A 4-day training course co-organised by the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), Thammasat University, and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) under the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)
12 – 15 May 2026
The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok
Thailand is entering a decisive decade for climate action. In its recently communicated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0, the country committed to reducing its net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 47% by 2035 compared to 2019 levels. This target aligns with the 1.5 degree pathway and the country’s long-term goals to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, which are central to Thailand’s green, inclusive and sustainable development vision.
The National Strategy (2018-2037) highlights the country’s aim of becoming “a developed country with security, prosperity and sustainability,” while the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023-2027) prioritises achieving a high-value eco-friendly economy. To support the achievement of its vision, Thailand has committed to establishing a domestic carbon pricing mechanism – including a compulsory Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
A well-designed ETS system could help the country meet its climate mitigation commitments, ensure compliance with new external measures such as the EU’s Cross Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU-CBAM, which will be fully enforced from 2026) and strengthen the country’s industrial competitiveness. However, designing and implementing an ETS requires a strong technical understanding of how ETS systems operate – and policymakers must address questions such as:
In view of the government’s commitment to establish a domestic ETS, ICAP, Thammasat University, and UNITAR are jointly delivering a 4-day intensive training programme on ETS design and implementation.
The course equips policymakers and practitioners with the knowledge and practical tools required to develop a domestic ETS in Thailand, combining:
Over the 4 days, participants will engage directly with real-world experiences from countries that have already designed and implemented ETS systems – and to apply these to the Thai context.
The training course is designed for mid- to senior-level civil servants engaged in the design of a domestic ETS in Thailand, as well as practitioners responsible for its implementation.
The training course is designed to build participants’ capacity to design and implement an Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) in Thailand – providing a structured introduction to the key concepts, technical design features, market dynamics, and implementation considerations that underpin effective ETS systems.
By the end of the training, participants are able to:
The course supports an interactive and applied learning approach. Each session combines theory and practice, in which expert inputs are complemented with opportunities for reflection, discussion, and application. Participants have opportunities to learn through:
The 4-day training course is structured as follows:
On Day 1, participants are introduced to the concept of emissions trading in the Thai context. Sessions explore what the current ETS state-of-play is in Thailand, how a domestic system might help achieve Thailand’s climate and developmental objectives, and the potential socio-economic impacts ETS systems can carry. They consider the positioning of a domestic ETS within the rapidly evolving global carbon market landscape, and draw on international experience to identify key lessons, success factors, and common challenges in ETS development.
By the end of Day 1, participants are able to:
Day 2 moves from concept to design, introducing participants to the core technical building blocks that underpin an effective ETS – including scope and coverage, cap-setting, allocation methods, and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems. Sessions draw on the lessons and experiences of countries in designing these elements in practice, and explore how they can be adapted to reflect Thailand’s national priorities – highlighting how design choices influence the system’s effectiveness, credibility, and overall performance.
By the end of Day 2, participants are able to:
Day 3 focuses on how ETS markets function in practice. Sessions introduce participants to key concepts such as market oversight, secondary markets, and price stability mechanisms, and examine how these can be applied in the Thai context – including the roles that different public and private sector actors play. Participants also engage in a carbon market simulation game, experiencing firsthand how market dynamics respond to policy design choices and gaining practical insights into trading behaviour and risk management.
By the end of Day 3, participants are able to:
Day 4 brings the focus to implementation and real-world application. Participants explore the institutional, political, and operational challenges of implementing an ETS, and how these can be addressed – including through stakeholder engagement, policy sequencing, and effective governance arrangements. Sessions also examine how a Thai system can align with international carbon markets, and conclude by reflecting on Thailand’s pathway forward – identifying strategic priorities and practical next steps for advancing a national ETS.
By the end of Day 4, participants are able to:
