LocationsKoh Samui: Bringing People and Planet Back to the Heart of the Island
March 20, 2025
Koh Samui, Thailand’s second-largest island, is famous for its white-sand beaches, lush tropical forests and vibrant tourism industry—attracting millions of visitors each year.
However, beneath this success lies a growing challenge which comes at a cost to the planet and local people.
Garbage piles have invaded its clean, fresh forests.
Tourism infrastructure has blocked and altered its original beauty.
Profits have benefited investors rather than the people who live and breathe on the island.
The planet and its people have been left out of the formula for the island’s growth and prosperity.
Through the Joint SDG Fund, UNDP and UN-Habitat are working alongside local communities to redefine prosperity – placing people at the center, to co-design the future of this beautiful island
Ensuring Financial Flows of the Popular Island Align with the SDGs
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 requires smart planning and bold investment.
But right now, developing countries face a massive annual $4 trillion SDG investment gap—a barrier that demands urgent action.
A surge in investment is crucial—for both people and the planet.
In Thailand, the SDG Joint Fund is bridging this gap by turning data into action. By leveraging SDG profiles and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), global commitments are being translated into local priorities and investments.
VLRs are a global tool used to track progress, identify gaps and mobilize collective efforts—but they are not just about data. At their heart, VLRs bring local people together to reflect on their realities, share everyday evidence, and shape responsive interventions.
Since January 2025, we have brought together multiple stakeholders to share their everyday problems, review the island’s development, and define priorities for their communities. This participatory approach fosters a sense of ownership and shared commitment between communities, local governments, and the private sector—directing financial flows toward the priorities of Koh Samui.
Naon Suwanteerakit, Deputy Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand in Koh Samui
"Urban waste in Koh Samui affects more than just the environment—it impacts our quality of life, tourism, and economy. Unmanaged waste harms community health degrades natural beauty and risks driving visitors away. A cleaner Koh Samui means a thriving future for all."Naon Suwanteerakit, Deputy Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand in Koh Samui
Koh Samui’s Waste Challenge: A Barrier to Sustainable Growth
The VLRs led communities, local governments and businesses to recognize that waste is one of the main challenges—a barrier to sustainable growth that requires urgent action.
Koh Samui faces significant environmental and economic impacts due to urban waste. The Deputy Mayor of Koh Samui, Ms. Supinya Srithongkul, highlighted the pressing need for sustainable waste management practices, emphasizing that uncollected and improperly disposed waste affects both community well-being and the tourism-driven economy.
Supinya Srithongkul, Deputy Mayor of Koh Samui Municipality
"Effective waste management starts with everyone—residents, businesses, and local leaders. By taking responsibility for our waste, segregating at the source, and supporting community waste banks, Koh Samui moves closer to a Zero Waste future. Together, we turn waste into opportunity."Supinya Srithongkul, Deputy Mayor of Koh Samui Municipality
Community-Driven Solutions: Turning Waste into Opportunity
To tackle this crisis, Koh Samui is embracing innovative, community-led waste solutions – including the establishment of local waste banks.
These waste banks provide residents with designated drop-off points where they can sort and recycle materials in exchange for small financial incentives. But they do much more than just manage waste:
- It encourages sustainable behaviors – Empowering residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Create economic opportunities – Generating income for families while reducing waste disposal costs.
- Strengthen community ownership – Bringing together residents, local business and policy makers.
Sunun Maktisong, member of Lipa Noi Community, Koh Samui
"The success of community waste banks depends on strong leadership, active participation, and effective awareness-building. With efficient management and support from organizations, waste banks can thrive—turning waste into value and communities into changemakers."Sunun Maktisong, member of Lipa Noi Community, Koh Samui
The community waste bank in Samui is one of nearly 16,500 waste banks now operating nationwide. These banks have over 4.3 million members, generating more than 900 million THB ($25 million) in community welfare benefits.
To sustain these innovative, community-led solutions, UNDP supported Surat Thani in identifying financial opportunities to address the province’s challenges through the INFF, a global tool that helps direct financial flows toward the SDGs. Meanwhile, UN-Habitat has supported the province in transforming data into a project proposal aimed at tackling these challenges.
Through its engagement with UNDP and UN-Habitat, Koh Samui is not only addressing immediate challenges but also setting a precedent for other cities to follow. The journey toward sustainability requires continuous adaptation and commitment, and Koh Samui’s efforts underscore the power of local actions in achieving global goals.
As Thailand continues to advance its SDG localization efforts, the lessons from Koh Samui’s VLR process offer valuable insights for other municipalities seeking to integrate sustainability into their long-term development plans as well as for another two provinces supported by SDG Joint Fund including Udon Thani and Surat Thani.
