Green buildings as drivers of carbon reduction and resource efficiency, Thailand context

Title : Green buildings as drivers of carbon reduction and resource efficiency, Thailand context

Abstract:

As Thailand advances toward its national Carbon Neutrality 2050 and Net Zero 2065 goals, the built environment stands at the center of the country’s climate transition. Accounting for nearly 40% of total energy consumption and emissions, buildings in Thailand represent both a pressing challenge and a transformative opportunity. This paper explores how green buildings can serve as environmental catalysts—accelerating pollution prevention, embodied carbon reduction, and long-term resilience in alignment with the Thai Taxonomy, Climate Change Act, and international green finance frameworks.

Through case studies of certified developments under EDGE, LEED, and TREES, as well as Thailand’s first EDGE Zero Carbon pilot projects, the research demonstrates how design innovation, material substitution, and efficient construction practices can catalyze measurable carbon reductions. These examples highlight the growing intersection between environmental chemistry and sustainable architecture—where catalytic processes once confined to laboratories now inspire real-world applications in materials science, resource recovery, and clean energy design.

Key focus areas include the deployment of low-embodied-carbon construction materials, passive design strategies, and water-saving systems, each contributing to the mitigation and adaptation objectives of Thailand’s Climate Change Act. By framing green building as an applied form of environmental catalysis, the paper connects scientific principles with socio-economic outcomes, demonstrating how sustainable design enhances not only environmental safety and resource efficiency but also public health and investor confidence.

Ultimately, this work positions Thailand’s real estate and construction sectors as active agents of environmental catalysis—converting climate ambition into tangible carbon reductions, technological innovation, and a resilient low-carbon urban future.

Keywords: Environmental catalysis, green building, embodied carbon, sustainable materials, Thai Taxonomy, carbon neutrality, climate resilience

Biography:

Amornrut Det-Udomsap is the Green Building Market Transformation Lead at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of World Bank Group, Thailand, where she drives Thailand’s transition toward green, low-carbon real estate through EDGE certification and ESG-aligned finance. With over two decades of experience in sustainable architecture and policy advisory, she bridges global frameworks with Thailand’s Climate Change Act and Thai Taxonomy implementation. She also serves on the Thai Green Building Institute Committee and the ARCASIA Committee on Green & Sustainable Architecture, promoting regional pathways toward carbon-neutral and resilient built environments.