Thailand Country Climate and Development Report - Overview

Overview & Synopsis

The Thailand Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) identifies ways in which Thailand can achieve economic development that is greener and more climate resilient. Despite several decades of development success, Thailand’s aspirations to become a high-income economy are facing headwinds: investment growth has slowed, structural transformation out of agriculture and into higher value-added activities has stalled, rising global protectionism poses threats to exports, and the population is aging rapidly. Incomes and wealth are concentrated in Bangkok, while other parts of the country struggle to develop. Climate change is reinforcing and exacerbating these challenges. Urban flooding risks are among the highest in the world and Bangkok – which hosts a concentration of Thailand’s export-oriented industries – remains especially vulnerable. The relatively poor north and north-eastern parts of Thailand are vulnerable to drought, water shortages, and changing rainfall patterns, which will continue to impact agricultural production, exacerbating existing inequalities. Heat waves and prolonged heat exposure directly impact labor productivity and well-being, as well as increasing risks of illness.