Following the Thailand CPEIR’s recommendations in 2012, Thailand has further strengthened their governance of climate change finance in various aspects including the implementation of the Strengthening Thailand’s capacity to link climate policies and Public Financial Management (PFM) project chaired by Office of Natural Resources and Environmental policies and planning (ONEP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in partnership with the Office of National Economics and Development Board (NESDB), the Bureau of Budget (BOB) and the Ministry of Finance with technical and financial support from UNDP Thailand country office and UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub. The project aims to support Thailand in allocating and using its public finances effectively and efficiently to achieve its objectives on climate change and green growth as well as the SDGs.

Thailand is the first country in the region that pilots bottom-up budget formulation approach. Their pilot exercise focuses on the 2012 CPEIR’s highest climate-relevant expenditure sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in reviewing their climate-change related expenditure with the Cost-Benefit Analysis resulting further work in climate-responsive budget formulation and later on submission to the cabinet for their annual public budget and beyond. Through a series of workshops and coaching sessions organised for key departments within the MoAC, namely the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Land Development Department (LDD), UNDP supports the government to strengthen their capacities to respond effectively to climate change and monitor their climate change related expenditure, by integrating ‘the Climate Change Analysis’ into their budget proposals, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Alongside the analysis in MOAC, Thailand also successfully developed a Climate Change Benefit Analysis (CCBA) guidelines which is now being submitted to the cabinet to be used in broader government projects’ budget formulation in complimentary to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). This CCBA guidelines will provide assistance to not only the line Ministries but also Budget agency and Policy & Planning & Strategy agency to better develop and monitor public projects in a climate-responsive approach.

Thailand is now in process to develop learning and training modules to implement the CCBA guideline for broader audience.

Photo credit: UNDP Thailand and the Royal Irrigation Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand