Roongrote Rangsiyopash, president and CEO of SCG gave a keynote speech

Participants discussed pressing plans to establish Thailand’s first consortium for net-zero innovation development.

This seeks to pool know-how and technologies from international parties and is expected to roll on by the end of this year.

Moreover, private organisations are declaring proactive network expansions for a green economy throughout the value chain. The 10 initiatives will further discuss collaboration on low-carbon society support with the government.

Roongrote Rangsiyopash, president and CEO of SCG explained, “The SD Symposium, which SCG has been consecutively hosting for 11 years, is taking a leap to an ESG Symposium. We are looking to expand collaborations in accordance with the ESG guidelines as it is the sole pathway to alleviate the crisis after crisis that is upon us.”

Previously, the platform delivered global collaborations to local circumstances, creating change and tangible crisis solutions.

For instance, the joint success prompted a roadmap for net-zero emissions between cement and concrete industries in Thailand and the Global Cement and Concrete Association. This attempts to gear Thailand’s cement industries toward the net-zero GHG emissions goal by 2050, aligning with global milestones. Also, plans are underway to present the plan at COP 27 in Egypt.

Another example is the collaboration to sustainably address plastic waste in the ocean with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a world-renowned non-profit organisation consisting of companies in the plastics industry value chain, ranging from manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers to those managing plastic wastes.

“Despite past awareness and actions in homes, communities, local levels, and global cooperation, we still have not caught up with the world crises that have exponentially increased and moved closer to humans. This extends to unpredictable climates, severe droughts, floods, inadequate resources, food crises, and energy scarcity all over the world. This is worsened by new waves of COVID-19, emerging infectious diseases as well as inflation, and poverty which widens the social inequality gap,” Roongrote said.

“At present, the Earth’s temperature has risen 1.1 degrees Celsius, and without immediate collaboration for solutions, humankind will be unable to live as it used to. Thus, this is everyone’s emergency which requires all sectors to take action. This can begin as simple action alterations, before expanding to collaborations that aim for prompt fixes. Therefore, the ESG Symposium 2022 attempts to gain speed to acquire more collaborations and overtake the world crises. This covers all aspects of the environment, society, and governance, as a foundation for all operations,” he further elaborated.

Thammasak Sethaudom, executive vice president and co-chair of the Sustainable Development Committee at SCG explained brainstorming outputs at the ESG Symposium 2022. Two final collaboration conclusions are practicable and scalable, and this shall drive Thailand towards net-zero emissions by 2065.

The first is to establish the consortium to intensify net-zero innovation development via Thailand’s first industrial and academic consortium that will convene collaborations from public and private sectors both globally and locally, consisting of scholars and executive CEOs from various industries such as energy, logistics, electricity, petrochemicals, construction, and consumer goods.

The alliance aims for a prompt roadmap to produce the best innovation to relieve carbon emissions for use in Thailand. Example technologies are carbon capture, utilisation, and storage; fuel switching; electrification; and the hydrogen economy, all of which are expected to take effect by the end of the year.

Further, they would need to unify networks to magnify collaborations and accomplish a low-carbon society with 60 private organisations via prospective partnerships. This embraces areas of alternative energy and a circular economy that cultivate optimal resource usage and sustainable consumption.

Some examples include 23 organisations in the Circular Economy in Construction Industry and the Public Private Partnership for Sustainable Plastic and Waste Management that piloted plastic waste management with recycling processes. This venture is driven by Thailand’s FTI, Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development, and over 30 dedicated organisations.

The 10 initiatives will further discuss collaboration on low-carbon society support with the government. This involves examples such as infrastructures that facilitate clean and renewable energy usage, green financing support, efficient waste management system, fostering households’ waste sorting habits, and providing know-how and technological support for eco-friendly product development.

In addition, the ESG Symposium 2022 highlighted the necessity to reduce social inequality. This is represented by encouraging women and young generations’ shared role in driving the economy and solving crises.

As women possess crucial roles in caring and providing for the family, this is an essential economic driver for both the communities and the nation.

At the event, there were sharing sessions to inspire women while reflecting on their potential. This was to prepare women for further knowledge and skill development that will equip them with tools to overcome life’s difficulties via sources of income, stable professions, and self-sufficiency. This aligns with APEC 2022 Thailand’s objectives to promote the economic empowerment of women.

Furthermore, the event invited new generations. They can contribute diverse ideas and skill sets that can narrow down the inequality gap and uplift the quality of life for ASEAN’s marginalised groups.

Some success stories are young representatives from Indonesia who developed the solar power film roll for low-income families and Thailand’s representatives who developed a sign language translation programme for the disabled’s greater convenience.

“Relieving the crisis ranks first in every person and every sector's agenda. They must act now and collaborate to create tangible outcomes. SCG is dedicated to helping coordinate with all related parties and track progress. This is because, to bear fruit and see results, the collaboration must advance while benefiting all in the value chain. This shall contribute to building the green economy to deliver a sustainable world for generations to come,” Roongrote concluded.