Environment and economy in focus: UNDP and Thailand in dialogue!

Environment and economy in focus: UNDP and Thailand in dialogue!

On November 10, 2025, there was a significant meeting at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Bangkok. Permanent Secretary Ngan Chayanun Phakdeejit received UNDP Representative in Thailand Ms. Niamh Collier-Smith and her delegation. The meeting took place in the meeting room on the 17th floor of the ministry, where representatives from other relevant authorities were also present. The atmosphere was characterized by an active discussion about the course that the ministry would like to take under the leadership of Minister Suchat Chomklin.

But what is actually on the agenda? Ngan Chayanun Phakdeejit outlined the priorities that are central to the ministry's policies. The focus is on sustainable management of natural resources for the benefit of the population. The promotion of business and tourism through the versatile and environmentally friendly use of biological resources plays an important role.

Challenges and opportunities

But the focus is not only on positive developments. Topics such as the management of natural disasters and the fight against PM 2.5 and transboundary pollution are dealt with intensively. Particular attention is paid to the goal of implementing the “Zero Food Waste” initiative. It is clear that the challenges in natural resource management cannot be underestimated, but Chayanun Phakdeejit remains optimistic.

A central point of the meeting was the deepening of cooperation between the ministry and the UNDP. It discussed how to promote sustainability in the context of climate change while achieving national targets, known as NDC 3.0. The communities should also be actively involved in order to promote the protection of biological diversity.

Financing and future prospects

Another exciting aspect was the project discussion, which will be supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund. These initiatives mentioned offer numerous financing opportunities for future projects that aim to both address climate change and promote biodiversity.

The future is full of opportunities and challenges: exchange between institutions is the key to finding innovative solutions. Even if things can sometimes get bumpy in international cooperation, the current discussions show that a good handle on the topic of climate and the environment is definitely required.

Further information on current developments and initiatives in the field of natural resources and the environment can be found on the pages of Universiti Malaya and Thesaurus.