Thailand: Establishment of the Department of Climate Change and Environment

In brief

As a key step in combating the climate change crisis, the Thai government has recently established the Department of Climate Change and Environment (CCE) within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. This central government agency is dedicated to focusing on the country’s climate change efforts.

The establishment of the CCE, along with the introduction of several other upcoming climate-related regulations and initiatives, emphasizes Thailand’s serious commitment to achieving its carbon neutrality goal by 2050 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065. In the mid-term, there is a commitment to elevate our ambition by raising the GHG reduction target from 20-25% to 30-40% by 2030.

According to the Royal Decree re: Changing the Name of the Environmental Quality Promotion Department to Department of Climate Change and Environment, B.E. 2566 (2023), and the Ministerial Regulations on the Organization Division of the Department of Climate Change and Environment, B.E. 2566 (2023), the CCE is tasked with supervising Thailand’s missions and operations related to climate change, while also coordinating with public and private agencies on climate change issues. Additionally, the CCE will be responsible for assessing the country’s climate change risks and producing guidelines in line with Thailand’s commitment to international protocols.

The Royal Decree and the Ministerial Regulations were published in the Royal Gazette on 17 August 2023 and 18 August 2023, respectively. The name change took effect on 18 August 2023, marking the official establishment of the CCE.