Abstract

This chapter examines the transition of Thailand to energy and climate security as an energy consuming country. As an emerging economy in Southeast Asia with a democratic history, albeit one afflicted by persistent authoritarianism, environmental activists and civil society have played a significant role in the development of public energy discourses and, to a lesser extent, government policies. Governance in Thailand tends to oscillate between direct military rule and more competitive elected governments. A coup in May 2014 resulted in the current military regime, which appears unlikely to surrender power to democratic forces anytime soon. Nevertheless, energy policy over the last two decades has remained largely impervious to changes in government, although much of the good work on developing renewable energy markets is unravelling under the current government.