On 2nd November 2023, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs chaired the webinar on “Fostering Climate Action through Investment Treaties”, organised in partnership with the OECD and UNCTAD. The webinar, attended by over 100 participants from government agencies, private sector, civil society and academic circle, addressed the key question of how to utilise investment treaties to drive climate action.

The speakers included experts from the OECD and UNCTAD. Also present was H.E. Mrs.Vilawan Mangklatanakul, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Vienna, and Member of the International Law Commission, who shared her thoughts and experiences from the perspective of a negotiator and practitioner. There was an exchange of views on Thailand’s path towards carbon neutrality by 2050, through promotion and facilitation of green investment, transfer of technology, transition to clean energy and promotion of green finance in alignment with the Paris Agreement, as well as promotion of sustainable and responsible investment.

This webinar is the first session of the MFA Talk Series: “Investment Treaty in Action” organised by the Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which serves as a platform to share information and exchange ideas among various Thai stakeholders on the evolving role of investment treaties in achieving economic development and other public policy objectives. The next episode will address the role of investment treaties in promoting sustainable development and responsible investment. Details will be available in due course.