First national climate change bill in the pipeline
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First national climate change bill in the pipeline

The country's first-ever climate change bill is expected to be submitted for the cabinet's consideration by June.

It aims to serve as a tool for limiting the nation's losses due to global warming while improving its ability to adapt and be more resilient in the face of crises, according to the Department of Climate Change and Environment.

The bill was drafted in response to global concern about increased temperatures damaging natural ecosystems, people's well-being, and the economy.

The bill was designed based on the 2016 Paris Agreement, which required participating countries to report the amount of greenhouse emissions they release into the atmosphere and arrange plans to adapt to climate change.

Pavich Kesavawong, the department's deputy chief, said a public hearing will be held in Bangkok next week before the final version is submitted to the cabinet by June.

He said the bill involves measures for stakeholders in major sectors, such as energy, transport, agriculture and industrial sectors, to collect data on greenhouse gas emissions and report to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep).

"The key message is that we want all stakeholders to take strong action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill will also provide financial support, including soft loans from banks and environment funds, to help them invest in green technology," Mr Pavich said.

The bill also includes a plan to establish a way of predicting long-term weather changes by Onep and the Meteorological Department.

Mr Pavich said the issue of carbon taxes has also been considered by the department. It will discuss the measure with the Department of Revenue and the Department of Excise further to see if they are feasible without harming manufacturers, he said.

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