Greenpeace to Ministry of Energy: Lead Thailand’s Energy Revolution

In a peaceful protest today, Greenpeace activists filled the MOE headquarters with black and white balloons printed with the word "CO2" on them to symbolize carbon emissions from the construction of new coal power plants in Thailand.

"If the Ministry of Energy is serious about solving Thailand’s impending energy crisis and committed to reducing its carbon emissions, then the time is now. The technology and the required funds to lead an energy revolution are available. Unfortunately, there is no political will to deploy solutions, instead the ministry is hell-bent on trapping the Thai citizens in the cycle of dirty energy and its deadly impacts," said Tara Buakamsri, Campaign Manager of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Scientists have cited Thailand and several Southeast Asian countries to be under severe threat from sea-level rise and extreme weather events caused by climate change. Burning coal is the single biggest source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and a major cause of climate change. Coal emits 29% more carbon per unit of energy than oil and 80% more than gas.

Last week, activists from Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior opposed the construction of the Belgian-owned 660 MW GHECO-one coal power plant in Mapthaput, Rayong, slamming the hypocrisy of European countries by investing in this climate-damaging facility. The Senate’s Committee on Natural Resource and Environment as well as the Senate Sub-Committee on Good Governance issued a statement calling to the construction and for a new assessment on the social, environmental, health and economic impacts, including CO2 emissions, of GHECO-one.

"The ministry must stop all plans to build new coal power plants and instead focus its energies on introducing stringent energy efficiency and demand side management measures. For this, the Power Development Plan  must be revised to include large investments in promoting and deploying clean, renewable energy from the sun, wind and biomass,"

Today's protest also marks the conclusion of the Rainbow Warrior’s "Quit Coal, Lead the Energy Revolution Tour of Thailand" which aimed to promote solutions to stop climate change -- an energy revolution that heralds a massive shift to renewable energy to ensure energy security and peace.