Chula and Green Standard Work Together to Drive Climate Action and Sustainability 

Chulalongkorn University, through the Chulalongkorn University College of Petroleum and Petrochemicals (CPP), has partnered with Green Standard Co., Ltd. to sign a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), bringing together the academic and private sectors to advance knowledge, research, innovation, and training programs in Climate Change, Environment, and Sustainability. The collaboration aims to develop a high-quality workforce equipped to address environmental challenges and global change. 

The signing ceremony was held on August 27, 2026, at Room 202, Chamchuri 4 Building, Chulalongkorn University. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University; Prof. Dr. Pramoch Rangsunvigit, Dean of the College of Petroleum and Petrochemicals; Mr. Wichai Thongtang, Advisor to Green Standard Co., Ltd.; and Dr. Kong Suriya, Managing Director of Green Standard Co., Ltd. Their participation reflected the strength of cooperation between academia and the business sector, with a shared commitment to creating tangible change. 

Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, said that this collaboration was not merely a signing on paper but a commitment to creating sustainable change in climate and environmental issues. The goal is to address problems at their source rather than at the end of the process, because if the starting point is right, downstream problems can be prevented. 

He emphasized that the role of a university extends beyond awarding degrees. Universities should serve as centers for improving the quality of life of the Thai people. He also expressed his appreciation to the management of Green Standard for recognizing the importance of collaboration with the private sector, with the College of Petroleum and Petrochemicals serving as the driving force. Such cooperation, he said, would lead to innovation and tangible outcomes. 

Prof. Dr. Wilert further stated, “The true role of a university is to create value and improve people’s quality of life—not merely to provide knowledge in the classroom. Carbon emissions and climate change are critical factors affecting the sustainability of the country. This collaboration between Chulalongkorn University, through the College of Petroleum and Petrochemicals, and Green Standard does not end with the signing of an agreement. It begins with taking action at the root of the problem. This is a historic collaboration that can create real impact and demonstrates that cooperation with the private sector is at the heart of successfully solving these challenges.” 

Prof. Dr. Pramoch Rangsunvigit, Dean of the College of Petroleum and Petrochemicals, acknowledged that “this collaboration looks far beyond the signing ceremony. We want it to become a platform that connects academic knowledge with real-world implementation. Today, the world does not lack information about Climate Change and Sustainability. The challenge is turning knowledge into people, practical approaches, and ultimately measurable carbon reductions.” 

He proposed that the collaboration move forward simultaneously in three key areas. 

The first is developing professionals capable of driving real change through training programs covering the full process—from understanding the sources of greenhouse gas emissions to assessment and analysis, target setting, and the selection of appropriate carbon-reduction measures. The goal is to develop programs that meet standards recognized by the country’s relevant greenhouse-gas authorities, producing professionals with Knowledge, Skill, and Credibility. 

Second is creating knowledge based on real industrial challenges, such as identifying which processes generate the most carbon emissions, determining which sources should be addressed first, and identifying appropriate technologies and cost-effective solutions. 

“The College of Petroleum and Petrochemicals has been operating for more than 30 years. Its strength lies in its deep understanding of energy, petrochemical, and polymer production processes. This expertise can be applied to calculating and effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Prof. Dr. Pramoch added. 

Mr. Wichai Thongtang, Advisor to Green Standard Co., Ltd., said that he had been aware of and concerned about environmental issues from the outset. This led to the concept of an approach called “Gold Standard,” which is not focused solely on fundraising but on changing actual practices in clean energy, waste management, and the environment. 

He believes that these processes can ultimately be transformed into new economic value for the country. He also praised Chulalongkorn University for taking these issues seriously, as demonstrated by its work with faculty members and its recognition as one of the institutions moving rapidly in this area globally. He thanked the faculty members for the many months of continuous discussions leading up to the collaboration. 

Mr. Wichai added: “The global community is placing increasingly strong emphasis on environmental issues, and these concerns are becoming significant costs. For example, in exports, products without carbon-footprint data and sustainable solutions will increasingly be unable to compete. As a university with extensive networks, Chulalongkorn University therefore has an important role in helping people across Thailand recognize the importance of these issues.” 

He said he wanted the collaboration to go beyond being a seminar model or simply a “connecting” project. Instead, it should develop people, create the future, and establish new, tangible approaches, while remaining open to younger generations so that they can also learn about these issues. 

He cited his own grandchild, who is a student of Dr. Kong and is regarded as one of Thailand’s first-generation “Net Zero Heroes,” as an example. He emphasized that climate change is a global pain point, not merely a problem for Thailand. Although achieving global Net Zero simultaneously by 2050 may be difficult, he believes that smaller-scale initiatives such as this collaboration can create measurable change and generate new value for the country. 

Dr. Kong Suriya, the Managing Director of Green Standard Co., Ltd., said, “Thailand emits approximately 400 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year. The largest source is the energy sector, followed by agriculture, particularly using chemical fertilizers produced from natural gas and petroleum. The third-largest source is chemical processes, while approximately 5% comes from municipal and industrial waste.” 

Looking deeper, he said, many of the major sources are closely connected to the petroleum and petrochemical industries. 

Over the past five years, organizations working on climate change have often focused on addressing downstream problems, such as carbon-capture technologies and blue carbon. However, he said, no organization has yet seriously addressed the problem at its chemical, petroleum, and petrochemical roots. 

With more than 10 expert faculty members, the College of Petroleum and Petrochemicals is, in his view, exceptionally well positioned in Thailand to help reduce carbon emissions at the source. 

The first initiative under the collaboration will be the establishment of a training center for accurate greenhouse-gas measurement, operating within the framework of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO). This will subsequently lead to the development of courses that use real research challenges from the industrial sector to address carbon reduction problems. 

The key focus of this collaboration is “connecting knowledge from the university to real-world applications.” By combining academic expertise with the capabilities of the business sector, the partners will jointly develop people and create knowledge that responds to the needs of the modern world. 

The collaboration will include the development of Re-skill, Up-skill, and Block Course training programs for students, entrepreneurs, and industrial personnel, as well as joint research and innovation projects addressing Climate Change, environmental, and sustainability challenges. 

In addition, the two parties aim to raise the standards of training programs and professional personnel by supporting certification of courses through relevant agencies and professional organizations. They will also jointly develop and submit project proposals to seek research funding while expanding learning opportunities to students, businesses, and the public. 

This collaboration is therefore more than the signing of an MOU. It represents a joint effort to lay the foundations of “people” and “knowledge” for the future, connecting the power of classrooms, research laboratories, and industry so that knowledge can be applied to real challenges facing society and the country. 

Together, the partners aim to help Thailand move toward an economy and society that grow responsibly and sustainably. 

When academia and the private sector move forward together, knowledge does not have to remain confined to the classroom. It can become a powerful force for creating a better future.