According to "TheUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change", although adaption processes has been relatively slow compared to mitigation processes, Thailand have made several efforts towards preparedness to adapt to future impacts of climate change. Thailand have conducted several studies to understand the adaption processes in various sectors such as natural forests, agriculture, water resources, coastal areas and health. One effort was to stop deforestation by creating logging ban as the conservation of forest, and having reforestation policies in place that could not only help absorb co2 from the atmosphere but also help reduce emissions of co2. Another effort was water resource management,the impact on which is necessary because it causes variations in precipitations, and extreme flooding and drought could occur.
The method was allocating water and reservoirs in the dry season, making sure crop yields are not affected. 60% of water is allocated for agriculture but this water will be partially diverted for other high purpose uses when water is in scarce.
According to IPCC report, adaptation measures for hydrology and water resources is to address the existing inefficiency in the use of water, that is the major problem in Asia. Restoration and re-establishment of vegetation, improvement of the tree and herb varieties, and selection and cultivation of new drought-resistant varieties are some of the effective measures that can be used. Modernization of existing irrigation schemes, and using recycled water to create wetlands, recycling groundwater aquifers, and treating waste water for reuse are few other ways to adapt utilize water resource management.
The Kyoto Protocol of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was open for signature for all the parties and Thailand signed February 2, 1999 signifying intention to ratify. The Protocol was subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by Parties to the UNFCCC. Cabinet agreed that Thailand should ratify to the Kyoto Protocol on 28 August, 2002, on 16th February, 2005, Thailand ratified to the Kyoto Protocol. But like many countries, Thailand do not have any obligatory emissions reduction targets, however emphasis was for the countries to reduce emissions by an average of 5.2 % below 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012. But despite the protocol in place,most countries had increased co2 emissions.
Thailand's Co2 emission
According to Thailand's Response to Climate Change release by Dr. Asdapom Krairapanond , Ministry of natural resources and Environment of Thailand, the country is definitely taking mitigation measures towards climate change. Mitigation measures in energy sector includes demand side management program for energy saving, energy conservation and promotion act focusing on renewable, sustainable, efficient energy use, using alternate energy sources and transportation improvement. Mitigation measures in forestry sector includes protection of forest, reforestation and afforestation. Thailand has a lot of alternate energy usage and has a lot of plans in place as well. Ministry of Energy of Thailand, created a 10-year alternative energy development plan (AEDP) in 2012 be fulfilled by 2021 for wind, soalr, hydro, bio energy, bio fuels, tidal wave and geothermal energy. Current capacity and targets of the AEDP is shown below
Cultural motivation for Thailand is the development of low-carbon society, and create healthier living scenario for the citizens. The advantages lie not only in energy sector but also in economic sector such as reducing oil imports for 574,000 million Baht and environmental sector by decreasing co2 emission for 76 million tons per year within 2021(Climate Change Mitigation Techniques). Mitigation processes have affected a lot of people. Population in urban area is more likely to accept but population in rural areas experience hardships as they try to maintain their way of life and adapting to mitigation processes set up by the government (Marks, 2011).
Personally, I think a country should have a balance between adaptation and mitigation process for climate change. Only having adaptation process will be impossible to manage. At the same time, only having mitigation process is at most times very costly and consuming for countries. A country should try to adapt to climate change in ways possible and at the same time apply mitigation processes whenever feasible and allowed by the country economy.
