The United Nations Industrial Development Organization- UNIDO has partnered with the Canadian government to work on reducing carbon emissions in Thailand’s cement and concrete industry. This collaboration will provide a blend of technical support and investment aid aimed at creating policies and regulatory frameworks centered on decarbonization, as well as developing a national and industrial roadmap towards achieving net-zero emissions.
The initiative also plans to establish effective systems for monitoring, reviewing, and verifying the cement and concrete sectors’ progress. Additionally, it will offer guidance on setting green public procurement targets and standards for low-carbon cement and concrete.
The Canadian government is contributing CAD8 million- approximately US$5.8 million to fund projects and research in Thailand and other South Asian countries. This financial support is intended to speed up the decarbonization of the cement sector. Over the next three years, UNIDO will use these funds to support pilot projects that demonstrate and commercialize low-carbon technological solutions within the cement and concrete industries. These projects will particularly focus on local solutions with significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, the project will facilitate capacity building and pilot projects that could be co-financed or expanded through private financing. It also includes training programs to develop industrial skills and expertise, which can be shared with other countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Gerd Müller, the director general of UNIDO, expressed the organization’s commitment to aiding developing countries in achieving sustainable economic and industrial growth. He acknowledged the support from the Canadian government in assisting Thailand to decarbonize its industries. Müller highlighted that this collaboration between UNIDO, the Canadian government, and the Thai government would significantly contribute to climate change mitigation and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
