- Department of Climate Change and Environment and TGC EMC project co-host ‘Sustainable City Network Workshop’ for local authorities as part of Sustainable Environmental City project
- Local authorities learn to identify domestic challenges and create innovative solutions through ‘Design Thinking’ principles
- ‘City Lab’ case studies and panel of local authorities, policymakers and financiers emphasise need for collaborative efforts in supporting cities to use innovations to achieve low-carbon city goals
From 27-29 August 2024, the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the Thai-German Cooperation on Energy, Mobility and Climate (TGC EMC) project, organised the Sustainable City Network Workshop, entitled ‘Becoming a Low-Carbon City: Decarbonised Transport’ at the Prince Palace Hotel Bangkok, where local administrative authorities in the DCCE’s Sustainable Environmental City project gathered to share their experience in urban environment management and learn from others in the network.
This event welcomed more than 90 representatives from local administrative organisations and provincial environment and natural resources offices from over 20 provinces across Thailand. The workshop allowed participants to enhance their understanding, exchange knowledge and pass along innovations in the field of urban environment management and climate change. It also strengthened their networks and devised activities that help drive sustainability work in urban areas. Additionally, the TGC EMC project had the opportunity to explore potential pilot areas for the implementation of transport decarbonisation solutions for its City Lab activity.
Dr Dominika Kalinowska, Director of the TGC EMC project, emphasised the urgency of decarbonisation efforts in the transport sector, incorporating innovative solutions and integrating with all sectors to address existing challenges as key success factors. “The TGC EMC project has established the ‘City Lab’ as a vital platform for developing, testing and scaling innovative solutions to address transport-related challenges while promoting sustainable, low-carbon transport systems,” she said.
Following a report on the climate situation and the significance of working towards a sustainable future by Uma Srisuk, Director of Participation Promotion in the Climate Change and Environment Division, DCCE, Dr Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Director General of Department of Climate Change and Environment, highlighted the impact of climate change that Thailand is facing, and the damage that the country has consequently suffered. Additionally, he stressed that transport was an important sector to tackle as one of the main contributors, and encouraged the continuation of the city’s efforts in fostering sustainability locally with the help of innovations.
Furthermore, Papondhanai Nanthachatchavankul, Senior Advisor of TGC EMC project, spoke on the topic of ‘Decarbonisation and Sustainable Transport’, where he illustrated the connection between transport and emissions, the ‘Avoid-Shift-Improve’ principle and domestic emissions mitigation plans in the transport sector.
After that, participants were introduced to ‘Design Thinking’ in a half-day session where they learnt and practiced the principles in the context of transport. They were asked to think about transport challenges in their own areas before identifying the stakeholders, pinpointing the problems, exploring the root causes and creating solutions. The session produced keen engagement and valuable reflections from participants.
On the last day, the workshop focused on innovation adoption. In a presentation on the topic of ‘Driving Innovation Adoption for Low Carbon and Sustainable City in Thailand and other Countries: Case Study’, Dr Wisawat Keaswejjareansuk, an expert from the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), spoke about successful cases of implementing the City Lab concept abroad (including in Beijing, Pennsylvania and Jeju) to showcase its feasibility and practicality. Next, Somporn Meaungthong, Sanitation Technical Officer, Professional Level, Hat Yai City Municipality, shared the city’s work in the transport sector on shaping Hat Yai into a Green Smart City through the promotion of EVs, EV conversion and active mobility, while Trinnawat Suwanprik, Coordinator for Chiang Mai Smart and Innovation City, Chiang Mai City Municipality, talked about that city’s experience in utilising innovative transport solutions to mitigate emissions and improve air quality through their Chiang Mai City Lab project to become a low-carbon city.
Finally, the event featured a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Innovation Adoption and Driving Mechanisms for Low Carbon and Sustainable City Development’. The panellists had exchanges on the need to strengthen the comprehensive support mechanism for forging the integration of innovations into city management from the perspectives of the cities themselves, governmental policies, domestic sources of finance and international funding opportunities, with the aim of enhancing decarbonisation efforts at the local level where the root causes may lie.
The workshop reinforced local authorities’ capacity with new principles to analyse the local gaps (especially in the transport sector) and underlined the benefits of using innovation and technology in the city’s sustainable development plan. Decarbonisation at the local level is crucial and can contribute to the national endeavours to mitigate emissions and reach the target of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) under Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the TGC EMC project supports Thailand’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. Through its five components – Renewable Energy, Transport, Decarbonisation in Industry, Biomass, and Climate Finance, TGC EMC facilitates technology transfer, policy development, and business model innovation.
Dr Dominika Kalinowska
TGC EMC Project Director
Email: dominika.kalinowska(at)giz.de
