaykakaow, Deputy Director General of Department of Environment, finally said that, at present, the current issue of Bangkok Master Plan is going to be accomplished and BMA has also made an effort to conduct to move toward the city of net zero emission. Thus, this is why we have set the new target of GHG mitigation by 2030. More importantly, BMA is in progress for developing the new Bangkok Master Plan on Climate Change 2021 – 2030 for further implementation to be alignment with Paris Agreement and higher policies and plans of Thailand respectively.