Thailand sees slight uptick in CO2 emissions after end of Covid-19 restrictions

BANGKOK - Thailand emitted 247.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2022, a slight increase from the year before as its economy recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic, said the Energy Policy and Planning Office.

The 1.5 per cent increase in CO2 emissions was caused by higher demand for energy due to the rebound in the services and tourism sectors triggered by the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, said the office’s director-general Wattanapong Kurowat on Sunday.

The transport sector emitted 79.6 million tonnes of CO2 in 2022, up 14.9 per cent year on year, while businesses and households emitted 13.7 million tonnes, up 8.4 per cent, said the official.

Industry and electricity production emitted 66.5 million and 87.9 million tonnes of CO2, respectively, down 6.7 per cent and 3.2 per cent.

Mr Wattanapong said 42 per cent of CO2 was emitted from fuel oil, followed by natural gas (30 per cent) and coal (28 per cent).

“CO2 emissions from fuel oil rose 14.2 per cent year on year, but CO2 emissions from natural gas and coal dropped by 9 per cent and 3.1 per cent year on year, respectively,” he said.

Thailand emits less CO2 than other countries because it promotes the use of renewable energy as part of an energy policy framework that aims to minimise environmental impact.

The country’s ratio of CO2 emissions and energy consumption is lower than the ratios in both the United States and China, Mr Wattanapong said, citing 2020 data from the International Energy Agency.

Thailand’s ratio of CO2 emissions and energy consumption was 2,030 tonnes per kilotonne of oil equivalent that year, compared with 2,110 tonnes and 2,900 tonnes per kilotonne of oil equivalent in the US and China, respectively.

Mr Wattanapong expressed confidence that Thailand will achieve its goals of carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK