Department of Climate Change Opens Urban Low-Carbon Learning Centre Model — "Nang Loeng Model" — Highlighting the Integration of Culture, Economy, and Environment Toward a Sustainable Low-Carbon Society
On 24 March 2026, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), officially launched the "Low-Carbon Learning Centre Bangkok — Nang Loeng Model: Community-Based Tourism for a Cooler Planet." The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Komet Phuttason, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Climate Change and Environment, and was held at the Bangkok 1899, one of the buildings of the newly launched Ford Community Center (FCC). The centre aims to establish a model site for climate change adaptation in an urban context, showcasing the integration of cultural heritage and traditional ways of life with modern environmental management — under the BCG Economy concept and Low Carbon Tourism — elevating this historic inner-city community into a best-practice site for addressing the climate crisis through innovation and local wisdom.
Mr. Komet stated that the Department aims to expand the network of Low-Carbon Learning Centres to 7 locations nationwide by 2027, serving as spaces for learning and knowledge exchange on both adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation, tailored to the context of each area. The "Nang Loeng Model" is rich with the charm of culture, traditional ways of life, and ancient Thai cuisine passed down for over 100 years. It represents a vital driver of climate change action in an urban community context — not merely a venue for activities, but a learning space that concretely demonstrates the integration of innovation and technology with local wisdom. Its distinctive strength lies in the seamless blend of environmental, cultural, and community economic dimensions, particularly the concept of Low Carbon Community Tourism, which aligns with the international Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) under the Paris Agreement. This makes environmental conservation not a distant concept, but an integral part of everyday community life — one that can generate income, create opportunities, and preserve cultural heritage simultaneously.
Mr. Komet further noted that the community's tangible actions — including promoting household waste sorting, establishing a community plastic waste bank, transforming waste into new products through upcycling, and developing eco-friendly tourism activities such as community walks, local cultural learning experiences, and environmental management education — all reflect that tackling climate change is not solely a matter of technology or national policy. It can begin at the community level, through the collaboration of local people who think together, act together, and build a sustainable future together.
The Department expressed its sincere hope that the opening of this Low-Carbon Learning Centre is not merely the opening of a physical space, but the opening of "a space for learning" — for the general public, youth, students, and all interested individuals — to learn, exchange experiences, and witness real examples of action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change at the community level. The success of the Nang Loeng Model serves not only as an important blueprint for environmentally conscious urban community development, but also as an inspiration for other urban communities to drive Thailand toward its goal of a sustainable low-carbon society.