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The World Bank says natural capital could help Thailand strengthen competitiveness while attracting investment into sustainable industries. (Photo: iStock)
Thailand is positioning nature as part of its economic growth strategy, with policymakers and the World Bank arguing that forests, watersheds, coastal ecosystems, and biodiversity should be treated as productive assets rather than environmental externalities.
The World Bank estimates that Thailand’s natural capital accounted for 11% of total per-capita wealth in 2018, down from 21% in 2005, highlighting how economic growth has increasingly relied on the depletion of natural assets.
Officials say incorporating natural capital into economic planning could help direct investment toward sectors where Thailand holds structural advantages, while making nature-related risks more visible to governments, investors, and financial institutions.
Unlock the full article to explore three key takeaways:
- Thailand is positioning natural capital as an economic asset, with policymakers identifying sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, tourism, and carbon and biodiversity markets as future growth sectors.
- Natural capital accounting aims to assign economic value to ecosystems, helping governments and investors better assess nature-related risks and opportunities.
- Thailand will need an estimated USD 219 billion (THB 6.9 trillion) in climate-related investment over the next 25 years, making green finance and private capital increasingly important.
