PMUC Showcases Environmental Research to the International Stage at the 16th APRSCP

The Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC) presented research outputs driving environmental impact reduction from the Circular Economy Program and the Energy, Chemistry and Bio-Based Materials Program at the 16th Asia Pacific Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (16th APRSCP), held on November 21–23, 2022 at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok. The event was presided over by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, who delivered the opening remarks and keynote address.

The event brought together over 300 experts, researchers, academics, and stakeholders from international organizations, government, private sector, and civil society across the Asia-Pacific region (both in-person and online). This 16th edition of the APRSCP also marked the 25th anniversary of the roundtable, first established in Thailand in 1997 — making it a landmark conference for advancing sustainable production and consumption globally.

On this occasion, Dr. Phongwipa Lorsomboon, Chair of the Circular Economy Program Sub-committee at PMUC, Senior Expert at the National Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NSRIP), and Secretary-General of the Thai SCP Network and Thai SCP Association, expressed PMUC's commitment to reducing environmental challenges: "PMUC places strong emphasis on sustainable growth, particularly on environmental issues. We have supported research funding to drive the transition to a low-carbon society through more than 100 projects, integrating work across various programs within PMUC — including the Circular Economy Program, the Energy, Chemistry and Bio-Based Materials Program, the Tourism and Creative Economy Program, and the Digital Platform Program — in collaboration with other relevant public, private, and civil society organizations to lay the critical foundation of infrastructure, assessment, and standards that will enable Thai businesses to compete globally through environmentally friendly practices."

Dr. Wijarn Simachaya, Sub-committee member of the Circular Economy Program at PMUC and Chair of the Thai SCP Network, also serving as Conference Chair, stated: "Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), together with the concept of Circular Economy (CE), is both an international framework and a transformative action that leads to greenhouse gas reduction, toward net-zero emissions, as well as a low-carbon society and sustainable growth. With awareness and participation from all sectors, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, the time has come to collectively address the challenges threatening the sustainability of our natural ecosystems and all living things — through various measures such as reviewing production and consumption via effective policies and concrete action."

At the 16th APRSCP, PMUC presented research outcomes funded by PMUC to promote and drive the BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy) policy.

Furthermore, the organizers offset all greenhouse gas emissions generated by the event, making it a net-zero or "Carbon Neutral Event" through carbon credits under Thailand's Voluntary Emission Reduction Program (T-VER), demonstrating social responsibility in contributing to nationwide and global greenhouse gas reduction.