C Team Joined Hands with Over a Dozen Chinese NGOs and Foundations to Participate in BBK CAW
First Stop: Mae Fah Luang Foundation — Achieving a Win-Win for Ecology and Livelihoods through Reforestation
The first visit was to the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, founded in 1969 by a member of the Thai royal family. Over decades, the foundation has accumulated extensive experience in community development and ecological conservation.
Taking the Doi Tung community in the Golden Triangle region as an example: 35 years ago, the area was plagued by opium cultivation, poverty, and ecological degradation. Through the foundation’s “reforestation for livelihoods” approach, the local economy and education levels improved significantly, residents’ lives were fundamentally transformed, and forest coverage increased to over 70%. The forest-based carbon sink now covers nearly 10,000 hectares, with revenues reinvested into forest protection and community development, forming a sustainable closed-loop model.
The Mae Fah Luang Foundation also owns commercial brands in sectors such as coffee and food, operating social enterprises that combine public-interest missions with strong business capacity. Its offices are located in central Bangkok. In recent years, the foundation has established a sustainability consulting division to strengthen engagement with the private sector while continuing its community-based work. It expressed strong interest in future cooperation with China, particularly in the fields of renewable energy and bio-carbon solutions.
Second Stop: Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) — Driving National Climate Adaptation through Think Tank Expertise
Given that many delegation members specialize in environmental protection and climate mitigation, the second stop was the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI).
Recognized as Thailand’s leading environmental think tank for nine consecutive years, TEI focuses on climate adaptation through action research and guideline development. It plays a key role in Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, covering critical areas such as community development, water resources, and agriculture.
TEI’s work has been widely implemented on the ground: advancing ecosystem-based water adaptation in Phitsanulok Province, promoting climate-responsive social protection projects nationwide, and strengthening water governance and community resilience. The institute emphasizes knowledge translation and policy impact, distilling local project experience into regional adaptation guidelines and national policy frameworks. Notably, TEI is also Thailand’s only institution authorized to issue Green Labels, providing an essential foundation for environmental standards implementation.
Third Stop: The Siam Society — A Century-Old Cultural Institution Empowering Sustainable Development
On the second day, the delegation split into two groups. Some members visited The Siam Society, a cultural institution with a history of more than 120 years.
Nestled among Bangkok’s modern high-rises, the Society is an internationally respected organization founded by Thai and international scholars, supported and endorsed by the Thai royal family. Today, its network spans businesses, government bodies, and NGOs. In addition to promoting exchange in arts and sciences through conferences, exhibitions, and publications, the Society is deeply engaged in public-interest initiatives. It has participated in projects such as COP28 food waste initiatives, mobilizing more than 1,200 members to support regional development.
In the sustainability field, The Siam Society hosts an annual sustainability exhibition, attracting international technology companies and multi-sector partners. With its strong knowledge base and human capital, the institution has become a key driver of sustainable development in Thailand.
Fourth Stop: UNESCO — Addressing Climate Change and Its Interconnected Domains
The delegation also visited UNESCO, a crucial liaison body within the UN system, particularly significant in the field of cultural heritage protection.
The Asia-Pacific regional headquarters focuses on multiple domains, with climate change and its impacts on heritage sites as a key priority. UNESCO has convened thematic conferences on this topic in Japan, involving many Asian countries and linking culture with education. It oversees World Heritage affairs in the Asia-Pacific region, including the World Heritage Cities Programme (covering cities such as Nanjing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou in China) and large-scale sustainable tourism initiatives (including projects connected to Kyoto and emphasizing private-sector engagement). UNESCO also manages the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
In education, the SDG4 Education Asia team covers the full life cycle from early childhood to vocational development. It runs pilot programs in marine conservation education and study tours, and collaborates with partners such as the University of Macau’s Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Fok Ying Tung Charity Foundation in Hong Kong, and Chulalongkorn University on architectural heritage conservation research.
Fifth Stop: Thailand Climate Justice Alliance — Grounded Practice and Youth Climate Education
Climate justice and a just transition are central issues in the green transformation. The Thailand Climate Justice Alliance was another key stop for the delegation.
The Alliance works across three main pillars:
Climate adaptation practice: developing adaptation plans with communities in Chiang Rai Province; collaborating with organic farmers and Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) on research and learning initiatives in Chachoengsao Province and Bangkok’s Asoke area.
Climate justice advocacy: organizing thematic lectures, participating in knowledge-sharing initiatives such as Diamond Brain Camp, hosting youth climate hackathons, and facilitating dialogue forums.
Climate education: offering courses on climate justice and environmental sustainability, using engaging tools such as sustainable menu design, environmental-themed talks, and carbon footprint board games to cultivate environmentally friendly habits among students. The Alliance also runs youth volunteer programs to empower young people as core drivers of climate action.
Sixth Stop: Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Thailand — Strengthening Farmers’ Resilience through Ecological Farming
The Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Thailand is a coalition of grassroots organizations and a core actor in Bangkok’s sustainable agriculture ecosystem.
The foundation promotes ecological farming among smallholder farmers, biodiversity conservation, organic agriculture, and reduced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It also supports farmers in marketing organic products, enhancing income stability and resilience to risk. Through training programs, it disseminates practical skills such as soil conservation and biodiversity management, while building bridges between government, businesses, and farmers to facilitate market access and brand development for sustainable agricultural products.
Engagement at Bangkok Climate Action Week
Bangkok Climate Action Week officially opened on September 28. On the following day, C Team, together with the Thailand Environment Institute, The Siam Society, the Thailand Climate Finance Network, and other partners, co-hosted three thematic roundtable discussions. These sessions addressed civil society practice, climate finance exploration, and heritage conservation, offering diverse perspectives on climate action and collaboration.