Thailand's SDG path shows gains
Thailand's long-term planning reflects this ambition. The Sustainable Development Goals are integrated into the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan and the 20-Year National Strategy, ensuring coherence across policies and resilience across political transitions. At the core is Thailand's homegrown Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, which emphasises moderation, pragmatism and resilience in national development.
This strong foundation is yielding results. Thailand tracks 236 out of 248 SDG indicators, one of the most comprehensive national monitoring efforts in the region. Health outcomes are especially notable. Universal health coverage reaches 99% of the population. Maternal mortality is under 30 per 100,000 births, child mortality stands at approximately 8 per 1,000 live births and skilled birth attendance has reached 100%. Malaria cases have dropped by 70%, and the country maintains one of Asia's most effective tobacco control regimes.
Thailand's environmental ambition is also accelerating in alignment with the global shift towards clean, inclusive economies. Electric vehicle registrations rose by 684% in 2023, contributing to an estimated reduction of 344,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Thailand has removed more than 780,000kg of waste from marine environments, including over 457,000kg through the "Bring Waste Back to Shore" initiative, which engages fishers to help restore ecosystems.
To institutionalise its climate goals, including carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065, Thailand is preparing a Climate Change Act to mandate emissions reporting and establish a Climate Change Fund. Through the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, the United Nations has supported Thailand in exploring carbon pricing tools -- including carbon taxes and cap-and-trade mechanisms -- and in building national capacity for green macroeconomic modelling.
Thailand's progress extends to social equity. This year, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise marriage equality, a landmark achievement for human rights. Financial inclusion has also deepened. In 2022, 90% of disadvantaged groups held a household bank account, compared to just 68% in 2012. Poverty rates have dropped from over 65% in the 1980s to under 4% today. Legal protections for migrant workers and stateless persons are expanding, with nearly half a million stateless individuals now eligible for permanent residency.
Thailand established a formal National Referral Mechanism in 2022 to strengthen the identification, protection and support of trafficking victims, marking a significant step forward in regional efforts to institutionalise coordinated, survivor-centred responses.
Thailand's leadership does not stop at home. At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Lalivan Karnchanachari led the national delegation and reaffirmed Thailand's multilateral commitment. The country is championing sustainability-linked bonds, advocating stronger action against illicit financial flows and calling for reforms that reflect the realities of developing countries. Its promotion of triangular cooperation -- working with partners to co-create and share knowledge -- underscores a vision of development rooted in shared responsibility.
Still, the Voluntary National Review is not simply a celebration of progress. It reflects transparency and a willingness to face hard truths. As of 2024, 60% of SDG indicators show progress, 23% are regressing, and 17% remain unchanged. Poverty remains higher in provinces such as Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, at about 7.5%.
More than half of Thailand's workforce remains in the informal sector, with women disproportionately affected. Productivity growth lags behind regional peers. Bridging the digital divide, strengthening lifelong learning -- especially in Stem and green skills -- and expanding protections for migrant workers remain critical challenges.
The United Nations is proud to support Thailand on its journey towards achieving the SDGs. Together, we are driving progress across sectors such as climate action, the expansion of social protection, the localisation of development goals via Voluntary Local Reviews and areas such as child protection and migrant rights.
Thailand's Voluntary National Review makes one thing clear: the country's progress is real and measurable. The path ahead is challenging, but with sustained commitment and shared action, the 2030 Agenda is still within reach. Thailand is not just reporting progress -- it's delivering it.
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Bangkok Post
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Thailand's letter to the United Nations
The Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations and has the honour to inform the latter on the grave situation affecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand as a result of Cambodia's act of military aggression as follows: 1. On 16 and 23 July 2025, Thai army personnels, while conducting a routine patrol along an established route within Thailand's territory, stepped on PMN-2 landmines. As a result, two soldiers sustained severe injuries, leading to permanent disability while the remaining were seriously injured. All of these PMN-2 landmines found were in new conditions, still with clearly visible markings. Evidence suggest that these landmines were newly planted. As a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Thailand has dutifully submitted her annual transparency reports on the implementation of the obligations under the Convention in accordance with article 7. The reports documented that Thailand completed the destruction of all its stockpile of anti-personnel mines in 2003, and subsequently destroyed all mines retained for training and research purposes in 2019. In contrast, Cambodia's latest report indicates that, as of 31 December 2024, Cambodia continues to retain PMN-2 landmines. 2. On 24 July 2025, at 08.20 hrs. Cambodian soldiers opened fire on a Thai military base at Ta Muen Thom in Surin Province of Thailand, resulting in the immediate injury of two Thai soldiers. Shortly after, Cambodian troops launched indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory across four provinces of Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani. These aggressive, indiscriminate and unlawful acts against Thai civilians have caused serious harms and led to the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including women and children. Civilian infrastructure, including a hospital and a school, also sustained significant damages. As of 14.00 hrs. on 24 July 2025, the attacks had resulted in 11 deaths and 24 injuries, 8 of which are in critical conditions. More than 102,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes. 3. These series of unprovoked armed attacks initiated by the Cambodian Armed Forces constitute a clear violation of Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of good neighbourliness and peaceful coexistence between States. Thailand has exercised utmost restraint against Cambodia's premeditated armed attacks and is compelled to exercise its inherent right of self-defence pursuant to Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The self-defence measures taken by Thailand are strictly limited in scope, proportionate to the threats and directed solely at neutralizing the imminent danger posed by Cambodian Armed Forces. 4. Thailand further strongly condemns Cambodia's indiscriminate attacks against civilians, civilian objects, and public facilities, particularly hospitals, which constitute a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, specifically Article 18 of the First Geneva Convention (Wounded and sick III. Protection of hospitals) and Article 19 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (Protection of medical units and establishments). Such inhumane acts have caused human suffering and hardship to innocent civilians. 5. Thailand remains firmly committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes and categorically rejects the use of force as a means to resolve international disputes. We call upon the international community to urge Cambodia to immediately cease its hostilities and resume dialogue in good faith. Thailand also reaffirms its readiness to engage through established bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Boundary Commission, which is scheduled to take place in early September 2025, to resolve any outstanding differences. The Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations the assurances of its highest consideration.
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Thai govt condemns Cambodia for grave war crime
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