KEY CHALLENGES FACING THAILAND IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL CO2 EMISSION ABATEMENT

This paper attempts to provide a preliminary view of the key challenges facing Thailand in the context of global CO2 emission abatement. The results of the study indicate that abatement strategies which are based on a limited range of technologies due to technical data limitations for the Thai context should already achieve moderate targets: 14% and 29% reduction in 2030 against the reference case depending on the intensity of efforts made. Further reduction is possible but this requires the inclusion of another line of options ie the adoption of actions for a highly ambitious program to further modernize the transport sector. The paper also discusses the hydro option as against nuclear. Finally, the study recommends more research and studies of CO2 abatement technologies for the Thai context and development of policy instruments to deal with the very long-term perspective.