2025 Surin Pitsuwan Lecture in Thai Politics and Society

In Thailand today, there are tens of thousands of disputes over forests in the courts. Most are between local communities and state agencies. Many have lingered for decades. Occasionally some break out in violence of burning and killing. This situation is not good for either people or trees. Climate change has lent new importance to Thailand’s forests for the ecosphere, for the economy, and for the world. Urban residents, bothered by haze and floods, have become interested in how the forests are managed. New technologies are changing the terms of the debate. This talk looks at the forests as a case study of the impact of climate change on society and politics.

Pasuk Phongpaichit, Professor Emerita, Chulanlongkorn University
Chris Baker, Author