Bk - Climate and Energy Attaché, Heo

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 1

**Main purpose of job**:
The British Embassy Bangkok is a large diplomatic mission of around 140 staff delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity in support of the UK’s objectives including on prosperity, trade, security, open societies, consular services and law enforcement. This is an exciting opportunity to join our diverse team.

The British Embassy is recruiting a Climate Change and Environment Attache to lead the UK Government’s work to combat climate change and tackle environmental issues in partnership with the Thai Government. The role is part of the UK’s continuing commitment to tackle climate change through international cooperation.

In Thailand, the UK’s activity on climate change spans diplomatic action and lobbying, events and media engagement to raise the profile of climate change as an issue, and a range of UK-funded technical assistance programmes. These programmes support the Thai government in developing its policy and mechanisms to implement the low carbon transition. Currently they focus on energy, transportation, sustainable finance and policies to support low carbon transition.

The UK Government views climate change an an immediate global threat. We believe that the world must take action now to radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions now and so limit average global temperature rises to 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels.

The UK Government recognises that our own domestic action (currently UK greenhouse gas emissions are about 50% below 1990 levels) must be matched by international advocacy and support for others if we are to avert a climate catastrophe. We work globally to encourage all parties to the 2015 Paris Agreement commit to more ambitious greenhouse gas reductions. The UK maintains a global network of climate and environment attaches. Their role is to push countries globally to adopt more ambitious climate and environment commitments and to support countries to implement their commitment in these areas - often with the support of UK technical assistance.

In Thailand, we work to support the Thai Government in its low carbon transition. In particular, we partner with the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Thai financial regulators to take forward a broad agenda of policy discussions and technical assistance programmes. Although the portfolio of UK-funded climate change programmes operating in Thailand is constantly changing, we are keen to focus on:

- Planning for Thailand’s low-carbon transition across society and the economy as a whole;
- Exploring the development of new carbon pricing options in Thailand (emissions trading etc.)
- Planning for low-carbon transition in the energy sector, including specific work on renewables and energy efficiency
- Supporting the development of sustainable financing policy and practice.

Beyond our work on climate programmes, we undertake a range of events, media interviews and other outreach efforts to raise awareness about climate change in Thailand and encourage action. We also lobby they Thai Government and key Thai stakeholders, as part of our wider global effort to promote action on climate change. We advocate increasing Thailand’s targets to cut greenhouse gases and so mitigating climate change, as well as taking action on specific issues such as phasing out coal fired power plants.

The jobholder will be a member of the Economic and Sustainable Development (ESD) Team at the British Embassy Bangkok - a team which focuses on sustainable development partnerships on economic reform, health, science, environmental issues and climate change. As a team we try to be ambitious in our work and supportive towards one another.

The jobholder will work in partnership with the UK PACT Climate Change Programme Manager (who oversees our largest technical assistance programme). They will work to the Economic and Prosperity Counsellor (head of ESD Team). They will work frequently with the Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission - often providing briefing for key meetings or events. The jobholders will also be part of the UK’s regional Southeast Asia Climate Network. The jobholder may also manage one EO Climate Officer (to be recruited), who will work in support of this role and the UK PACT Climate Change Programme Manager.

**Climate Change and Environment Attache**

**_Raise awareness and promote action on climate change (40%)_**
- Coordinate UK engagement with the Royal Thai Government to promote action on climate change and, in particular, the adoption of more ambitious climate targets and policies in Thailand. Manage key stakeholder relationships between the Embassy and Thai Government Officials.
- Directly lobby Thai officials on key issues as required.
- With the Embassy’s Communications Team, develop and deliver climate communications - setting out plans on an annual basis and then working to implement them. This may incl