Toward a green and resilient Thailand

Thailand has made significant progress in its economic development, transitioning from a low income to an upper-middle-income country. Going forward, the country is facing persistent challenges, including a deceleration in economic growth, climate vulnerability, and environmental degradation. The government has outlined its vision for a Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy to create a sustainable and competitive economic landscape to tackle these challenges. Introduced in 2021, the BCG model seeks to combine Thailand’s biological and cultural diversity with technological innovation to create a new growth paradigm. Mounting evidence shows that Thailand is extremely vulnerable to climate change, with rising
sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing precipitation patterns posing significant risks to both urban and rural areas.

The nation is vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including floods, landslides, tropical cyclones, droughts, and coastal erosion. An uneven distribution of climate impacts across the country highlights the need for targeted interventions to address specific vulnerabilities. For example, Thailand’s population is predominantly concentrated in urban areas, with rapid urbanization increasing the vulnerability of densely populated concentrations to climate-related risks, particularly floods. Lower-income households, often residing in hazard￾prone areas, face greater challenges due to limited access to essential services. The country’s vital agricultural sector is also significantly threatened by altered rainfall patterns and temperature extremes, jeopardizing crop production.

The depletion of natural resources, along with environmental degradation, further exacerbate
the challenges faced by Thailand. Forest coverage is decreasing, and built-up assets, particularly in
major cities, are susceptible to the impacts of climate hazards. The country’s rich natural capital plays
a crucial role in supporting local livelihoods, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions
poses significant risks to communities and key economic sectors. For example, the total loss of
land due to coastal erosion is estimated at two square kilometers per year, with a value equal to
.04 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Cities and economic activities in coastal areas are
especially vulnerable to coastal erosion.

source :
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/a70c95d1-d6c8-42d2-b0ba-eeb4066e2e5c