BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand will host the 2026 IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings from October 12 to 18 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, following a Green Meeting approach to minimize environmental impact. Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana announced that the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Thailand, and related agencies have implemented measures to address transportation, food waste management, single-use plastics, and paper reduction.
According to the spokesperson, over 320 electric vehicles will transport participants during the meetings, which is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 95.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This figure is an estimate based on projected EV use and does not represent post-event measurements or total emissions reductions from the meetings. The organizers will turn food waste from conference activities and receptions into organic fertilizer to reduce waste and use resources more efficiently. They will also reduce single-use plastics in catering and use digital meeting systems instead of printed documents to limit paper use and overall waste.
The deputy spokesperson noted that these measures aim to apply sustainable development principles to the practical organization of a major international event, including transport, food management, and digital technology. The government aims for the meetings to serve as a model for environmentally responsible large-scale events in Thailand, with practices that can be applied to future conferences and public activities. (NNT)
