- At the Summit, the United States announced it will target reducing emissions by 50-52%, compared to 2005 levels, by 2030.
- Countries accounting for half of the world's economy stepped forward to reduce emissions enough to keep a target of warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach
- The UK announced a very ambitious climate change target, aiming to slash emissions by 78%, compared to 1990 levels, by 2035.
- Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment announced the country's first Climate Change Bill and adoption of the Bio-Circular-Green- Economy Model as Thailand's steps to reduce emissions.
Today (29 April 2021), UK Ambassador Brian Davidson and U.S. Charge d'Affaires Michael Heath reaffirmed climate commitments each country made at the US-hosted Leaders Climate Summit last week. The Chiefs of Mission welcomed Thailand's announcements, praised Thailand for its regional leadership on climate change issues, encouraged all countries - including Thailand - to set ambitious NDC goals to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, and pledged support for Thailand.
Climate change is threatening futures and affecting livelihoods globally. Its real-world impacts are already all too visible, including in Thailand, which has been ranked among the top 10 most impacted countries in the world by climate change over the last 20 years. Here we have seen catastrophic flooding, drought, fires and other extreme weather events.
The Leaders Summit on Climate, hosted by the United States and held from 22-23 April 2021, brought together many world leaders, including from the UK and Thailand, as well as leaders of international organizations, businesses, and NGOs, to galvanize efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis. It was a key milestone in this vital year for climate action as the world works towards the global climate negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) which will be held in Glasgow, UK, in November this year.
As host of the Leaders Summit, U.S. President Joseph Biden made a historic commitment to cut emissions by 50-52% relative to 2005 levels by 2030, nearly doubling the United States' previous target. This came as the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the United Kingdom is setting into law one of the most ambitious emission goals in the world, to cut emissions by 78% by 2035 relative to 1990 levels.
A number of other countries, including Japan, China and South Korea, have also recently announced more ambitious climate commitments or a plan to update their NDC before COP26. New targets announced ensured that nations accounting for half of the world's economy have now committed to the emission reductions needed globally to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5-degrees C within reach. Every G7 country now has an NDC that puts them on a path to net zero by 2050.
But much more needs to be done. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stressed that to have a chance of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees we need to reduce global emissions by 45-50% by 2030. So together, the US and the UK are encouraging every country to come forward before COP26 with a more ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to put the world on track.
At the summit, Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Varawut Silpa-archa provided an update on progress in drafting Thailand's first ever Climate Change Act and use of the Bio-Circular-Green-Economy Model, marking Thailand's steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changing climate conditions ahead of COP26.
The United Kingdom, as COP26 President, the United States, and Thailand hope to join countries around the world in setting new ambitious commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions before COP26.
Brian Davidson, British Ambassador to Thailand, said:
We, all of us, need to act now to protect our planet for future generations. We hear Thailand's call for greater international support, and we are committed to supporting Thailand in its journey. The UK is funding the Rice NAMA programme which Minister Varawut mentioned at the Summit. It is also supporting Thailand's transition to clean energy and greening the financial system through the ASEAN Low Carbon Energy Programme and the support for the electric vehicle policy in Thailand.
Michael Heath, Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, said:
The United States is already helping Thailand modernize its power grid and better integrate alternative energy and electric vehicles. We are also helping Thailand develop tools to address air pollution, drought, and disaster risk reduction. The United States stands ready to help Thailand achieve its climate objectives.
