Climate Governance and multilevel policy practices in Thailand and Malaysia

Warathida Chaiyapa; Kamarulnizam Abdullah; Phillip Gonzalez; Hanna Nur Afifah Yogar

doi:10.24965/gapp.11271

Authors

Warathida Chaiyapa Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (Tailandia – Thailand) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3359-551X
Kamarulnizam Abdullah Institute of Malaysia and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malasia – Malaysia) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6577-1138
Phillip Gonzalez Forum of Federations (Australia – Australia)
Hanna Nur Afifah Yogar Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (Indonesia – Indonesia) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3266-2132

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24965/gapp.11271

Keywords:

multilevel governance, subnational government, local government, climate change policy, inclusive decision-making

Abstract

Objectives: This paper investigates Thailand and Malaysia climate governance policy in practice within their multi-level governance structures. Thailand presents a unique case of a unitary state with a degree of deconcentration and decentralization, while Malaysia showcases a federal state with a high degree of centralization. Methodology: The paper collected and analyzed both primary and secondary data. In-depth interviews with government officials, NGOs, and international organizations were conducted online and onsite in Thailand and Malaysia from May 2022 to September 2023. Interview data was triangulated with secondary data from key national policy documents on climate change and related issues. This paper examines the contributions and hindrances of multi-level governance on climate governance and highlights some lessons learned from both countries. Results: It concludes that multi-level government systems provide opportunities for various stakeholders to engage in decision-making and create policy innovation. However, the administration of decision-making in these systems can be constrained by tensions within these systems, between tendencies towards the centralization of decision-making, and little engagement between subnational governments and local-level stakeholders. Conclusions: Overall, we assert that clear direction and guidance at the national level complemented by mechanisms that engage local stakeholders in administration and civil society is essential to achieve overarching climate action goals regardless of the administrative system.

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Author Biographies

Warathida Chaiyapa, Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (Tailandia – Thailand)

Dr. Warathida Chaiyapa is Assistant Professor and Assistant Director at Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy, focusing on energy and climate change. She holds a PhD in Sustainability Science from the University of Tokyo and has contributed to Thailand’s energy policies, researched blue hydrogen, and examined Thailand-Myanmar energy dependence.

Kamarulnizam Abdullah, Institute of Malaysia and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malasia – Malaysia)

Kamarulnizam Abdullah is Professor and Principal Fellow at IKMAS, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, specializing in governance, security, and border studies. He has consulted for government agencies in Malaysia, Japan, and Timor Leste, and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, contributing his expertise in national and regional security frameworks.

Phillip Gonzalez, Forum of Federations (Australia – Australia)

Phillip, Senior Director of Programs in the Indo Pacific, specializes in comparative policy within federal systems. With 15 years as a governance specialist, he has supported democratic transitions and reforms in Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. His policy expertise extends to Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, and Thailand, contributing significantly to state-building and governance improvements globally.

Hanna Nur Afifah Yogar, Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (Indonesia – Indonesia)

Hanna Nur Afifah Yogar is a Master’s student at Chiang Mai University’s School of Public Policy, with a background in law, development studies, and public policy. Her research focuses on political ecology, environmental policy, and development issues in Southeast Asia.

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