TOWARDS YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THAILAND

Abstract

The Southeast Asian region is recognized as a highly vulnerable region to climate change, which is likely to exacerbate existing social, economic, and environmental issues for present and future generations. International policy supports efforts to educate and empower youth to participate in climate change and sustainable development issues, but incoherence in policy and practice at the national level can hinder youth participation in climate change. From the literature reviews, the study found that there are few studies examining youth participation in climate change in the context of sustainable development in Southeast Asia. To address this gap, this study examines youth participation in responding to climate change in the context of sustainable development in Thailand. The research had two objectives: 1) to study national policies, strategies, and action plans relative to youth and climate change in the context of sustainable development, and 2) to identify the significant conditions and possibilities for a youth participation model in responding to climate change. The study employed a qualitative approach that was exploratory and descriptive in nature. The investigation into policy and practice in Thailand comprised of two components: 1) a desk review of international, regional, and national policy, and 2) semi-structured interviews of stakeholders. The findings found that policy and institutional issues were major challenges for youth participation in responding to climate change; namely the lack of coherent policy, lack of coordination between relevant agencies, limited institutional and local capacity, and lack of fiscal budget and insufficient funding. The proposed model highlighted the need for supportive policy, leveraging structural opportunities, minimizing structural barriers, and promoting education, training, and media in order to create an enabling environment for youth participation in responding to climate change. The implications for policy makers and practitioners are discussed regarding the development of coherent national policies, enhancing opportunities for youth participation, and capacity building at national and local levels that is conducive to empowering youth to be agents for societal change and sustainable development. Further research on youth is also recommended for mainstreaming them into climate change policy context at both local and national levels.