NSTDA Vice President Dr. Lily Eurwilaichitr joined a speaker panel at the Fifth STS forum European Workshop on “From a European to a Global Green Deal” taking place on 12 May 2022. The workshop was co-organized by the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), the Japan-based Science and Technology in Society forum (STS forum) and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) with an objective to present challenges and solutions in the transition to green energy in the European Union and worldwide. This workshop was organized in conjunction with the meeting of STS forum Council in which NSTDA President is a member.

The workshop consisted of two sessions. During the first session on the green, secure and affordable energy for Europe, Prof. Dr. Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council, emphasized the possible role of the European Research Council in the EU Green Deal achievement by supporting research projects. In the second session on the path to a global green deal, Dr. Lily introduced Thailand’s national agenda on Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG).

The BCG model represents a strategy for overcoming global challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, and economic crisis by exploiting science and technology. The principles of this model include 1) sustainability of resources and environment by reducing natural resource consumption 2) socioeconomic prosperity by improving social inequality and energy security, 3) sustainable economic growth by producing the high valued goods and services, and 4) self-reliance by enhancing workforce and promoting innovation-driven enterprises.

To counter the current energy crisis, Dr. Lily stressed that decarbonization from fossil fuel should be made more widely. She concluded her talk expressing Thailand’s support to the EU Green Deal through international frameworks by sharing knowledge and participating in technology diffusion with the STS forum network.