Thailand aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector by up to 30% from now until 2020, or 77 million tonnes a year, as part of its effort to co-operate with the global community in tackling climate change, according to Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul.

The target will be announced in Copenhagen later this week as Mr Wannarat accompanies Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to attend the final stage of the United Nations climate change talks now under way in the Danish capital. The talks end on Friday.

Under the plan, the ministry sets a voluntary target to lower emissions by 42 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year under the 15-year master plan on alternative energy, 30 million tonnes from energy efficiency measures, and another 5 million tonnes from carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in expired petroleum fields.

The target excludes additional emissions reductions that could be possible if Thailand finally decides to go ahead with building nuclear power plants. The cabinet is expected to decide next year on the first of two planned plants to come onstream in 2021.

"If nothing is done, emissions from the energy sector will double from 204 million tonnes a year in 2008 to 400-450 million tonnes by 2020 based on the projected yearly GDP growth rate of 3.5% to 5.5%," Mr Wannarat said.

The energy sector is the largest greenhouse emitter in Thailand, representing 56% of total emissions, compared with 26% in the transport sector and the rest from the agricultural sector. Thailand ranks 24th globally in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

"Thailand is a non-Annex I country which has no obligation to cut the emissions," he said, referring to the Kyoto Protocol.

"What we are doing is to show our responsibility which in turn will help lower the cost of industrial manufacturers in terms of carbon foot print and strengthen their capacity for developing green products in the future.

"Thai exports are about to face non-tariff barriers related to their carbon footprint, imposed by key trading partners. If we can lower carbon emissions from manufacturing processes, our export products will gain competitive advantages against those shipped from rival developing countries," said the minister.

Even though Thailand's emissions rate is not high when compared with other emerging giant economies, measures are required to cope with targeted rise of emissions such as greater use of renewable energy such as solar, wind, hydropower, and hydrogen, Mr Wannarat added.