Pick-up in numbers of Thai firms seeking carbon credits

Thirty-eight of the projects have been approved.

More local operators have become active in relation to the United Nations' Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) since the TGO accelerated the provision of information over the past few years, its executive director Sirithan Pairoj-Boriboon said yesterday.

"The current problem is small projects lose bargaining power because of their small level of carbon credits. Hence, we try to group them as a bundle so that the projects can be worth the investment," he said.

Sirithan estimates that more than 50 projects will be submitted in the coming year, the bulk of them small.

As of July 21, 1,128 projects globally were registered by the CDM executive board.

These projects reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by an estimated 220 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent per year.

There are about 4,000 projects yet to be certified.

Overall, these projects would reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by more than 2.5 billion tonnes until the end of 2012. The fastest-growing project types are for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Thailand ranks as the 25th biggest releaser of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, moving up from 31st place in 2005.

China accounts for 41 per cent of the world's distribution of CDM emission reductions, followed by Brazil and India with 14 per cent each, South Korea with 11 per cent, Mexico with 5 per cent and Chile with 2 per cent. African and other countries account for 13 per cent.

Meanwhile the Industrial Works Department is encouraging manufacturers to apply for its CSR-DIW certification in order to prepare them for the ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility, which will be implemented in 2010.

CSR-DIW has adopted almost all the criteria of ISO 26000, which helps companies to structure their contribution to sustainable development.

"In the next two years, good-quality products and services will not be enough for running a business with partners in developed countries, particularly in Europe. Therefore we need to prepare ourselves to meet this stricter standard in the future," said department director-general Rachade Singalavanija.

About 25 plants have received CSR-DIW certification this year. Rachade expects to present certifications to another 100 next year, at a cost of Bt24 million.