Original Thai Version Published on 30 January 2026
32.9% of survey respondents chose “People and Society” as the sustainable development policy area they most want political parties to push forward in the next government.
In early January, SDG Move conducted a survey titled “Public Demand for Sustainable Development Policy — 2026 Election” between January 9–22, 2026, open to the general public nationwide. Responses and perceptions from a total of 207 respondents were synthesized and analyzed.
Results were grouped into five main categories: the SDGs people most want prioritized or accelerated, social issues, political issues, environmental issues, economic issues, and policy recommendations — reflecting what the public wants political parties to turn into concrete policy, tied to real problems in Thai society.
This SDG Policy Survey presents these findings so readers can see the overall picture of which sustainable development policy issues the public considers important for the 2026 election.
01 – SDGs the public most wants “pushed forward” or “accelerated”
Respondents placed the highest priority on “People and Society,” ranking it as the top development dimension needing to be pushed or accelerated. A total of 68 respondents (32.9%) felt political parties should prioritize issues such as poverty, hunger and nutrition, health, education, and gender equality.
Next was the Economic dimension — covering energy, the economy, labor, industry, services, infrastructure, and urban/community development — chosen by 65 people (31.4%).
The Environmental dimension — water resources, waste and pollution, climate change, oceans, and forests — was chosen by 42 people (20.3%).
Peace and stability — crime, law enforcement, the military, government efficiency, and human rights — was chosen by 23 people (11.1%).
Finally, Partnership — cross-sector cooperation, international cooperation, development finance, and policy mechanisms — was chosen by only 9 people (4.3%), suggesting the public believes sustainable development policy must start by raising the quality of life for people and society first.
02 – “Social” policies the public most wants political parties to propose
Respondents most wanted parties to push policies reducing inequality in access to education — chosen by 133 people (64.3% of all respondents).
Next was reducing road accidents and deaths (37 people, 17.9%), followed by access to safe food (20 people, 9.7%).
Gender equality was chosen by 9 people (4.3%), and response to and management of infectious diseases came last with 8 people (3.9%). This suggests the public places high value on creating equal opportunity — particularly access to education, seen as a key foundation for sustainable social development.
From synthesized policy recommendations, respondents proposed 13 notable social/people-focused policies, including: addressing inequality and raising living standards; welfare safety nets to reduce climate-related risks for workers; ensuring all children access quality education; addressing child malnutrition; promoting fair, non-discriminatory laws; making cities and settlements safer; using technology for government budget transparency; free internet for low-income children; dignified end-of-life care for the elderly; reducing road accidents and deaths; improving maternal and child welfare; respecting ethnic rights; and accessible, affordable healthcare.
03 – “Environmental” policies the public most wants political parties to propose
Respondents most prioritized climate change response and adaptation policy — 71 people (34.3%).
Next was management of chemicals and waste affecting the environment (47 people, 22.7%), followed by building environmental resilience for the agricultural sector (36 people, 17.4%).
Disaster impact reduction was chosen by 28 people (13.5%), biodiversity protection by 13 people (6.3%), and coastal and marine conservation by 12 people (5.8%).
This reflects public perception that climate change response is the most urgent environmental challenge, one that should be elevated to a core national sustainable development policy — likely connected to recent disasters, particularly severe flooding across many areas of southern Thailand, which has heightened attention and expectations for concrete adaptation measures.
From synthesized recommendations, respondents proposed 10 notable environmental policies, including: legislation to manage and respond to climate change; recovery and support for disaster-affected people; tax measures to incentivize carbon reduction; transition to clean technology and energy; housing for coastal communities facing rising sea levels; building disaster-resilient cities; training emergency response personnel; recognizing community rights in ecosystem management; addressing PM2.5 dust pollution; and achieving zero ocean plastic waste.
04 – “Economic” policies the public most wants political parties to propose
Respondents most prioritized policies controlling the cost of living relative to income — 86 people (41.5%).
Next was sustainable economic growth (79 people, 38.2%), followed by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the economic sector (26 people, 12.6%).
Fair employment was chosen by 9 people (4.3%), and a just energy transition came last with 7 people (3.4%). This reflects that the public sees the cost of living as the most pressing economic issue requiring policy response, alongside driving economic growth.
From synthesized recommendations, respondents proposed 12 notable economic policies, including: promoting sustainable and safe food production; using technology to upgrade agriculture; promoting an “edible” green economy; state-driven income generation; resolving agricultural debt and supporting Young Smart Farmers; holding business owners accountable for environmental impact; establishing a universal Up-Skill/Re-Skill fund; guaranteeing agricultural product prices; fast and safe infrastructure construction; promoting eco-tourism; raising agricultural product prices; and supporting the creative economy.
05 – Conclusion
While the survey results cannot fully capture the sustainable development policy needs of the entire nation, the sample of respondents revealed several notable insights — most significantly, that “society and economy,” or livelihoods and wellbeing, remain the two areas respondents most expect to see managed and improved.
The survey also found that most proposed policies were closely tied to climate change and disasters — for example, social-dimension proposals calling for safety nets to reduce climate risk for workers and policies promoting safer settlements; environmental-dimension proposals for legal and procedural reform to manage climate change, along with support for vulnerable groups at risk from rising sea levels; and economic-dimension proposals promoting an “edible” green economy and holding businesses accountable for environmental impact — all aimed at reducing the root drivers of climate change.
As the new government implements policy after the election, it may need to take a broader view and better connect the relationships and impacts across these dimensions. In today’s era, Thai society faces multiple, overlapping challenges — meaning single-issue policy approaches may no longer be sufficient for adaptation.
The survey “Public Demand for Sustainable Development Policy — 2026 Election” ran January 9–22, 2026, open to the public, with 207 total respondents.
Gender:
| Gender | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 30% | 62 |
| Female | 63.3% | 131 |
| Non-binary / other gender identities | 5.3% | 11 |
| Prefer not to say | 1.4% | 3 |
Age range:
| Age | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 37.7% | 78 |
| 21–30 | 33.8% | 70 |
| 31–40 | 17.9% | 37 |
| 41–50 | 5.8% | 12 |
| 51–60 | 3.4% | 7 |
| Over 60 | 1.4% | 3 |
Region of residence:
| Region | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | 36.2% | 75 |
| North | 6.8% | 14 |
| Central | 24.2% | 50 |
| Northeast | 7.2% | 15 |
| East | 3.9% | 8 |
| West | 2.4% | 5 |
| South | 19.3% | 40 |
Authors — Atirut Duereh and By Praewphan Sirilert
Illustration — Wichanee Sendaeng
