Research trip to Thailand to establish a national emissions trading system

Thailand is aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030 in relation to a business-as-usual scenario. This is in response to the Climate Change Master Plan 2015-2050 and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that the country submitted to the United Nations in September 2016. As soon as adequate access to technology, financial support, and capacity-building measures has been put into place, the Thai government intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, which is even more than the original target. A possible strategy to reduce greenhouse gases in the private sector is the development of a national carbon market. Thailand has already carried out initial pilot tests with market-based climate action instruments. However, there is as yet no clear decision as to whether the country will be able to introduce a national emissions trading system (ETS) as of 2020.

Against this background, a Thai delegation embarked on a five-day research trip to Berlin and Leipzig, during which the participants were trained on the basics and structure of a national emissions trading system (ETS). In discussions with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) as well as with scientists and technical experts, the participants discussed their experiences with the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) and its implementation in Germany. Representatives of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization as well as government representatives and experts of subordinate authorities from industry and science took part in the trip. The aim of the research trip was to support the Thai government in building capacities for emissions trading and thus to promote the development of a potential ETS in Thailand.

The organisation of the trip was coordinated by adelphi together with the client, DEHSt, FutureCamp, and the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization. adelphi's services included the general organisation and support of the Thai delegation as well as developing various teaching materials and moderating various dialogue formats and expert lectures. The study trip was implemented as part of the BMU's "Emissions Trading System: Capacity Building" programme. The programme aims to share knowledge and experience from Germany with other countries in order to support them in setting up emissions trading systems.