AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 11, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)

October 9, 2026

(Washington, D.C., October 9, 2026) – In response to the Trump administration’s imposition of new institutional sanctions against the entire the International Criminal Court, DAWN issues the following statement:

“By sanctioning the entire International Criminal Court, the Trump administration has taken a sledgehammer to the most important development in international justice in half a century,” said Omar Shakir, DAWN’s Executive Director. “U.S. sanctions threaten to shut the last viable road to justice for millions of victims of serious crimes, from Gaza and Sudan to Afghanistan and Ukraine – all to shield Israeli officials who have perpetrated a genocide from justice.”

“In applying tools reserved for the most serious criminals to the world’s only permanent international court, the U.S. is claiming the power to jail for 20 years Americans who represent a victim, submit evidence, or handle payroll for the Court,” said Raed Jarrar, DAWN’s Advocacy Director. “We have taken the Trump administration to court, because such brazen declarations trample the fundamental constitutional rights of millions of Americans. No president has that power.”

“The EU has a tool built exactly for when rogue states use sanctions to further political aims: a blocking statute that can shield the Court and Europeans from U.S. sanctions. If states won’t act now to protect the Court as they have repeatedly vowed to do, then when? Every day they wait, European banks move closer to abandoning the court out of fear of Washington,” said Isabelle Hayslip, DAWN’s Advocacy Associate. “ICC prosecutors also have tools when a state intimidates or retaliates to stop Court officials from doing their jobs: the Rome Statute makes this a crime. They should investigate and prosecute Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and other senior administration officials for obstructing justice.”

Background

The Trump administration imposition of sanctions on the International Criminal Court as an entity today marks a major escalation in its campaign against the Court. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added the International Criminal Court itself to its Specially Designated Nationals list on October 9, 2026, placing the court in the same category as violent criminals and drug cartels. The designation blocks any court property within US jurisdiction and bars US citizens, companies, and banks from any transaction with the court, its staff, or its operations, absent a Treasury license, on penalty of up to twenty years in prison. OFAC simultaneously issued four general licenses carving out narrow exceptions for telecommunications and enterprise software, pension payments, certain transactions related to ICC detainees, and an unspecified set of “certain transactions” involving the court. The issuance of these narrow licenses indicates that the Trump administration is prohibiting all other engagement with the Court, including banking, insurance, procurement, and the processing of salaries to its employees.

The administration acted pursuant to Executive Order 14203, issued in February 2025. The executive order grants administration officials the power to impose sanctions on foreigners for supporting the ICC’s investigations into U.S. and Israeli nationals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide and makes it a federal offense to provide a “service” to—or receive one from—a sanctioned individual or entity. It does so by declaring that such investigations constitute a “national emergency,” based on false claims that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over crimes committed by U.S. and Israeli nationals and that those countries “strictly adhere to the laws of war.”

Under Executive Order 14203, the Trump administration has sanctioned ICC prosecutors, judges, and other officials, as well as leading Palestinian human rights groups al-Haq, al-Mezan and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and the UN Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights Situation on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese. US persons who violate the order face up to twenty years in prison and a one million dollar fine.

DAWN and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide sued the Trump administration on July 15, 2026, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, charging that Executive Order 14203 violates Americans’ First Amendment rights to speak, associate, and engage in Palestine-related human rights advocacy. Both organizations had sought assurance that from the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control that their proposed work was permissible and received no response. The suit seeks a court order barring the administration from using the executive order to prevent from supporting investigations into U.S. and Israeli abuses, and from sanctioned human rights defenders. Courts have already in several other cases ruled against the government’s interpretation of the sanctions. Separate legal challenges have also been brought by three sitting sanctioned ICC judges and several other human rights organizations.

The European Union’s Blocking Statute, Council Regulation 2271/96, prohibit EU persons from complying with listed foreign sanctions, nullifies their effect in European courts, and allows Europeans to recover damages they cause. Its annex currently covers only US measures on Cuba and Iran. The Commission can add Executive Order 14203 by delegated regulation, as it did for US Iran sanctions in 2018. It has not done so. Slovenia raised the need for an EU response at the Foreign Affairs Council in June 2025. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for activating the statute on May 6, 2026. UN human rights experts demanded on August 28, 2026, that Washington withdraw its sanctions and expressly called on the EU to activate the statute. The Commission has still not acted.

Article 70 of the Rome Statute criminalizes offences against the administration of justice, including impeding, intimidating, or corruptly influencing an official of the court to force that official not to perform their duties, and retaliating against an official on account of duties performed. The article contains no nationality requirement, and it carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. The court has used it before. In 2016, Trial Chamber VII convicted former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and four associates under Article 70 for corruptly influencing witnesses, the court’s first convictions for obstructing its own proceedings. The ICC President has previously described sanctions as an attack on its independence. The prosecutor has the authority to open an Article 70 investigation into the US officials responsible for these sanctions.

Source: Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa

London, 6 October 2026

Insurance bodies representing Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand gathered in London today to announce the formation of the Four Nations Insurance Alliance, established to confront the rising risks threatening economic resilience across these four nations.

Together, the Insurance Council of Australia, the ABI, Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa represent insurers writing around USD $200 billion in premiums annually.

The partnership has been established in response to common problems that have been growing across the four economies, including climate risk, persistent inflation, regulatory cost, premium affordability, and a growing protection gap.

Additionally, emerging risks, including cyber threats and greater geopolitical instability, are challenging insurers and the vital economic and financial system role they play.

Insurance is critical economic infrastructure in all four nations; keeping cover sustainable and affordable depends on partnership across industry, government and borders.

The common institutional heritage and similar regulatory, legislative and commercial environment of the four countries have supported informal collaboration and knowledge sharing between the national trade bodies for some time.

The establishment of the Alliance will formalise and boost that work for the benefit of insurers and their customers, regulators and policymakers in all four countries.

Under the partnership, the four trade insurance bodies will share evidence on what works, spanning public-private partnerships, hazard data, resilience investment, regulation and emerging risks including cyber and artificial intelligence, with the intent of turning lessons from one jurisdiction into practical reforms in another.

The launch takes place in London alongside a bipartisan Australian insurance delegation examining how governments and insurers can drive down underlying risk and keep protection available as the risk environment evolves

Comments attributable to Andrew Hall, CEO, Insurance Council of Australia

Insurance is the shock absorber of the economy.

When it comes under strain, that is a signal the risk beneath it is growing, and the honest response is to reduce that risk, not to disguise it.

Right now our economies spend far too much rebuilding after disasters and far too little preventing them, and that equation cannot hold.

Risk does not respect borders, so it makes sense for four countries facing the same pressures to work as one.

We are still paying for yesterday’s disasters while new gaps open through cyber, artificial intelligence and global instability, and this Alliance helps us get ahead of them.

Comments attributable to Hannah Gurga, Director General ABI:

Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK face many of the same challenges, from climate resilience and cyber risk to growing protection gaps.

The Four Nations Insurance Alliance will help us learn from one another’s experience, share what works and strengthen collaboration on solutions to those challenges.

As policymakers increasingly focus on how to narrow protection gaps and build resilience, this Alliance provides a valuable platform to bring together international experience and insurance expertise to help more households, businesses and communities access the protection they need.

Comments attributable to Celyeste Power, President & CEO, Insurance Bureau of Canada

Across the globe, communities are facing shared challenges, particularly increasingly frequent and severe weather events that threaten individual well-being, community resilience and economic stability. Despite our diverse climates, each member of the Four Nations Insurance Alliance is experiencing catastrophic wind, flood and wildfire events, that are taking a toll on residents and insurers. We need to urgently work together to address these risks.

As insurance associations, our objective is to work with our respective governments in support of insurers so they can continue to protect and assist their customers when disasters occur.

Through this alliance, we can exchange knowledge and advance solutions to the pressures facing insurers, not only from climate-related risks but also geopolitical uncertainty and emerging technologies.

We also understand that affordability is top of mind for most insurance customers. Ensuring their interests remain front and centre will be a key focus of our collaboration.

Comments attributable to Kris Faafoi, CEO, Insurance Council of New Zealand

New Zealand sees great value in collaborating with Australia, the UK and Canada. We face the same fundamental challenges.

Working as a collective of insurance industry bodies we want ensure the shared challenge of resilience and risk reduction can be met to close protection gaps and keep communities safe.

Our members across all four countries understand how insurance underpins economies and communities.

By working with Government’s and sharing our insights, we can ensure regulatory settings, technology and accessible insurance can strengthen the stability we value.

Notes to editors

The Four Nations Insurance Alliance is a non-binding partnership between the ABI, Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Insurance Council of Australia and the Insurance Council of New Zealand.

It works through regular dialogue, joint initiatives, coordinated statements and knowledge exchange.

Alliance priorities

• Share insight, evidence and best practice on the opportunities and challenges facing insurance markets in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand;
• Share insights on new ways to distribute risk and support economic stability as insurance protection gaps grow, with a focus on working with government on effective Public Private Partnerships;
• Strengthen our advocacy, share best practice and promote great collaboration between governments, regulators, industry and other stakeholders on solutions that strengthen business, community and economic resilience;
• Engage across markets on approaches to resilience, adaption, risk reduction and risk sharing particularly in relation to growing protection gaps and the impacts of extreme weather, including rising “secondary perils” such as bushfire, hail and severe convective storms;
• Advocate for smart and proportionate insurance regulation that supports financial stability, consumer protection, and economic growth.
• Share insights and perspectives on new and emerging risks that are shaping our markets, including geopolitical developments and supply chain pressures, Artificial Intelligence and cyber risks.
• Ensure insurance is at the heart of key international forums and negotiations where appropriate;
• Identify opportunities for joint research, engagement and international cooperation where doing so would advance shared objectives.

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders

[Amman / Jerusalem, 9 October 2026] – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns that Israel is progressively asphyxiating Gaza and continuing its genocide: the space in which people can live is vanishing, while the conditions people need to survive are being systematically destroyed through continued violence, the deliberate blockade of essential supplies, and the destruction of healthcare and vital infrastructure.

In the past year, the physical trapping of people in Gaza has been made increasingly definitive by the establishment of Israel’s Yellow Line. Originally presented as a temporary, first-phase military withdrawal position and a key part of maintaining the so-called ceasefire – it is now reinforced by military positions, berms and ongoing demolitions and has continued to move west, squeezing people into a smaller and smaller area. Israeli forces now occupy approximately 65 per cent of Gaza, using the line to draw a clear border around this area.

As the Yellow Line moves, the threat to people living nearby becomes increasingly immediate, compounded by the uncertainty of approaching a line that is not clearly or consistently demarcated. People risk being shot by Israeli forces when they approach it, and MSF teams continue to treat people with gunshot wounds sustained nearby. Its encroachment is also disrupting the delivery of essential assistance: MSF water trucking has had to stop when shooting occurs near communities living close to the Yellow Line.

“The Yellow Line cannot be treated simply as a line on a map.” says Amande Bazerolle, MSF head of emergency response in Gaza, Palestine. “It has become a mechanism of encirclement and ethnic cleansing, while cutting communities off from the infrastructure, healthcare, water and other essentials they need to survive.”

Nor is violence confined to the areas around the Yellow Line. In June and July alone, despite a so-called ceasefire, MSF teams treated more than 1,200* cases of violent trauma across Gaza, including blast injuries, burns, gunshot wounds and injuries resulting from physical assault. Over the past three years, our teams have treated more than 200,000 trauma cases*, including injuries resulting from intentional physical violence, while Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 74,000 people, including more than 20,000 children.

As Israel confines Palestinians into increasingly limited areas, families are being pushed into overcrowded and unlivable conditions, without sufficient access to clean water, sanitation, shelter or healthcare. These conditions are contributing to the spread of disease. MSF teams have treated more than 11,000 cases of skin diseases such as scabies this year alone, while seeing more than 1,500 cases of chickenpox in June and July. MSF distributed around 2.1 million litres of drinking water per day in August, yet the scale of need remains far beyond what can be met under these restrictions.

“Most people have less than six litres of domestic-use water per day and limited access to basic hygiene items such as soap and detergent,” says Dr Murad Asaliyya, medical activities manager in Gaza. “We are treating gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infections, a lot of skin conditions, hepatitis, bacterial skin infections, scabies and lice. At the same time, we are facing severe shortages in terms of medical supplies. Even the cream we need to treat scabies has been restricted by the Israeli authorities.”

Over the past three years, access to healthcare has deteriorated dramatically, with hospitals increasingly running out of basic supplies and patients unable to access essential medicines and treatment. Restrictions on essential supplies such as engine oil and spare parts are also crippling the infrastructure needed to keep hospitals, ambulances and water systems running, with generators already breaking down and water-trucking operations reduced.

The destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system, damage to more than 80 per cent of all structures in Gaza, alongside the lifelong physical and mental health impacts of repeated violence and displacement, will extend far beyond the present and prevent any meaningful recovery for years to come.

Nor is this crisis limited to Gaza. Since 2023, violent settler attacks, military operations and raids on homes, displacement camps and agricultural land, illegal settlement expansion, displacement, home demolitions and movement restrictions have rapidly escalated across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, particularly this year. Patients at MSF clinics tell teams about homes being demolished by Israeli forces, attacks by settlers and livestock being stolen. The policies of violence, harassment and forced displacement affecting Palestinians extend beyond Gaza, causing further fragmentation of the occupied Palestinian territory.

“It will take generations to recover from the harm that has already been done over the past three years, and in the preceding decades, while the excruciating consequences of Israel’s ongoing genocide are still being felt every day,” says Bazerolle. “Destruction, displacement and deprivation have become normalised – practices Israel is carrying out with impunity. Governments must act now to ensure Israel stops the destruction and killing, prevents ethnic cleansing, and stops denying Palestinians the means of survival.”

* This refers to cases not patients, including new or follow up consultations.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit https://msf.org.au

Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa

7 October 2026

Tax reform group Tax Justice Aotearoa is extremely concerned about the announcement that Inland Revenue (IRD) will “need to operate within a 20% reduction” to their baseline budget in 2028/29, resulting in cuts to jobs.

“You can’t reduce staffing by up to 20% over three years and expect that it won’t impact on the revenue available for our public services.,” says Glenn Barclay, Chair of Tax Justice Aotearoa.

“We are really worried that this will undermine the ability of the IRD to gather the revenue we need and administer the tax system fairly.”

“Inland Revenue is the main revenue gathering agency in government and its role is critical to the effective funding of public services. We have seen the damage done in previous job cuts, with a ballooning of tax debt and fall in audit activity.”

“That position was just beginning to reverse in recent years, when in order to achieve an upturn in audit activity and start managing and collecting tax debt, staffing increased by about 16% from 2022 to 2025. So a cut of 20% will see IRD’s capacity to do its job go backwards”, says Barclay.

“If we end up with no new taxes, as proposed by National, then we will need IRD to be properly resourced to ensure compliance with existing taxes.”

“With these cuts IRD will struggle to do the bare minimum at a time, when we actually need to be investing in more expertise to be able to crack down on tax avoidance by large multinationals.”

Tax Justice Aotearoa also expressed its concern about the impact on staff at the IRD.

“They have already been through a digital transformation process and now the staff there face even more uncertainty about their future,” says Barclay.

“This will impact on staff morale, which will also have an impact on service delivery.”

“IRD is one of many government agencies tasked with reducing its baseline budget by 2% this year, and 5% in 2027/28 and 2028/29. These decisions are being made largely as a consequence of the tax cuts made in 2024 and it is a sad irony that the effectiveness of our revenue gathering will be further undermined by these cuts,” says Barclay.

Source: New Zealand Drug Foundation | Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri

7 October 2026

Government money for mental health and addiction, announced today, will go straight into building local capacity to support people who want to address substance use.

The Drug Foundation is one of several NGOs set to get support through the third round of the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.

The money will be used to train local facilitators for free, peer-led SMART Recovery meetings for people wanting to change their relationship with substances or other problematic behaviours.

“SMART is an accessible way to help people make changes,” NZ Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm says.

“Addiction services are stretched and about a quarter of people wait longer than three weeks (https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/alcohol-and-other-drug-services-mapping) to access support. SMART groups can help people straight away, without a referral – either before treatment starts or alongside it.

“People can just join a meeting when they’re ready, and don’t have to reach crisis point first.

“We hope that over time, this will reduce pressure on the system.”

Helm says the programmes are easily adapted to community needs, for example there is already a SMART Recovery group for people with ADHD.

“I’m also excited about the launch of Whānau SMART next year, which is designed by and for Māori,” Helm says.

The innovation fund is for time-limited projects, and chosen providers must match the Government investment with money from other sources.

The Drug Foundation is partnering with SMART Recovery in Australia with matching funds provided by a generous Australian philanthropist committed to growing peer-led recovery in New Zealand and globally.

Source: ASB Bank

8 October 2026

• Energy is now the second biggest concern of Kiwi businesses, with 73% concerned about current energy costs, closely behind the 79% concerned about general economic uncertainty.
• Fewer than 40% of businesses expect they could continue operating for more than three days if their primary energy source was down.
• ASB has partnered with Tether to launch Better Buildings, an industry-first platform to help Kiwi businesses invest confidently in more efficient, sustainable and resilient buildings.

More than two-thirds of New Zealand businesses are concerned about current and future energy costs, new research by ASB shows. Nearly one-third have raised prices because of energy costs or supply uncertainty, while one in five have reduced production, hours or output.

The survey of over 400 business leaders[1], supported by Talbot Mills Research, found seven in ten businesses say energy is a major or actively managed cost for their organisation, while the same proportion report that their energy costs have increased compared with two years ago.

The findings also reveal a gap between perceived resilience and actual preparedness. While nearly two-thirds (64%) believe their business is well equipped to keep operating through a prolonged power outage, only 37% expect they could continue operating for more than three days if their primary energy source was down.

In addition, more than a quarter of businesses (28%) have identified energy as a risk but do not yet have a plan in place to address it.

ASB Executive General Manager Corporate Banking Jonathan Oram says the findings suggest businesses need to treat energy as a strategic business issue, not simply an operational cost.

“Businesses clearly recognise the growing challenges posed by rising energy costs and potential supply disruptions, driven by declining domestic gas reserves, the Middle Eastern conflict, and global political uncertainty, yet many are not taking action.

“Technologies like solar power, battery storage, and electric vehicles are advancing rapidly. Research shows that businesses could reduce their energy costs by up to 20% through greater energy efficiency [2].

“Taking action on energy resilience today can help businesses reduce costs, manage risk and create a stronger foundation for long-term success. ASB is helping businesses through practical support, tools and trusted expertise, giving them the confidence to act and adapt in this uncertain environment.”

ASB partners with Tether to launch Better Buildings

More than 40% of businesses surveyed spend at least 40% of their energy costs on buildings and facilities. ASB has partnered with building performance company Tether, to launch Better Buildings.

This industry-first platform, available from today via ASB’s website and www.betterbuildings.co.nz, is designed to help property investors, owner-occupiers and their tenants reduce investment uncertainty and improve the efficiency, sustainability and resilience of their buildings.

“Better Buildings helps businesses identify energy resilience opportunities, build the business case for investment and create better-performing, future-ready buildings. When businesses are ready to invest, ASB can support eligible projects through our sustainable finance solutions,” Oram says.

Tether’s Founder and CEO, Brandon van Blerk, says: “Too often, property owners and occupiers have had to navigate building advice, suppliers and finance separately, making it harder to turn opportunities into action. Better Buildings brings the process together in one place, helping businesses build stronger investment cases, access funding and measure results.”

ASB has funded the expansion of the NABERSNZ energy efficiency certification scheme, enabling more businesses to measure and optimise their energy use.

As part of the expansion, shopping centres, retail stores, warehouses and cold stores can access the scheme from today. Administered by the New Zealand Green Building Council on behalf of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), NABERSNZ independently verifies a building’s energy performance through a one to six-star rating system. The expansion builds on the success of the tool in New Zealand’s office sector, where it has been widely used since 2014.

Access to Energy Consultants

For businesses with more complex energy needs, ASB is supporting access to independent energy consultants to help them identify opportunities to improve energy resilience, understand potential returns, and develop a roadmap for implementation. Eligible customers who proceed with qualifying ASB lending can receive reimbursement of consultancy costs of up to $50,000.

Investing for the Future

While the survey found 43% of businesses see upfront costs as the biggest barrier to investing in energy resilience, ASB offers a range of sustainable finance lending products for business and corporate customers. These include business sustainability loans, lending under the Government backed Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme, as well as specialised lending for larger projects.

Notes

• The full ASB Business Survey can be found here.
• Through ASB’s Pathway to Resilience, the bank is committed to helping Kiwi businesses build resilience, improve performance and lower operating costs. Through its broader Pathways to Progress programme, ASB is supporting businesses to become more productive, resilient and better positioned for long-term success. More information about how ASB is backing business is available here.
• ASB recently teamed up with DETA to release ‘Opportunity in an Era of Energy Shocks’, a report exploring changes, challenges and possibilities during New Zealand’s energy transition. The full report is available here.

[1] Results in this report are based upon questions asked in a Talbot Mills Research online survey. The basis of the sample is n=406 NZ business leaders (business owners, C-suite, senior management). 402 were recruited from panel provider Dynata, and 4 were provided by ASB.

[2] Source: Sustainability Business Network, ‘Saving Energy’

ESG Symposium 2026 is organized as a regional collaboration platform by SCG together with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and partners from all sectors. It connects leaders and experts from government, business, finance, international, organization and academia
to exchange knowledge and practices. It also brings them together to shape responses to ASEAN’s key challenges, namely energy security, adaptation to climate change, and the creation of a green economy and green jobs that distribute opportunities and strengthen the region’s resilience.

Mr. Joe Phelan, Executive Director – Asia Pacific, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said: “The sustainability transition is linked to competitiveness, security and investment, which presents both a significant challenge and an important opportunity for ASEAN. The key lies in connecting policy, investment, technology and people through collaboration among government, business, the financial sector and communities, in order to drive ASEAN toward sustainable growth over the long term.”

In Thailand, the business sector will play an important role in turning global direction into collective action, particularly by helping SMEs and entrepreneurs in the supply chain adapt and grow alongside the green economy. Dr. Phacharaphot Nuntramas, Krungthai Chief Economist & JSCCIB Economist, noted: “Thailand must use the Green Transition as an opportunity to enhance its competitiveness and attract future investment. The key is end-to-end implementation, creating an inclusive transition in which large businesses help upgrade SMEs in their supply chains so that they can adapt and grow together. In addition, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is ready to carry the proposals from this forum forward through the Reinvent Thailand platform, together with the business sector and other stakeholders.”

Three Key Agendas: From Progress to the Challenges Ahead This year’s discussions build on the proposals from last year, with each agenda reflecting both the progress made and the new challenges that must be advanced jointly. The aim is to develop approaches suited to Thailand’s context and to apply the lessons to other areas and contexts.

1) Energy Transition: Building energy security alongside competitive costs and decarbonization
Last year’s proposals aimed to unlock access to renewable electricity through Third Party Access (TPA), Direct PPA and the reduction of regulatory constraints, so that the private sector could genuinely drive the transition. This year, the discussion moves toward raising the “readiness of the energy system,” including enhancing the capacity and flexibility of the power grid, grid-forming technology, and adjusting the Power Development Plan (PDP) to align with future energy demand. It also looks further ahead to new technologies and energy sources such as Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and biofuels, as well as ASEAN-level cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid. Dr. Areeporn Asawinpongphan, Research Fellow in Energy Policy at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), proposed establishing an energy system that balances security, competitive costs and decarbonization targets. She recommended accelerating the development of resilient infrastructure and energy systems, increasing the role of solar and bioenergy, upgrading grid infrastructure, developing energy sources, and liberalizing the energy market. This would enable businesses to access clean energy, ensure uninterrupted power transmission and distribution, and support future demand.

2) Just Transition: Enabling SMEs, workers and communities to grow together Last year, SMEs were supported through knowledge and tools such as NZAP and Go Together. This year, additional approaches include Funding Connect and SME Green Transition Plus for industrial SMEs, to help entrepreneurs gain greater access to knowledge, technology, funding and business opportunities.
Mr. Veerachai Monsintorn, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and Chairman of Small and Medium Industry Institute and Chairman of Thai-Chinese Economic and Investment Institute, proposed that support for entrepreneurs be tailored to their capacity to adapt, so that assistance is designed to match their needs. He suggested starting with a selected pilot group to create a comprehensive prototype, covering support in knowledge, technology, skills, standards, market access and funding sources through Funding Connect, before distilling lessons and scaling up. The goal is for entrepreneurs, workers and communities to access opportunities from the green economy and grow together.

3) Climate Adaptation: From post-disaster response to advance preparedness Building on last year’s discussion of Water Resilience, this year the focus extends to an AI Simulation Platform for assessing flood risk and infrastructure vulnerability. There are plans to make the platform publicly accessible, and to look further toward ASEAN-level Risk Mapping and Simulation to help prepare for risks from floods, storms and other disasters. Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongsak Suttinon, Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, proposed shifting from addressing problems after impacts occur to forecasting and reducing risks in advance. He suggested developing a One Water Data Center to integrate water data, forecasting systems and early warning systems together with local communities. This would go alongside investment in dual-use infrastructure that serves both normal and crisis conditions. He also proposed extending water management toward a Water Economy, in order to reduce losses, sustain business continuity, and create economic and social value in local areas.

Mr. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of SCG, said: “From the proposals and actions of the past year, we now see clear progress across all three agendas: Energy Transition, Just Transition and Climate Adaptation. The key challenge today is to take what we have learned and done over many years and scale it up more broadly. We have seen that Public–Private–People Partnership, or 4P, can deliver real results: the public sector creates conditions conducive to action, the private sector brings technology and capital to experiment, and the people’s sector participates in defining the needs of each area, which is the Area-Based Approach. Drawing on lessons from Saraburi Province, we should take this 4P model and scale it to other areas, starting by studying the needs and problems of each area while identifying suitable partners, so that lessons can be turned into real action and cooperation can be extended with other countries.

If we can expand this kind of collaboration in a concrete way, it will accelerate change and build a competitive economy while effectively addressing climate change. Most importantly, it will open the way for every sector to grow together.”

Hashtag: #SCG

NATURE LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE

Nature isn’t scenery. Nature is a society that we rely on for everything, every day. It’s behind our identity and our way of life.

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