4th Thailand-Japan Environmental Policy Dialogue and Thailand-Japan Environmental Technology Business Matching Seminar

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1. On July 9, 2024, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand held a signing ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand to renew the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) aimed at strengthening environmental cooperation between the two countries. Together with the signing ceremony, the 4th Thailand-Japan Environmental Policy Dialogue was organized with the participation of KUNISADA Isato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment and MATSUZAWA Yutaka, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs from Japan and H.E. Capt. Rachata Phisibanakorn, Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment from Thailand, among others.

2. At the Policy Dialogue, both countries agreed to collaborate in capacity building for climate policy analysis, support for the establishment of an E-wastes recycling system of, and information sharing on countermeasures against invasive alien species.

3. Prior to the Policy Dialogue, on July 8, 2024, “the Thailand-Japan Environmental Technology Business Matching Seminar” was co-hosted with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand and the Embassy of Japan in Thailand with the aim of facilitating business cooperation in environmental technologies and services between Japan and Thailand. On the same day, the two countries held a signing ceremony on renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand.

1. Background of the 4th Thailand-Japan Environmental Policy Dialogue

In 2018, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand signed a “Memorandum of Cooperation Between the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Kingdom of Thailand on Environmental Cooperation” with the aim of comprehensive environmental cooperation, holding the 1st Thailand-Japan Environmental Policy Dialogue. Since then, the two countries have organized the 2nd and 3rd Policy Dialogues in 2020 and 2022, respectively, and on July 9, 2024, the 4th Environmental Dialogue (hybrid meeting) was held in Bangkok, the Kingdom of Thailand.
Both Ministries also signed on the Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at renewal of environmental cooperation between Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand with KUNISADA Isato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment and H.E. Capt. Rachata Phisibanakorn, Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment as signatories.

2. Major participants of the Environmental Policy Dialogue and MOC signing ceremony

(Japan)
Ministry of the Environment
KUNISADA Isato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment
MATSUZAWA Yutaka, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs
(Thailand)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
H.E. Capt. Rachata Phisibanakorn, Vice Minister
Ms. Chayanan Pakdeejit, Deputy Permanent Secretary
Mr. Thalearngsak Petchsuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary

3. Major issues discussed at the Environmental Policy Dialogue

Both Ministries broadly exchanged opinions on their initiatives and possible future cooperation and agreed with capacity building for climate policy analysis, support for the establishment of a recycling system of E-wastes, and information sharing on countermeasures against invasive alien species.

1) Climate change

The two Ministries exchanged opinions in the following fields and agreed to strengthen the current cooperative relationship, explore more fields of cooperation, and develop human resources who analyze, in particular, climate change policies.

● Analysis of scenarios of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Asia Pacific Integrated Model (AIM))

● Disclosure of climate information by private businesses (Partnership to Strengthen Transparency for co-Innovation (PaSTI))

● City-to-City Collaboration

● Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM）

● Early Warning System (EWS)

and others

2) Air quality control

The two Ministries exchanged opinions in the following fields and agreed to explore more fields of cooperation.

● A co-benefits approach and international cooperation in terms of air quality improvement and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

● JICA technical cooperation in PM2.5 in Thailand

3) Waste management and plastic pollution

The two Ministries exchanged opinions in the following fields and agreed to collaborate in continuous monitoring of plastic pollution and support the establishment of a recycling system of E-wastes

● E-wastes

● Management and recycling of plastic wastes

● Monitoring and database of marine litter

4) Other issues

The two Ministries exchanged opinions in the following fields and agreed to share information on countermeasures against invasive alien species.

● Wetland management

● Groundwater quality management

● Invasive alien species

4. Thailand-Japan Environmental Technology Business Matching Seminar and other event

On July 8, 2024, prior to the Policy Dialogue, the “Thailand-Japan Environmental Technology Business Matching Seminar (Co-sponsors: Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok; JETRO Bangkok Office; JICA Thailand Office; Bangkok Metropolitan Administration; Department of Climate Change and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand; Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry of Thailand; and Federation of Thai Industries) was co-hosted with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand and the Embassy of Japan in Thailand with the aim of facilitating business cooperation in environmental technologies and services between Japan and Thailand. Approximately 200 (in-person) and 150 (online) people participated in the seminar.
In addition, on the same day, Japan and Thailand held the signing ceremony on renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with the presence of KUNISADA Isato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment. H.E. Mr. OTAKA Masato, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Thailand and Mr. Patcharawat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment signed the Memorandum.