Khun Natta Kamolvathin, TPBS TV Thai,
hosts UNDP Thailand’s book launch for
-2◦: Cooling down the planet with both hands.

5 June 2009

“Think global, act local,” is the catch cry of climate change activists across the world. It's the belief that something as vast and challenging as global warming can only be tackled if individuals take action in their day-to-day lives.

For most of us that means doing a few things where we can. Walking to the supermarket instead of jumping in the car; recycling everything from newspapers to bottles and plastic containers; and maybe that air conditioner doesn’t need to be on all day, every day.

But for some people in Thailand, it means a whole lot more.

These are the people featured in a new book launched by UNDP Thailand on 5 June 2009 to celebrate World Environment Day.

-2◦: Cooling down the planet with both hands presents inspirational stories of ordinary Thais doing their bit to combat climate change. 

-2◦: Cooling down the planet with both hands is available here

One story focuses on Pairin Pongsura, manager of the Siambaandin Company, which provides low cost, environmentally-friendly housing to villagers and farmers. Instead of using wood, Pairin and her team of workers, build houses out of local resources like clay, soil, sand and hay. These Earth Houses can be built for as little as 50,000 Baht, making them affordable to the less well-off.

Pairin says the homes are not only good for the environment, they also build community.

“The collective effort to build them employs the community’s power and allows people to learn about themselves and others. The end result is they gain the knowledge of self-reliance,” she said.

The Khammalai family of Mae Rim, another story featured, has also taken steps to improve community life. The Khammalais are pig farmers. Their Don Kaew farm currently has 270 breeders and 500 weanling pigs. This means a lot of waste, with the subsequent smell providing real potential for local concern.

But thanks to some innovative thinking and the support of local authorities, the Khammalais decided to build two biogas ponds, which were then connected to homes in the community. The 20 cubic metres of wastewater produced by the pigs everyday, in turn produces 90 cubic metres of biogas. This is enough to provide gas to 107 households for cooking, resulting in savings worth 2,500 baht a year for these families.

The UNDP put this book together hoping the stories like those of Pairin and the Khammalais will inspire other people living in Thailand to think about what more they can do to tackle climate change.

“A two degree increase in temperature is all that is needed for catastrophic climate change to occur. As this book clearly shows, people from all walks of life can make a difference in cooling the planet,” said Phansiri Winichagoon, UNDP Thailand.

The UNDP put this book together hoping the stories like those of Pairin and the Khammalais will inspire other people living in Thailand to think about what more they can do to tackle climate change.

Khun Phansiri Winichagoon, UNDP Thailand, promotes the book to Thai media.

“The UNDP is not only committed to inspiring ordinary people to do more, but it also wants to highlight to the private sector that there are many worthwhile climate change initiatives that deserve support.

UNDP Thailand is actively seeking to create partnerships between like-minded individuals, businesses and other organizations to respond to, and tackle, global warming.

UNDP Thailand has recently launched such a project called “Clean City, Clean Mind”. Through this innovative programme, UNDP Thailand provides its policy expertise to Thailand’s cities helping them become more environmentally sustainable, while ensuring high standards of accountability and transparency.

“I urge everyone to read the book and do what they can to improve the environment they live in. They will not only build healthier communities, but they will also help reduce the effects of global warming and preserve the beauty of Thailand,” said Khun Phansiri.

For more information on -2◦: Cooling down the planet with both hands, please contact UNDP Thailand Communications Officer Adam Sims - 0228 82671.

UNDP Thailand’s book launch in the media:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/17980/thais-join-conservation-drive

http://news.mcot.net/environment/inside.php?value=bmlkPTMxMzY2Jm50eXBlPWNsaXA=