Thai opposition aims to overhaul gov’t eco development agenda if elected

By Piyaporn Wongruang
China Dialogue

The government’s vision for a sustainable future is being criticised ahead of Sunday’s snap general election. 

Local communities, opposition parties and environmental groups say the vision, known as the Bio-Circular-Green Economic model, or BCG, is failing to deliver on its stated aims of ensuring sustainability and equity. Instead it is focussing on policies that keep power in the elite, they say.

According to opinion polls, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is trailing the younger leaders of opposition parties Pheu Thai and Move Forward. If one of the challengers wins, they will very likely ditch the model altogether, according to their manifestos which make no mention of it.

What is the vision?

The BCG is a broad plan to push Thailand toward sustainability and from a middle- to high-income country. Involving four…