Bangkok, Thailand, 22 March 2023: Thailand is one of the 16 countries identified globally as being in the ‘extreme risk’ category of those most vulnerable to future climate change impacts over the next 30 years, as outlined in Thailand’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Severe drought and flood events are likely to be experienced increasingly in the near and longer-term future, as a result of the combined effects of a more vigorous hydrological cycle and enhanced surface drying.

Water is fundamental to everyone. It is essential for human health and well-being, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems, climate adaptation, poverty reduction, and more, and is at the core of sustainable development. But decades of poor management, misuse, overextraction of groundwater and contamination of freshwater supplies have intensified water stress and degraded water-related ecosystems. This leads to negative impacts across the world, on human health, economic activities, and food and energy supplies.

Thailand’s agricultural sector in particular will be impacted by changing precipitation patterns with increasingly common extreme rain events and floods, as well as more extensive drought periods, which particularly affect vulnerable households. With climate extremes expected to increase, climate-informed water management and climate-resilient water infrastructure will be critical in order to prepare for and respond to floods and droughts, which are key priorities in Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan 2018.

In line with this, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand will implement the new ‘Enhancing Climate Resilience in Thailand through Effective Water Management and Sustainable Agriculture’ project, together with the Royal Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative (MOAC), with financial assistance from the Green Climate Fund together with partners Krungsri Bank and Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The 17 million project over 4-years will support the adaptation of water management and agricultural livelihoods in the Yom and Nan River basins to climate change induced extreme weather events including droughts and floods. Efforts through this support will help influence a paradigm shift to move towards climate risk informed water and livelihood management through tailored climate information, technical support, and the adoption of innovative technologies and practices, such as ecosystem-based adaptation. The project will help realize Thailand’s commitment towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at both a national and sub-national level, uplifting the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities in the country. 

An official signing ceremony took place this morning with the participation of Mr. Praphit Chanma, Director General, Royal Irrigation Department, Dr. Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Secretary General Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning and Mr. Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative to Thailand in the presence of relevant stakeholders and representatives from partner agencies.