BIO-ENERGY / ASIA-PACIFIC SEMINAR

Thailand and other countries in the Asia Pacific region need to focus more on the concept of ''green growth''
by balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability, a seminar was told yesterday.

Thailand was singled out as one of the most suitable countries in the region to embrace the idea,
as His Majesty the King's sufficiency economy philosophy is seen to be very much in line with the green growth
methodology.

Rae Kwon Chung, director of the Environment and Sustainable Development Division of
the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific said however,
that Thailand's governments needed to better articulate and interpret the King's concept into real action.

Speaking at a seminar on Bio-energy Sector Development, he said some countries in the region,
including China and Cambodia were taking steps to incorporate green growth policies.

''In May last year, China introduced a plan of action. Cambodia in November said they will set up a national
committee on green growth. Thailand is hopefully doing something. What we need is a strong political will to
pursue this path,'' he said.

''Through the encouragement of environmentally sustainable economic growth, green growth aspires to
eradicate extreme poverty in the region without compromising the environment.''

The former Korean diplomat said regional governments, including Thailand, needed to abandon the concept of
''grow first and clean up later,'' which was damaging to the environment.

''We need a paradigm shift. We need to change the pattern of growth, not just looking at the production side
but also consumption side.

''City planners and policy makers in this region have adopted the US lifestyle of high consumption and high
exploitation of resources for quantity growth,'' he said.

''We might have to change now so that we can help solve the eventual climate change.''

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Jan2008_news12.php