JUNE 12, 2026, Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, participated in the 5th Japan–Thailand Policy Dialogue, with Mr. Kentaro Doi, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment of Japan, serving as the Japanese co-chair. The dialogue took place under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Environmental Cooperation between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, under which both sides have continuously cooperated since 2018 and renewed the MoC in 2024. The meeting was conducted via an online conferencing system. Dr. Raweewan was joined by  Miss Preeyaporn Suwanaged, MNRE’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, at the meeting room on the 17th floor of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

During this meeting, both sides agreed to scale up environmental cooperation across three key areas: climate change, waste and plastic pollution management, as well as the conservation of biodiversity and wetlands. This will be achieved by promoting the exchange of information, knowledge, and experience, as well as supporting cooperation in international negotiations and data management. Regarding climate change, the Thai side presented operations on adaptation and strengthening resilience to the impacts of climate change, as well as technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the Japanese side presented cooperation on early warning systems, global stocktake assessments under a changing climate, and the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), with both sides agreeing to continue their close cooperation. For waste and plastic pollution management, emphasis was placed on monitoring and surveillance of plastic waste issues in the marine and coastal environments. 

Additionally, both sides exchanged information on wetland conservation to support biodiversity conservation, while emphasizing the importance of preventing and effectively managing invasive alien species that disrupt ecosystems. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment proposed three cooperative projects with Japan concerning urban climate adaptation using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to reduce flood risks across Thailand, capacity and expertise development in advanced greenhouse gas reduction technologies, and the management of invasive alien species in Ramsar wetlands, while also expressing gratitude to the Japanese side for supporting electronic waste projects in Thailand. The 6th Japan–Thailand Senior Officials Policy Dialogue will be held in Thailand in the year 2028, hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to further continue the environmental cooperation between the two nations toward tangible and sustainable outcomes.