From Thailand News Service

BANGKOK, Aug 18 (TNA) – His Majesty the King has graciously approved the establishment of the “Department of Climate Change and Environment” effective from today.

Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion was renamed the Department of Climate Change and Environment. The newly-established body will be responsible for directly addressing climate change issues.

Mr. Warawut further elaborated that recently, Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, noted that global surface temperatures and ocean temperatures during July have reached historically high levels. It signals the era of “global warming” has ended; the era of “global boiling” has arrived.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, has been assigned to closely oversee the transition from the former Department of Environmental Quality Promotion to the new Department of Climate Change and Environment. This seamless transition aims to ensure the continuity of environmental efforts. (TNA)

And what will this Department actually achieve? Well, my comment would be too offensive! I suspect they might put in charge of the department the minister who, during the disastrous floods of 2011 when much of Bangkok was under water for a considerable number of weeks, suggested that one way of alleviating the floods would be to stretch long tail boats across the Chao Phaya river with their engines on at full power to push the flood water from the north back up river. Seriously, that is what he suggested. I guess his middle names were Monty Python.