On January 20th, 2021, between 1.00 – 3.00 P.M. (Thailand time), the BMA’s Permanent Secretary assigned Department of Environment (DOE) on behalf of BMA to cooperate with JICA to arrange and take part in the seminar “Knowledge Sharing on Climate Readiness Efforts in Asia” through the online video conference. There were participants to take part in the seminar namely JICA Headquarters, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, City of Yokohama, and BMA. According to BMA, there were several departments under the supervision by BMA to partake in the seminar such as Public Works Department, Department of Drainage and Sewerage, Traffic and Transportation Department, and Department of City Planning.

The seminar was divided into two main periods. With respect to the first, 4 parties represented the presentation on the initiative and progress of the implementation on climate change as follows:

         Mr. Shuhei Okuno, Deputy DirectorGeneral, Climate Change Policy Headquarters, City of Yokohama, presented Yokohama City Action Plan for Global Warming 2013 and the target for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 

         Mrs. Sermsuk Noppun, Chief of Climate Change Strategy Sub-Division, Air Quality and Noise Management Division, Department of Environment, presented the implementation under the Bangkok Master Plan on Climate Change 2013 – 2023. 

         Mr. Akihiro Miyazaki, Global Environment Department, JICA Deputy Director General, presented the expectation and city-to-city cooperation. In this regard, the operation by JICA in response to climate change both GHG mitigation and adaptation including the capacity strengthening for the implementation in Thailand has been in accordance with Paris Agreement.

         Ms. Jacqueline Lam, Deputy Regional Director, East, Southeast Asia and Oceania at C40 Cities, presented the Deadline 2020 project in line with Paris Agreement, and the support of member cities to develop the climate action plan to reduce carbon emissions by 2030, the net-zero carbon by 2050, and private cooperation promotion.

Regarding the second period, 4 parties discussed the challenges for moving towards Carbon Neutral City 2050 and importance of cooperation with private sectors toward Zero Carbon Emissions. For this seminar, it is a good opportunity for sharing considerably beneficial knowledge for supporting the preparedness of the implementation on climate change in the future.