The Thailand Ministry of Defence (MoD) and U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) announced today their participation in the Pacific Environmental Security Forum (PESF), which will be conducted in Bangkok, Thailand, June 8-11, 2015.

The PESF, which was launched in 2010 by USPACOM, provides a unique opportunity for militaries in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to work with their civilian counterparts on enhancing environmental security, protection, and management in the region.

The 2015 event will bring together civilian and military representatives from approximately 20-30 countries to discuss environmental considerations as they relate to climate change, protection of the commons, military environmental programs, and project concept development.  The intent of the forum is to increase awareness of environmental considerations, discuss best practices and lessons-learned in environmental stewardship, and identify collaborative opportunities were militaries in the region can support ongoing and future environmental programs related to all domains (air, land, sea, space, etc).

Participants will hear from subject matter experts throughout the week, and also contribute to panel sessions and group activities to identify gaps in current processes, and share experiences that could lend itself to adoption in other locations.  The Thai MoD will host a site visit to an ongoing environmental protection project in Thailand to showcase its environmental management approach.  Lastly, participants will work together to identify future projects in the region where the military can lend its support to enhance environmental protection.

Media interested in covering this exercise should contact the public affairs office of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok (Ms. Melissa Sweeney at SweeneyMA@state.gov).