Transforming Ideas into Action: Youth Advocacy for Mangrove Conservation and Carbon Impact

Arin
5 hours ago
3 min read

On 30 September 2025, I had the chance to represent Below the Tides at the Thailand Climate Action Conference (TCAC) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Standing on that stage, surrounded by government leaders, scientists, and young changemakers, I felt both humbled and hopeful — because I wasn’t just speaking for myself, but for a generation determined to turn awareness into measurable climate action.

As the founder of Below the Tides, I shared what our team has been doing over the past few years — fundraising campaigns, volunteer cleanups in canals, mangrove planting drives, and educational sessions for landlocked students who may have never seen the sea but whose lives are tied to its future. Our goal has always been simple: to connect people, especially youth, with the climate systems that sustain us.

“One Child, One Tree”: Linking Youth Action to the Carbon Market

At TCAC, I proposed an idea called “One Child, One Tree.” The vision is to give every young person the opportunity to plant and grow a tree — and more importantly, to connect that act with Thailand’s carbon market so that youth-led projects can count toward measurable climate mitigation.

This proposal didn’t come from theory; it came from my scientific research. Through my projects,

Living Carbonomics: Tracking Footprint and Storage Dynamics Above and Below Ground and
Green Secrets Unveiled: Probing Carbon Storage and Assessing Footprint in Living Spaces

I’ve explored the balance between carbon emissions and storage in everyday environments — from household vegetation to soil and root systems. Measuring my own carbon footprint against the carbon stored in trees around my home opened my eyes to how much potential lies in small plots of land. Even limited spaces, if aggregated and verified, can make a measurable contribution to national climate goals.

That realization became the foundation of One Child, One Tree — a bridge between science, youth action, and the carbon market.

The Barriers We Face

But I also spoke frankly about the challenges. Today, youth and community projects face steep barriers when trying to register carbon initiatives:

Under Thailand’s Premium T-VER scheme, a project must cover at least 10 rai to qualify.
Verification and MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) require certified assessors — a process that can cost far more than most youth groups can afford.
Institutional support remains limited, leaving young innovators without access to funding, mentorship, or formal pathways to recognition.

What We Need to Empower Youth

To close these gaps, I proposed a few support mechanisms:

Carbon Credit Aggregator for Youth & Communities: Combine small plots from schools, communities, and households into one registerable project to overcome the area threshold.
Fund for Registration & MRV Support: Provide financial aid or subsidies to cover the cost of project registration, third-party verification, and appraisals.
Youth Carbon Wallet Platform: Create a transparent platform to monitor tree growth, CO₂ captured, and carbon credits generated — giving youth a way to see, track, and even exchange their impact.
Incentives and Participation Pathways Offer academic credit for climate action, micro-grants for new ideas, mentorship programs, and real opportunities for youth to co-design environmental policy.

Why It Matters

By linking scientific data with youth-driven initiatives, we can make every tree planted part of a verified carbon solution — turning what’s often seen as a symbolic gesture into a scientifically accountable contribution to Thailand’s net-zero future.

This approach supports:

Climate mitigation through verified carbon sequestration,
Local adaptation by strengthening community resilience to floods, heat, and biodiversity loss, and
Education and equity by positioning youth not as observers, but as real actors in the carbon economy.

For me, this is what youth empowerment in the carbon market truly means: proving through data, collaboration, and persistence that what we do — in classrooms, in communities, and even in our own backyards — counts.

Together, we can transform the climate crisis into a sustainable future, one child and one tree at a time.

Comments

Koh Phi Phi

Paradise lost

In recent years, there has been a remarkable resurgence of sea life around the Phi Phi Islands, situated in Thailand. Notably, the return of sea creatures such as reef sharks and ghost crabs to the area has been a cause for celebration among marine enthusiasts and conservationists. This resurgence can be attributed in part to the dedicated efforts of marine officials who planted an impressive 23,000 corals in the region in 2021.

The Phi Phi Islands have long been a popular destination for tourists, and their fame received an extra boost from the 2000 movie 'The Beach,' starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This film showcased the islands' stunning natural beauty and unique landscapes, capturing the imagination of travelers from around the world. As a result, it ignited a spark of interest in the Phi Phi Islands, making them a must-visit destination for those seeking a picturesque and adventure-filled escape.

To a certain extent, the thriving tourism industry in the Phi Phi Islands has encountered sustainability challenges stemming from the very visitors it attracts. The sheer volume of tourists frequenting the islands has led to a concerning environmental impact. On a daily basis, these visitors generate a staggering 25 to 40 tonnes of waste, which is often inadequately managed and ends up polluting the pristine landscapes of the islands.

The pollution problem extends beyond just waste disposal. The coral reefs, which are critical to the ecological health of the region and are being actively restored through coral planting initiatives, face damage from various sources. The propellers of boat motors, often driven too close to the fragile coral ecosystems, can cause physical harm. Similarly, tourists themselves, while swimming or snorkeling, can inadvertently harm the corals through physical contact or by standing on them.

Furthermore, a concerning practice seen in some cases is the burning of trash or the disposal of garbage directly into the water. Such actions not only mar the natural beauty of the Phi Phi Islands but also threaten the marine life that inhabits the surrounding waters.

Addressing these sustainability challenges is a crucial task for both local authorities and the tourism industry. Sustainable tourism practices, responsible waste management, and heightened environmental awareness among tourists are essential steps toward preserving the delicate ecosystems of the Phi Phi Islands and ensuring they remain a breathtaking destination for generations to come.

Koh Phi Phi

Climate Change

UUn

From Polar Ice Melting to Human Impact

Climate change is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon characterized by a long-term shift in the Earth's average temperature and climate patterns. It is primarily driven by a variety of factors, including natural processes and human activities.

One significant aspect of climate change is the decrease in sea ice in polar regions. The Earth's polar ice caps and glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, primarily due to the increase in global temperatures. This melting ice contributes to rising sea levels, which can result in coastal erosion, increased flooding, and the displacement of communities living in vulnerable coastal areas.

Human activities play a major role in exacerbating climate change. The expansion of factories and industrialization has led to the release of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to a greenhouse effect that raises global temperatures. The burning of fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and manufacturing processes is a significant source of these emissions.

Dense populations in urban areas also contribute to climate change. Concentrated populations require more resources and energy to support their daily needs, leading to higher emissions of greenhouse gases. This includes the energy required for heating, cooling, transportation, and the production of goods and services for a large number of people.

Wasteful energy practices further exacerbate climate change. Inefficient use of energy resources not only increases greenhouse gas emissions but also puts additional strain on natural resources. Energy conservation and the transition to renewable and sustainable energy sources are crucial steps in mitigating the effects of climate change.

In summary, climate change is a long-term shift in the Earth's average temperature and climate patterns, driven by various factors, including human activities such as industrialization, the burning of fossil fuels, and inefficient energy use.

Understanding and addressing these factors are critical for mitigating the impacts of climate change and working towards a more sustainable and resilient future.