Urban-Act supports Phuket in building climate-resilient city

The opening ceremony of the Urban-Act project kick-off event in Phuket led by Anchalee Tanwanich, an advisor on Town and Country Planning (fifth from left), Heinrich Gudenus, GIZ’s Urban-Act Project Director (fourth from left), and Samawit Supanpai, Deputy Governor of Phuket (centre), along with project implementing agencies, experts, and local leaders.
- The Urban-Act project kick-off in Phuket, one of the project’s pilot cities, marked a significant milestone in the pilot city’s journey towards becoming a climate-resilient city, focusing on enhancing evidence-based spatial and urban planning through policy interventions on green space, and cleaner transport systems.
- Phuket’s unique geography poses specific risks, such as severe flooding, water shortages and landslides. To tackle these issues, the Urban-Act project introduced impact chain analysis and climate risk mapping to assess urban infrastructure and water systems.
- Relevant local and national agencies discussed key challenges, including limited development funding and the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.
- The collective workshop proposed potential innovative solutions, like ‘sponge city’ designs to enhance water storage, and infrastructure measures to reduce the impacts of climate hazards.
Pilot cities and local climate action
At the heart of the Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon & Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) project is a focus on delivering tangible, on-the-ground results. Through its pilot projects, Urban-Act tests and implements climate-resilient solutions that can be scaled and applied to other urban areas.
Phuket is one of the pilot cities for the project, alongside Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. The project aims to create an enabling environment for Phuket to develop its own pathways for climate-sensitive urban development. This includes integrating climate risk considerations and relevant criteria into current planning policies and processes in Phuket, while also enhancing the capacity of the city and local stakeholders to address climate risks.

Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat warmly welcomes Heinrich Gudenus, Urban-Act Project Director, and project implementing team
On 28 October 2024, Heinrich Gudenus, GIZ’s Urban-Act project director, and his team met with Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and representatives from relevant local and national agencies to present an overview of the project, receive feedback, and exchange views. This included gathering insights on Phuket’s climate risks, which will be valuable for planning and implementing the project moving forward. The meeting provided valuable insights into Phuket’s climate hazards, such as the consequences of floods and droughts on urban systems, the future trends of urban growth in Phuket, the interaction between settlement areas and water retention areas and changes in land use. It also highlighted the associated impacts on urban public services, transport, and infrastructure networks, as well as budget limitations for addressing climate change.

A vision for sustainability
Phuket province, located in southern Thailand, is the largest island in the country and lies on the Andaman Sea. It boasts the second-largest provincial economy in Thailand, contributing a significant 1.5 trillion baht annually to the nation’s economy.
However, the island faces urgent challenges, including flooding, drought, excessive heat in residential areas, inadequate transport infrastructure, environmental pollution, and the effects of climate change.
Acknowledging these issues, Phuket is committed to aligning the city’s development with Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

During the opening ceremony on 29 October 2024, Samawit Supanpai, Deputy Governor of Phuket, highlighted the importance of addressing the impacts of climate change in Phuket, as these challenges contribute to various environmental issues in the city. Phuket is committed to integrating sustainable development practices into urban planning, along with focusing on waste and wastewater management, environmental degradation, and inefficient transport systems. These issues, which are worsening over time, are all closely interconnected to the effects of climate change.
With this vision, Phuket is setting the stage for a cleaner, greener, and more liveable city for residents and visitors alike.

Phuket pilot for climate action

Assoc. Prof. Wijitbusaba Marome, Director of the Urban Future and Policy Research Unit, Thammasat University, and Dr Kampanat Silva, Researcher from the Low-Carbon Energy Research Group, National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), presented an overview of the Urban-Act project.
To tackle challenges in environmental risk management and support Phuket’s efforts to improve its transport infrastructure, the Urban-Act work plan for Phuket emphasises mitigating climate risks. The focus includes addressing flooding, drought, and heat, and conducting short-term risk assessments to guide the development of effective policies and infrastructure improvements.
Existing studies underscore the urgency of addressing these pressing issues. However, implementing effective and sustainable solutions requires the establishment of a robust legal framework to support the necessary actions.
This initiative, therefore, offers a practical roadmap for addressing climate challenges and fostering climate-resilient urban development, while safeguarding the island’s natural beauty and economic vitality for generations to come. The goal is to transform Phuket into a sustainable destination by reducing pollution, expanding green space, and enhancing the wellbeing of both residents and visitors.
Pathways to low-carbon growth and resilient development for Phuket

A panel discussion on ‘Pathways to Developing Phuket as a Low-Carbon City and Climate-Resilient Hub’, held on 29 October 2024 featured representatives from key organisations, including the Phuket Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office; Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning; Thai Meteorological Department; Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation; and Phuket Chamber of Commerce, shared insights and strategies
In the panel discussion on Phuket’s climate future, key players shared their insights on low-carbon growth and resilience development pathways:
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Office emphasised that although tourism generates significant revenue, the budget for addressing climate change remains limited. The government underscored the importance of integrating climate considerations into urban development projects; initiatives such as the Urban-Act project are expected to support Phuket in tackling the island’s challenges.
The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy (OTP) discussed efforts to promote low-carbon transport, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and clean energy. Still, it noted the challenges posed by Phuket’s only major road connecting the airport to the city centre.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned that changing climate patterns, including the triple La Niña phenomenon, are causing rising temperatures, flooding, and drought. Risk maps for heat and flooding will help inform future urban and spatial planning.
In addition, the Phuket Office of Public Works and Town & Country Planning is working to secure funding for climate-resilient projects. Recent projects include: 1) an EV fleet, to be in place by December 2024, providing transport services for the general public, with free services for approximately 30,000 students and elderly people; 2) a rail system that connects the airport to the city centre, with expectations of foreign investment.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Thai Industry representatives stressed the importance of engaging the private sector in building resilient infrastructure, especially in flood-prone areas. They also called for better planning and consultation to ensure Phuket remains a sustainable, climate-friendly destination.
The panel clearly demonstrated the efforts to address these hurdles and emphasised collaboration to achieve tangible results.
Identifying hazards and risks to tackle climate risks with ‘sponge cities’ and sustainable solutions

Left: Anchalee Tanwanich, an advisor on Town and Country Planning, leads a team to inspect a landslide-prone area as part of climate risk assessments.; Right: Over 60 participants, including government officials, private developers, and local stakeholders, collaborate at the ‘Identifying Hazards and Risks’ workshop on 29 October 2024, to address provincial and city-level challenges.
This engaging workshop focused on identifying Phuket’s climate hazards and risks – particularly flood and drought. Experts combined flood and drought risk analyses, predicting worsening water-related problems due to urban expansion into flood-prone areas and extreme rainfall events.
Key discussions highlighted the need for more water storage to address predicted water shortages. Participants also explored and reflected on how flooding and drought impact transport, water supply, wastewater systems, and urban areas.
Solutions suggested included developing ‘sponge cities’ to maximise water retention in existing spaces and promoting more reliable mass transit, such as buses, to alleviate transport issues caused by these climate hazards.
The workshop also emphasised the growing interaction between floods and droughts and the associated risks from heavy rainfall, such as erosion in specific areas and inadequate infrastructure.
This key issue sparked discussions on local practices and expectations, and the integration of climate risk data into future development and urban planning. It also emphasised the inclusion of local communities, who are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Lastly, the private sector’s role in shaping Phuket’s infrastructure development is also crucial, particularly in addressing climate change in construction projects.
Next steps for a resilient Phuket
Phuket’s journey toward sustainability is well underway, but continued efforts are needed to bridge gaps in project financing and stakeholder engagement.
Moving forward, the Urban-Act project aims to work closely with local stakeholders including local government, civil society and the private sector to develop bankable projects that bridge financial gaps, and secure funding for climate-resilient initiatives, as well as identifying feasible solutions. Moreover, residents most vulnerable to climate impacts will be actively engaged in the planning discussions.
With determination and collaboration, by integrating policy, infrastructure, and community involvement, Phuket is not only addressing its immediate challenges but also paving the way for a sustainable, low-carbon future.
About Us
The Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) is a regional project funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). This regional project aims to support transformation towards low-carbon and resilient urban development in Asia-Pacific while also contributing to countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Urban-Act is implemented in China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Regional project partners include the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), the TU Dortmund and the University of Stuttgart, as well as national consortium partners in each of the five partner countries. The Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior (OPSI), Ministry of Interior (MoI) is the political partner in Thailand. The project is being implemented in Thailand from April 2022 to September 2026.
Heinrich Gudenus
Project director of Urban-Act
Email:heinrich.gudenus(at)giz.de