Living sustainably means changing how we live our lives, and potentially includes speaking out on the big issue of climate change. Not usually very committed to this kind of thing, I was intrigued to see plans online for Bangkokians to join the Global People’s Climate March, marking the opening of the Paris COP21 Climate Summit. Signing up through online campaign group Avaaz was simple until I revisited the event page to discover it no longer existed. It seemed that Bangkok would not be included in the 2404 events happening worldwide. Further searches and an email to Avaaz themselves revealed little information as to what happened.
But I guess, given that over 100 people had signed up, such a gathering would not have been wise at the present time. So, what to do? Events were still listed for Phitsanulok and for Koh Lanta, the latter linked to a campaign against a coal fired power station. Both were way too far for a Sunday afternoon. Knowing the rough Bangkok location and start time, the adventurous side of me wondered about going along anyway to look for anything impromptu. However, the more sedate, ‘let’s stay in the air-con’ side of me wondered about Thailand’s role in the upcoming Paris meeting and I began googling around.
Firstly some background: writing in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, Fiona Harvey highlights scientific warnings ‘that if emissions continue to rise we will pass the threshold beyond which global warming becomes catastrophic and irreversible.’ We are currently on target for a 5°C temperature rise but the threshold to avoid the ‘catastrophic and irreversible’ is set at a 2°C rise, indicating a clear problem. Harvey emphasises that the science consistently confirms ‘rising greenhouse gas emissions, linked to the use of fossil fuels, lead to higher temperatures.’
The Paris conference is therefore crucial as it aims for a new global agreement to tackle emissions. Its approach is different from previous conferences in that the EU, the US and China have already made emissions pledges. In fact all attending governments have submitted ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ (INDCs), which state their intentions to act. Given that the Thai Prime Minister will also be in Paris, what commitments has this country made?
Thailand's INDC:
Thailand’s central commitment is for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, from projected business as usual levels, by 2030. This would be achieved through a series of initiatives including: renewable generation of 20-30% of Thailand’s power by 2036; a shift from road to rail transportation; a revised system of car tax linked to emissions, and improved public buses in Bangkok.
Thailand has seen a 0.95°C increase in average temperature from 1955 to 2005, and is thought to be at ‘extreme risk’ of the negative impacts of climate change over the next 30 years. It is likely that wetter parts of the country will see increased rainfall, while drier areas may see more pronounced droughts. The INDC highlights that 68% of the country’s climate change budget is going towards adapting to this situation.
But this is a country which contributes just 0.84% of global emissions, and here we come to the heart of the matter: if Thailand’s contribution to global emissions is relatively small but the impacts of climate change significant: shouldn’t the richer/bigger emitters provide the cash to make investments for countries like Thailand to cut emissions and adapt? Especially as we all stand to benefit from such actions.
The Thai INDC states that high cost is a major barrier to successful implementation of its plans. The document explains that both adapting to, and acting to slow, climate change creates ‘extra burden’ on the ‘already scarce government fiscal budgets of many developing countries including Thailand.’ Fiona Harvey reminds us of the last summit in Copenhagen, where richer countries promised $100 billion in support would be available annually by 2020. Those at the Paris conference need to ensure this pledge is met and sorting this out in the current ‘age of austerity’ remains a key challenge. As does spending the money wisely once it becomes available.
And what of the Global Climate March? Well, although the public have not been able to show their support for Thailand’s climate change commitments, with a little effort online, I did find a glimmer of hope: there are actually some significant proposals on the table.
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