Climate change, sustainability and net zero targets were largely absent from public debate during Thailand’s latest general election, even as the government maintains long-term decarbonisation plans and the country faces persistent air pollution and environmental risks.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul secured victory in the February 2026 election after campaigning primarily on nationalism, economic stability and security, including border tensions with Cambodia, rather than environmental policy. Campaign messaging focused heavily on economic recovery, cost-of-living pressures and political stability, reflecting voter concerns over inflation, household debt and rural economic conditions.
The ruling Bhumjaithai Party’s win has been widely interpreted as a conservative resurgence driven by economic concerns, political stability and rural patronage networks, with sustainability and climate transition largely absent from the central campaign narrative. Environmental issues appeared mainly in policy documents and technical discussions rather than in major campaign speeches or voter-mobilisation messaging.
Post-election policy signals have also focused on debt relief, investment and fiscal stability, with environmental measures appearing mainly in technical economic instruments such as planned carbon credit trading rather than as core political priorities. Analysts say this reflects a broader pattern in Southeast Asia, where climate policy is often framed as industrial and economic strategy rather than as a defining electoral issue.
The limited prominence of environmental debate comes despite growing public concern. A survey cited by Thai environmental groups found 88 per cent of respondents reported being affected by pollution, with PM2.5 air pollution the most cited environmental concern.
Thailand continues to face severe air-pollution challenges. Research and policy analysis show PM2.5 has been a national policy focus since at least 2019, with worsening pollution trends and declining numbers of “good air quality” days in recent years. Seasonal haze linked to agricultural burning, vehicle emissions and regional cross-border pollution has repeatedly pushed air quality in Bangkok and northern Thailand into hazardous ranges, particularly during the dry season.
Public health experts say long-term exposure to fine particulate pollution increases risks of respiratory disease, cardiovascular illness and premature death, adding pressure on authorities to accelerate air-quality reforms and regional cooperation efforts.
Thailand remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, which accounts for roughly half of electricity generation, while coal and imported energy continue to play significant roles in the power mix, underscoring the scale of transition required under net zero pathways. Rapid electricity demand growth driven by industry, urbanisation and digital infrastructure expansion is also expected to increase pressure on the energy system over the coming decade.
At the same time, Thailand is among the countries most exposed to climate-related economic risks in Southeast Asia, including flooding, extreme heat and agricultural disruption, according to international climate-risk assessments. Flood events and drought cycles have already affected agricultural output and rural livelihoods in recent years, highlighting the economic stakes of climate adaptation and resilience planning.
Government policy frameworks do include sustainability and climate targets. Anutin’s government previously pledged to move toward a low-carbon society and net zero emissions by around 2050, including expanding solar power, electric vehicles, industrial energy efficiency and low-carbon manufacturing.
Official policy statements have framed environmental sustainability as part of broader national development alongside economic and security priorities, rather than as a standalone political agenda. Environmental policy proposals across the political spectrum include clean-air laws, regional pollution cooperation, carbon-reduction planning and local air-quality governance reforms, according to Thai environmental policy reviews.
Thailand is also developing broader climate-policy frameworks, including a draft Climate Change Act and plans for carbon pricing and emissions-trading mechanisms, aimed at aligning Thai industry with global low-carbon trade and supply-chain standards. Businesses are increasingly monitoring international carbon regulations and green supply-chain requirements, particularly in export-oriented sectors.
Although climate and sustainability were not central themes of the election campaign, decarbonisation is expected to remain embedded in economic and industrial policy.
Thailand has formally committed to long-term climate targets under international and domestic policy frameworks. The country initially pledged carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2065, commitments first announced around the COP26 period.
More recently, Thailand has moved to accelerate its climate ambition, with updated policy frameworks and international pledges aligning with a net zero target around 2050 and emissions-reduction goals of roughly 47 per cent by 2035 from 2019 levels, depending partly on international financial and technological support.
The country has also strengthened its Nationally Determined Contribution commitments under the Paris Agreement and expanded sector-level decarbonisation planning across energy, transport, industry, agriculture and waste management.
“Sustainability is no longer an option, but the nation’s lifeline,” Anutin said during a Sustainability Expo keynote speech in 2025.
