HIGHLIGHTS
- Significant Carbon Reduction on Campus: Thammasat University is actively advancing its “Carbon Neutral Campus” strategy to cut emissions by 47% by 2035, having already reduced over 17,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent at the Rangsit Centre.
- Achieving T-VER Standard and Cost Efficiency: New solar panel installations at the Property and Sports Management Office have secured the T-VER standard, generating clean energy that cuts carbon emissions while saving the university over 547,000 baht annually in electricity costs.
- Paving the Way with CFO Certification: The Faculty of Engineering and Puey Ungphakorn Library serve as university pilot models, successfully achieving the Carbon Footprint for Organisation (CFO) certification from TGO.
- Upskilling for the National Green Economy: The university is actively developing and upskilling national-level environmental consultants and CFO experts to support Thailand’s green economy and prepare for the upcoming Climate Change Act.
Thammasat University’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 47% by 2035 is an organisational challenge currently being driven by the “Carbon Neutral Campus” strategy, which encompasses the operations of all departments and campuses. Under the “Thammasat University Strategic Plan No. 13 (2022-2027) on Creating Happiness and Sustainability for the Community”, the university has set a major target to collect greenhouse gas emission data across all areas. This aims to pave the way for university-wide Carbon Footprint for Organisation (CFO) standard certification from the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization), or TGO. Achieving this milestone requires practical action from all sectors.
Taking Action on the Ground: Reducing Carbon by 17,000 Tonnes and Elevating Projects to the T-VER Standard
Tangible results at the operational level have already begun at the Rangsit Centre, which is systematically adapting its infrastructure to reduce environmental impact. Data from 2024 to 2025 indicates that the Rangsit Centre has successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions by a total of 17,561.551 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, earning a Letter of Recognition (LOR) under the Low Emission Support Scheme (LESS) from TGO. This reduction was achieved through the rooftop solar power generation project, the transition to electric vehicles, the recycling bank project, and the collection of UHT milk cartons.
Beyond seeking certification for the overall area, management at the sub-departmental level is also making a clear impact. Recently, the Thammasat University Property and Sports Management Office installed an 81.6 kWp solar cell panel on its office building. This installation can generate over 109,412 kWh of clean electricity annually, helping the university save up to 547,063.61 baht per year in electricity costs, whilst simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year (equivalent to removing 12 cars from the road or planting 1,300–2,200 trees to absorb carbon).
The operations of the Property and Sports Management Office were registered under the Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction Programme (Standard T-VER) by TGO, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, on 22 July 2026. This serves as empirical evidence that the utilisation of clean energy can effectively meet both environmental goals and organisational cost-reduction objectives.
Pilot Departments: Paving the Way for CFO Certification Across the University
Whilst the broader effort involves gathering data for a university-wide standard certification, some departments have already elevated their management to successfully pass the CFO certification from TGO. Last September, the Faculty of Engineering, led by Prof. Dr. Sanya Mitaim, and the Puey Ungphakorn Library became two pilot entities that successfully collected data and attained the Carbon Footprint for Organisation (CFO) registration from TGO. This marks a starting point demonstrating that both teaching spaces and student service areas can genuinely manage greenhouse gas emissions in a systematic manner.
In addition to these pilot departments, many other faculties and divisions are currently improving their energy efficiency and managing waste within their respective areas to prepare databases for entering the international standard verification process in the future.
Building and Upskilling Personnel to Supply the Green Economy
Thammasat’s commitment extends to creating national-level experts. Currently, the Center of Excellence in Eco-Energy (CEEE) under the Faculty of Engineering is listed in the directory of capable consultants for organisational carbon footprint preparation, which TGO recommends for entrepreneurs to consider when selecting a consultant.
Looking back at 2025, the Thammasat University Research and Consultancy Institute (TU-RAC) organised a CFO assessment training course to produce high-quality personnel for the labour market. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harnpon Phungrassami (CEEE) and Mr. Monchai Jittipanyakul (ECEE Co., Ltd.) joined in building environmental researchers and consultants.
Personnel development continues to progress. Most recently, earlier in 2026, the Faculty of Engineering partnered with TGO to host a seminar entitled “Developing and Upskilling Organisational Carbon Footprint Consultants Towards Net Zero Certification”. This activity aimed to upskill CFO consultants registered with TGO, preparing them for new conditions, including the draft Climate Change Act and greenhouse gas reporting regulations. This was achieved through a collaborative network between Thammasat, TGO, the Department of Climate Change and Environment, and ECEE Co., Ltd.
Therefore, the Carbon Neutral Campus plan is not merely an environmental campaign; it is a strategic drive that connects infrastructure improvement, T-VER project standard certification, the CFO registration of pilot organisations, and the production and upskilling of specialised personnel. All of this aims towards the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 47% and creating a low-carbon society, both domestically and internationally.
