On October 2, 2024, at the 8th General Assembly of the Life Cycle Initiative, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) was invited to nominate a representative from the Asia-Pacific region for the UN Life Cycle Initiative Steering Committee. This position is explicitly allocated to government agencies. Dr. Jitti Mungkalasiri, Head of the Life Cycle Inventory and Data Applications for Sustainability and Trade Research Team (LIDAST) within the Technology and Informatics Institute for Sustainability (TIIS) at MTEC, won the election with 10 out of 11 votes. This event involved candidates from three countries—Brazil, Argentina, and Thailand—who presented their pitches before the voting process.
The election results confirm Thailand’s second consecutive term and reaffirm its status as the first Asia-Pacific country elected since the Life Cycle Initiative’s establishment by UN member states. Currently, the public sector representatives on the Steering Committee include the European Commission, represented by the Directorate-General for Environment for Europe; the United States Department of Energy for North America; and NSTDA for the Asia-Pacific region.
The Life Cycle Initiative Steering Committee is essential for establishing international frameworks, supporting significant projects, and promoting regional networks focused on Life Cycle Thinking and Sustainable Development. Committee members serve voluntarily for three years, from October 2024 to September 2027, participating in UN policy and academic activities without legal or binding obligations.
For more details on the Life Cycle Initiative Steering Committee, please visit: https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/about/governance-structure/
