The Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed a group of professors and students from Harvard University to exchange views on solving climate change problems in urban dimensions.

Today on 8 February 2023 at 9:00 a.m., Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) welcomed Professor Niall Kirkwood, Professor Kotchakorn Worarakom, special lecturers, and students of the Graduate School of Design (Harvard GSD), from Harvard University to exchange ideas and perspectives on environmental management issues and solve climate change problems in urban dimensions, especially in Bangkok on the occasion of a study tour and the city analysis in Bangkok in various dimensions under the course BANGKOK REMADE: Design to Enhance Social Dignity, Climate Change, Resilience, and inspire the Nation's Imagination in the Contemporary Thai Landscape at the meeting room on the 20th floor of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The students paid attention to the dimensions of the environment, and sustainable development, including the challenges of operating in the next 20 years and the problem of rising sea levels in cities, especially in slum areas.

Mr. Varawut discussed with the students the necessity of including sustainability and change adaptability in urban construction, including planning that must take the Carrying Capacity (CC) of the region into consideration which is the maximum population that the ecosystem can sustainably support when all available resources are utilized effectively with the creation of a more integrated transportation network. In addition, all levels of the country's people require consideration, particularly at the grassroots level; a group of vulnerable people who will be most affected by the problem of global turbulence. From his experience as the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, he realized that the greatest challenge was to alter the public's mindsets or attitudes, particularly about the use of public transportation, dumping waste into waterways or canals using plastic bags; all of which contribute significantly to the resolution of environmental issues, air and water contamination. Moreover, he sees that increasing urban green areas and expanding public transportation reach smaller social groupings will aid in enhancing the quality of life for the people.