Bangkok: The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) recently hosted the 2nd SET Sustainability Forum/2025 under the theme ‘Claims, Consequences, and Credibility: Capital Market for Climate Action’, highlighting the evolving focus of the global capital market. This shift moves from merely setting climate goals to establishing credibility through quality data and measurable actions, which in turn impact competitiveness and access to long-term capital.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Phairin Chuchottaworn, a board member of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council, delivered a special lecture titled ‘Proof Your Climate Pledges as Grounded Governance’. Dr. Phairin emphasized the historical context of global warming, noting the significant increase in the global population since the late Ayutthaya period. He highlighted the contributions of major carbon dioxide-emitting countries, with Thailand ranking 24th globally in greenhouse gas emissions. He stressed that achieving Net Zero requires strong governance, as superficial climate pledges without robust oversight risk being dismissed as greenwashing.
Dr. Soraphol Tulayasathien, Deputy Managing Director of SET, discussed the goal of establishing a credible capital market ecosystem over the next three years to support Thai businesses in aligning with national Net Zero objectives. With rising expectations from investors worldwide, the SET is enhancing its data infrastructure via the ESG Data Platform and a greenhouse gas data management system. These efforts aim to improve the quality of climate data from Thai listed companies, facilitating effective investment decisions and bolstering confidence in the Thai capital market.
The forum’s first session, ‘Multi-Regulatory Approach: Enabling Thailand’s Climate Transition,’ showcased the collaborative efforts of fiscal, financial, insurance, and capital market agencies in aiding businesses to adapt and access necessary funding. The second session, ‘Investment Consequences: Allocating Capital for Credible Transition,’ focused on how reliable sustainability data influences capital allocation, affecting business valuation, loan structures, and economic stability.
Additionally, a presentation titled ‘Tracking Transition: The Science of Climate Credibility’ featured insights from the London Stock Exchange Group, offering a global perspective on assessing the credibility of climate transition efforts.