HIGHLIGHTS
- Proactive Investment Commitment: The university explicitly commits to “supporting investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology”.
- Formal Budget Allocation: This commitment is backed by a formal policy to “allocate budget, personnel, as well as other resources in the most efficient way” to support the achievement of its energy conservation goals.
- Sustainable Procurement Mandate: Financial expenditure is governed by sustainable procurement policies that require the university to “support company partners or service providers that conduct business with attention to the care of society and the environment” and “take into account the counterparty and company that value the importance of sustainable environmental protection”.
- Alignment with Fossil Fuel Reduction: These financial strategies directly support the university’s overarching goal of “reducing the use of energy from fossil fuels, and encouraging the use of clean renewable energy”
In the global drive towards sustainability, universities face increasing calls to align their financial strategies with their climate goals. For many institutions, this conversation centres on divestment—the act of pulling investments from carbon-intensive industries like coal and oil. Thammasat University, however, champions a proactive strategy that goes beyond simply withdrawing support, focusing instead on the active allocation of its budget towards building a clean energy future.
This commitment is formally embedded in the university’s governing policies. The ‘Policy on Energy Conservation Management and Access to Modern Sustainable Energy’ is not just a statement of principle; it is an actionable financial plan. As stressed in item #6 of the policy, the university will actively “support investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology”
To ensure these goals are met, the university formally commits in item #11 of the same policy to “allocate budget, personnel, as well as other resources in the most efficient way”. This ensures that the transition to clean energy—part of a broader goal to reduce “the use of energy from fossil fuels” as stated in item #(1) of the ‘Policy on Environmental Management’—is not just an ambition, but a funded institutional priority.
Where this strategy truly takes shape is in the university’s daily financial operations. Thammasat leverages its considerable purchasing power through a robust sustainable procurement framework. As outlined in item #(8) of the ‘Policy on Environmental Management’, “Public procurement must take into account the counterparty and company that value the importance of sustainable environmental protection”4. This principle is reinforced by item #10 of the ‘Policy on Energy Conservation Management’, which specifies that procurement must “support company partners or service providers that conduct business with attention to the care of society and the environment”5.
While divestment focuses on avoiding harm, Thammasat’s approach actively directs its financial resources to reward and promote sustainable enterprise. By integrating clean energy investment and sustainable procurement directly into its core budget and policies, the university ensures its finances are a powerful tool, driving positive environmental change from the ground up.