Thai-German Knowledge Exchange Session on “Climate resilience and low-carbon development of cities: approaches, synergies, and trade-offs”

GIZ collaborated with the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) under the Urban-Act project to organise a Thai-German Knowledge Exchange Session on “Climate resilience and low-carbon development of cities: approaches, synergies, and trade-offs” on 4 March 2024 at the DPT, Rama 9.

The objective of the session was to exchange work experiences, collaborate on driving urban development initiatives, and integrate climate change considerations into practical operations. This discussion aimed to promote knowledge exchange among urban planners, experts in urban planning in Thailand, and researchers and experts from Germany.

During the session, the two experts from the University of Stuttgart shared their initial research approach and lessons learnt from Germany’s case studies. They shared insights on climate-resilient plans, risk and vulnerability assessments, and the integration of transport planning to achieve sustainable urban development. The session underlined the crucial interaction between land use and mobility planning, emphasising a people-centric approach from the policy framework to case studies at the city level in Stuttgart and the national level in Germany.

Understanding the Climate Crisis and Integrated Urban Planning
Dr Ali Jamshed, an esteemed academic from the Institute of Spatial and Regional Planning presented the implications of the climate crisis for urban centres, as well as the importance of risk and vulnerability assessments in developing climate-resilient plans and prioritising adaptation measures.

He emphasised that proactive measures to reduce risks from the impacts of climate change and to build resilience and adaptability in various urban areas are urgently needed and should be prioritised. The flooding events in the Ahr Valley in Germany in 2021 serve as a notable example highlighting the importance of recovery efforts that consider both mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Research suggests that adaptation options such as settlement retreat and relocation of critical infrastructure can help reduce the risk from climate change’s impact while also taking the needs of the population into account after an extreme event.

Development approaches aimed at preparing for and building resilience to the impacts of climate change, integrating both adaptation and mitigation measures, were discussed and exchanged between Thai urban planners and German researchers. The dialogue focused in particular on the current monitoring and evaluation system and the possibility of considering climate-related factors in the existing process of Thai spatial and urban planning under the overarching goal of the current Town Planning Act B.E.2562 (2019).

Integrating Transport Planning: Germany’s Approach
Prof. Markus Friedrich, Institute for Road, and Transport Planning, discussed “Networks for More Sustainable and Resilient Transport”. He highlighted its alignment with the political objective of providing equivalent living conditions for all citizens. He outlined the hierarchical structure of spatial and transport planning, emphasising (1) the role of development plans in supporting transport infrastructure decisions at national, state, and regional levels; (2) the importance of national sources in providing spatial data for planning purposes; and (3) the concept of central places in spatial planning and how accessibility to these places is evaluated using indicators such as trip time and service quality including, for example, reliability, punctuality, security and comfort. These showcases led to a fruitful exchange between town planners, transport engineering experts from DPT and German researchers.

The comparative approach between Thailand and Germany as well as further steps in identifying entry points to practically mainstreaming climate-related into current practices was highlighted as a key discussion topic.

Mapping Our Journey Towards Climate-Resilient, Low-Carbon Cities
This hybrid session allowed 100 participants from DPT, GIZ and representatives from Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University as project-implementing partners to explore the nuances of sustainable transport planning in greater detail and through hands-on practice in Germany to determine the feasibility of applying and utilising the research approach and the city mobility and transportation analysis design model appropriate to Thailand’s context.

In closing, speakers reiterated the importance of collaborative action in advancing urban sustainability agendas. By fostering partnerships between academia, government, and civil society, cities can harness collective expertise to address pressing urban challenges.

Distinguished representatives from the DPT, including Anchalee Tanwanich, DPT’s Advisor on Town and Country Planning, stressed that such knowledge exchanges provide a vital opportunity to develop the expertise of the DPT’s personnel, aiming to create proactive work strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“The DPT’s critical reflection and perspective on this collaborative knowledge-sharing experience will ensure Urban-Act can adjust and fine-tune the research and technical support from the university teams during our joint implementation,” said Heinrich Gudenus, Urban-Act project director.

The Urban-Act project is committed to participating in the journey towards creating a sustainable urban future by promoting knowledge exchange on climate change within the context of urban development. It supports academic endeavours by providing urban development agencies with tools and guidelines to facilitate proactive measures to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This initiative aims to support the transition towards low-carbon and resilient urban development, both in Thailand and across the Asia-Pacific region.

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