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Chom Chaiyabut, Thailand

From Village Roots to Global Voice

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Rooted in land, moved to protect it

Chom grew up in Thailand’s culturally diverse southern border provinces,
where Thai Muslims, Buddhists, and ethnic Chinese communities live
side by side. Raised by his grandmother in Songkhla, he spent his life
close to nature—working in agriculture and staying connected to the forests,
rivers, and coastlines that shaped his identity.After witnessing
environmental destruction elsewhere, he returned home with a mission
—restoring local ecosystems and inspiring others to help protect their
shared land.

A citizen’s voice at the Global Assembly

In 2021, Chom was selected to join the first Global Citizens’ Assembly. Though
he had never travelled abroad and spoke no English, he embraced the
opportunity—representing Thailand and delivering part of the People’s
Declaration at COP26.

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I was nervous. I never imagined someone like me could be part of something so international. But the Assembly welcomed everyone. It didn’t matter where you came from or how much you’d studied. Everyone’s voice mattered.

Local leadership, global connection

Since returning from COP26, Chom has expanded his environmental efforts with more community
support than ever before.

Restoring Nature – Chom continues to lead reforestation efforts and
protect local waterways to prevent drought and erosion. 
Mobilising Others – His actions have inspired neighbours to take
ownership of environmental care in their own backyards. 
Spreading Awareness – Through workshops, word of mouth, and
partnership with local leaders, Chom shares what he learned globally  
with his community.

People used to say I was just one person. Now they<br>see the change, and they want to be part of it.

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Legacy & future impact

Chom’s work shows how climate leadership can begin with a single person who chooses to act. His
journey from a small village to the global stage proves that citizen action matters—and that deep
local knowledge can help shape international decisions. For Chom, it’s not just about saving forests—
it’s about inspiring others to believe they can shape the future too.

Today, we are just a few hundred Assembly members. Tomorrow, we may be thousands, even millions. When this becomes a mass movement, the world will have to listen.

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Watch Chom’s story

A New era of global
 governance starts here

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