The change of global temperature or the so-called ‘Global Warming’ is a global crisis, affecting climate and ecology system across the globe, threatening livelihood and dampening social and economic development, especially in agricultural factor both directly and indirectly. Global warming is caused by the increase of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, resulting in the change of world temperature. Currently, world temperature has increased by 0.8 °C since the Industrial Revolution; it caused more and more serious natural calamities, viz. floods, draught and storm. 

In 2000, greenhouse gas emission in Thailand is of the following proportion: 70% from energy sector, 22.6% from agricultural sector and the rest from industrial sector, waste, land use and change in land use.

Global warming has serious implications for all aspects of the country: change in seasonal pattern, severer and more often natural calamities, deterioration of natural resources, change in pattern and occurrence of infectious diseases, including new and resurgent diseases. Thailand, as an agriculture-based economy, is heavily dependent on the abundance and fertility of natural resources. Global warming is the major threat to the achievement of sustainable development. 

On the natural rubber front, rubber plantation is among many solutions to reduce global warming. Apart from being a plant of economic importance which generates income for farmers, rubber is contributing to the increase of world greenery and oxygen, the conservation of environment, the reduction of deforestation and soil erosion. Rubber trees can absorb and retain carbon dioxide on a par with tropical rain forests. According to an experiment conducted by Rubber Research Institute of Thailand (Chachoengsao Chapter) during 2014-2015, it is found that 20-year old rubber trees have net ecosystem exchange of -6,496.24 kg CO₂ rai^-1, translating into carbon footprint of -6,496.24 kg CO₂ rai^-1. The experiment showed the lowest and highest rate of carbon dioxide emission of 9.917-10.045 ton CO₂ rai^-1 year^-1 in monsoon season and dry season respectively. It also showed the soil carbon accumulation rate of 2.704-2.739 ton CO₂ rai^-1 year^-1. It can be said that rubber trees can uptake carbon dioxide in their trunks and roots as well as increase carbon accumulation in the soil from falling leaves, branches and fruits, reducing carbon dioxide, which is a major greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Therefore, natural rubber is considered ‘Green Product’; and ecosystem in rubber plantation acts as a carbon sink, which uptakes carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and produces biomass in rubber plantation ecosystem.

The Thai Rubber Association sees the important role of natural rubber in reducing global warming in accordance with economic security, for the livelihood of farmers and ultimately for the sustainable development of the country.