As the world grapples with mounting environmental crises—ranging from extreme weather to rising greenhouse gas emissions—governments, businesses, and institutions are stepping up efforts to chart a more sustainable course for the future. In the latest wave of climate action, Thailand is preparing to pass its first-ever Climate Change Act, while leading global institutions like Columbia University are convening thought leaders to tackle the thorny issue of decarbonizing the fashion industry. Together, these developments underscore a growing sense of urgency and innovation in the global fight against climate change.
According to Travel and Tour World, Thailand is on the brink of a historic legislative milestone. On August 16, 2025, the country is set to finalize its inaugural Climate Change Act—a comprehensive law that has already been reviewed by over 30 government agencies and now awaits the green light from the Cabinet. This act, years in the making and long called for by social activists, promises to deliver a robust legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fortifying the nation against the impacts of climate change.
The stakes could hardly be higher for Thailand. In recent years, the country has been battered by an uptick in natural disasters, including stronger floods and relentless coastal erosion. The toll has been both human and economic: communities have suffered, and the tourism sector alone has absorbed financial losses exceeding 5 billion baht. The new Climate Change Act aims to shield jobs, protect farms, and safeguard the well-being of people whose lives are increasingly shaped by environmental uncertainty.
Central to the act is the establishment of a Climate Fund. Once approved, this fund will grant loans and subsidies for green energy initiatives, sustainable infrastructure, and adaptation projects. The goal? To help Thailand transition to a low-carbon lifestyle and better access international climate finance. The act aligns the country’s climate ambitions with global standards, targeting peak emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2065—directly in line with the Paris Agreement’s goals.
Thailand’s ambitions don’t stop at legislation. At ITB Berlin 2025, the country presented its vision for making its provinces “climate-smart” for travel, a move designed to weave climate resilience into the very fabric of its tourism industry. By integrating carbon-neutral and net-zero projects into tourism planning, Thailand is striving to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship. The Climate Change Act will direct funding to six critical sectors already bearing the brunt of climate impacts: agriculture, water, tourism, health, natural resources, and housing.
“The new act will help in accessing international climate finance and aligns with Thailand’s targets: peak emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2065, in line with the Paris Agreement,” Travel and Tour World reported. This dual focus—on both adaptation and mitigation—reflects a growing recognition that climate action must be both comprehensive and forward-looking.
Meanwhile, across the globe, the intersection of climate action and industry innovation was on display at Columbia University in New York. On August 15, 2025, the university hosted an event titled “Transforming Fashion’s Footprint: Innovation and Business,” part of the Columbia Global Energy Summit 2024 series. As reported by Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy, the event zeroed in on the fashion sector’s environmental footprint and the formidable challenge of decarbonizing the materials and supply chains that underpin it.
The fashion industry, long known for its glamour and creativity, is also responsible for a significant share of global carbon emissions. Despite ongoing efforts to measure and reduce its environmental impact, major gaps remain—especially when it comes to decarbonizing material production and overhauling entrenched business practices. The Columbia event brought together startups, researchers, industry leaders, and academics to explore the most promising paths forward.
The first session at Columbia’s event spotlighted next-generation textiles and regenerative solutions—innovations that could dramatically reduce the sector’s carbon footprint. According to organizers, “our first session explores cutting-edge materials innovations where the biggest contribution could be made in ameliorating the largest share of the fashion value chain’s carbon emissions.” These advances include bio-based materials and regenerative agriculture, both of which have the potential to reshape supply chains from the ground up.
The conversation then shifted to business models. How can the fashion industry bridge the gap between academic research and real-world enterprise? What does it take to scale sustainability while still maintaining commercial viability? Panelists discussed the importance of moving from extractive to regenerative models, and from performative gestures to truly transformational change. As one event summary put it, “leaders from brands, startups, and academia will explore models that shift from extractive to regenerative, and from performative to transformational.”
Key questions emerged: What are the most promising materials innovations to cut carbon in fashion? How can regenerative agriculture and bio-based materials reshape supply chains? And crucially, what role do brands play in reshaping the broader fashion ecosystem? The event underscored the need for deeper collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate and scale solutions that address both climate impact and profitability.
These discussions are not happening in a vacuum. In the wake of federal rollbacks in the United States, climate professionals are increasingly turning to state and local governments, as well as philanthropy and the private sector, to sustain and build upon the progress made in recent years. Columbia’s summit reflected this broader trend, emphasizing the importance of thought leadership and cross-sector partnerships in tackling global energy and climate challenges.
Back in Thailand, the passage of the Climate Change Act is poised to be a game-changer. By providing a legal backbone for climate policy and a dedicated fund for adaptation and mitigation, the act could serve as a model for other nations navigating the complex terrain of sustainable development. The act’s focus on supporting eco-friendly tourism, for example, dovetails with global trends toward responsible travel and climate-smart infrastructure.
Thailand’s proactive stance is mirrored by the growing momentum in other sectors and countries. The fashion industry’s reckoning with its environmental impact, as seen at Columbia University, is just one example of how diverse actors are rising to the climate challenge. Whether through pioneering legislation, innovative materials, or novel business models, the message is clear: the path to a sustainable future demands both bold action and creative collaboration.
As Thailand awaits final Cabinet approval of its groundbreaking Climate Change Act, and as thought leaders in places like New York continue to push the boundaries of innovation, the world is watching closely. The next steps taken by governments, industries, and institutions may well determine whether the global community can rise to meet the defining challenge of our time.
