case study - global warming mitigation

8/3/2019 CASE STUDY - Global Warming Mitigation

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CASE STUDY : BANGKOK METROPOLITAN ADMINISTRATION ± Action Plan On

Global Warming Mitigation 2007-2012

According to the Fourth Assessment Report by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate

Change,continued greenhouse gas emissions at or above current rates will cause further

warming and induce many changes in the global climate system during the 21st century that

would very likely be larger than those observed during the 20th century. Global warming is now

recognized as a serious threat to human civilization.

Even though Thailand is not bound to international commitments to reduce greenhouse gasses

(GHG) emissions, such as mandated for developed countries in the Kyoto Protocol under United

Nations Framework on Convention for Climate Change, The Bangkok Metropolitan

Administration believes it nonetheless must begin to take action to reduce its contribution to the

global warming problem. GHG emission levels from the Bangkok metropolitan area are relatively

high when compared to other large cities even those in developed countries. Therefore, the

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is initiating its own Action Plan to reduce GHG emissions

from the city and to take part in the global effort to mitigate global warming problems.

City Estimeted CO2 emission

(million ton p.a.

Estimated population

(million)

Estimated CO2 emission

per capita

(ton per capita p.a.)

San Diego 13 2.9 4.5

Tokyo 71 12.4 5.7

London 44 7.5 5.9

Bangkok 42.65 6.0 7.1

New York 58 8.2 7.1

Toronto 24 2.5 9.6San Francisco 8 0.7 11.4

Table 1: Comparison of GHG emission of Bangkok and other major cities



GHG Emissions Inventory:

The Bangkok Metropolitan area, being Thailand¶s major center for socio-economic activities,

consumes approximately 29,200 GWh of electricity annually, which is equivalent to 14.86 million

tons of CO2 emissions. Additionally, transportation in Bangkok is dominated by the use of CO2

producing vehicles. The Department of Energy Business, Ministry of Energy, estimates that

Bangkok¶s transportation sector consumes approximately 28 million litters of gasoline per day,

which is equivalent to approximately 21.18 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. Combined,

energy and transportation are responsible for 84% of Bangkok¶s GHG emissions. Methane from

solid waste landfill and wastewater is another source of GHG emissions in Bangkok, estimated

at 1.13 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually or 3 percent of total emissions. The remaining 13

percent of Bangkok¶s GHG emissions, from miscellaneous sources such as rice fields, canals,

etc., totals 5.58 million tons of CO2 equivalents annually.

Sector CO2 emission

(million ton p.a.)

%

Electricity 14.86 34

Transportation 21.18 50

Waste 1.13 3

Other sources 5.58 13

Total 42.75 100

Table 2: GHG emission in Bangkok by sectors

As of 2007, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration manages approximately 1,900 ha of park

area, including at least 3 million trees. These trees, together with trees on private land, should

be able to absorb CO2 on the order of 0.1 million tons per year. This equates to net GHG

emissions in Bangkok of 42.65 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year. The Bangkok

Metropolitan Administration, well aware of the city¶s high GHG emissions from various activities,

has taken initial steps to pioneer for Thailand strategies that address future GHG emissions. The

activities laid out in this Action Plan consists of 5 initiatives targeted at reducing Bangkok¶s total

GHG emission in the year 2012 by 15% below business as usual (BAU) projections.



Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Declaration of Cooperation on Alleviating

Global Warming Problems ± An initial initiative for global warming mitigation:

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration¶s initial action to address the need for long term global

warming mitigation strategies involved hosting a meeting with organizations and agencies from

both the private and public sectors to set guidelines for collaboration on addressing global

warming problems.

On 9 May 2007 at the United Nation¶s Building in Bangkok, 36 organizations jointly signed the

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration¶s Declaration of Cooperation on Alleviating Global

Warming Problems. The declaration highlighted 5 strategies to mitigate global warming:

1. Reduce energy consumption and maximize efficiencies in resource utilization in all activities to

minimize global impacts;

2. Promote and support all sectors and stakeholders to jointly reduce GHG emissions;

3. Promote the sufficiency economy lifestyle to prepare for, and adapt to, global warming;

4. Promote and support activities that lead to GHG absorption;

5. Promote and support activities that continuously work to mitigate global warming by building

public awareness and knowledge.

Following the declaration¶s signing, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration organized

campaigning events on the 9th day of each month to raise popular awareness among

Bangkokians of global warming concerns, and how they can take part in reducing the city¶s GHG

emissions.

9 May 2007, ³Stop! Warming-up Bangkok´: a campaign to encourage the people of Bangkok

along 5 major roads to turn-off electric lights for 15 minutes from 19:00-19:15hrs. This activity

reduced CO2 emission by 143 tons.

9 June 2007, ³Using Compact Fluorescent Lamps´: a campaign to encourage the people of

Bangkok to change their incandescent light bulbs to energy-saving, compact fluorescent bulbs.

A pilot action was organized at one of Bangkok¶s major marketplaces, where 1,100 light bulbs

were changed. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration plans to replicate this at 192 other



Bangkok marketplaces, switching more than 44,000 bulbs. This activity will result in the

reduction of 8,000 tons of CO2 annually.

9 July 2007, ³Stopping Engines While Parking´: a campaign to encourage passenger car

drivers to turn off their engine when parked. If 5.5 million drivers in Bangkok turn off their

automobile engines for 5 minutes each day, CO2 emission will be reduced by 260,975 tons

annually.

9 and 12 August 2007, ³Planting Trees´: a campaign to encourage the people of Bangkok to

plant trees on Her Majesty the Queen¶s birthday. On that day, the Governor of Bangkok, Mr.

Apirak Kosayodhin, planted the 3,000,000th tree in Bangkok. When fully grown, these trees will

absorb 27,000 tons CO2 annually.

9 September 2007, ³Using Cloth Bags in Place of Plastic´: a campaign to encourage the

people of Bangkok to use reusable cloth bags when shopping, instead of accepting single-use

plastic bags from vendors.

9 October 2007, ³Reduce Garbage´: a campaign to encourage the people of Bangkok to be

mindful of their consumption and the solid waste it generates, and also to separate solid waste

for ease of recycling. Additionally, the campaign also encourages the appropriate disposal of household hazardous waste.

This Bangkok Metropolitan Administration¶s Declaration of Cooperation on Alleviating Global

Warming Problems has led to the establishment of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration¶s

Action Plan on Global Warming Mitigation. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration drafted an

initial plan for public comments, which were collected through interviews as well as through

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration¶s website. Academics and experts from various disciplines

then used the information collected to analyze the draft plan¶s appropriateness, feasibility andpotential effectiveness toward reducing GHG emissions. This final Bangkok Metropolitan

Administration Action Plan on Global Warming Mitigation contains 5 initiatives:

Initiative 1: Expand mass transit and improve traffic systems

Initiative 2: Promote the use of renewable energy



Initiative 3: Improve electricity consumption efficiency

Initiative 4: Improve solid waste management and waste water treatment efficiency

Initiative 5: Expand park areas

The Action Plan is aimed at bringing about, over the next five years, a 15 percent reduction in

Bangkok's GHG emissions below currently projected 2012 emission levels.



Initiative 1: Expand mass transit and improve traffic system

Traffic problem in Bangkok tremendously affect people¶s well being, causing both physical and

mental stress. Environmental impacts from Bangkok traffic are also significant, with GHG

emissions in the form of CO2 of approximately 21.18 million tons per year. Simulations by the

Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), Ministry of Transport, using the

Extended Bangkok Urban Model (eBUM), estimate that Bangkok¶s transportation sector¶s CO2

emissions could exceed 25 million tons per year in 2012.

Objective: Reduce CO2 emission from vehicle traffic

Action plan 1: Expand the mass transit rail system within the Bangkok metropolitan area Aims

to encourage passenger car drivers to utilize public transportation.

Action plan 2: Improve public bus system

Aims to encourage passengers and car drivers to utilize public transportation.

Action plan 3: Improve traffic system

Increase the efficiency of Bangkok¶s traffic system by improving the road network, including

constructing flyover bridge and underpass tunnels in order to reduce congestion and emissions.

Action plan under consideration: Zone Pricing

By defining a zone within central Bangkok for implementing a pricing scheme, or ³Bangkok

Central License´, an important step could be taken toward limiting the number of cars

commuting into the inner city area. This action would lead to a significant reduction of CO2

emission. However, this is a delicate issue necessitating a more detailed feasibility study.



Initiative 2: Promote the use of renewable energy

Renewable energy, such as biofuels, is considered a means to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions. Biofuels and other forms of renewable energy aim to be carbon neutral. This means

that the carbon released during the use of the fuel, e.g. through combustion to power transport

or to generate electricity, is reabsorbed and balanced by the carbon absorbed by new plant

growth. These plants are then harvested to make the next batch of fuel. Carbon neutral fuels

lead to no net increases in atmospheric CO2 levels, meaning global warming need not worsen.

Objective: The action plan and activities under this initiative aim to increase the

proportion of biofuels usage.

Action plan 1: Promote the use of biofuels

Activity 1: Promote the use of gasohol

Activity 2: Promote the use bio-diesel

Other supporting activities:

Campaign for use of low carbon emission petroleum fuel ± use of liquefied gas, e.g. CNG.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration facilitating the buying and collecting of used cooking oil

for refining bio-diesel.

Action plan under consideration: Biomass Power Plant



Initiative 3: Improve building electricity consumption efficiency

Electric power consumption in public building as well as private household in Bangkok is

estimated at approximately 29,200 GWh per year, which is primarily used for air conditioning

and lighting. This level of consumption generates approximately 14.86 million tons of CO2

emissions annually. The GHG emission from this sector could grow up to 16 million tons per

year by the end of 2012 if no efforts are undertaken to control electricity consumption. A

campaign by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration targeted at less electricity consumption,

however, will directly reduce future GHG emission. This plan¶s five-year estimate of the

effectiveness of such electricity conservation measures are derived from the Energy

Conservation Measures Guidance for New Buildings Code by the Energy Policy and Planning

Office, Ministry of Energy.

Objective: The action plans and activities under this initiative aim to reduce electricity

usage in Bangkok

Action plan 1: Improve building energy consumption efficiency

Action plan 2: Electricity conservation campaign for Bangkokians

Initiative 4: Improve solid waste management and wastewater treatment Efficiency

Solid waste and wastewater contribute to GHG emissions through the release of methane during

the decomposition process of organic matter. Higher efficiency in solid waste and wastewater

management will lead to reductions in methane emission.

Objective: The action plans and activities under this initiative aim to increase efficiencies

in solid waste management and waste water treatment

Action plan 1: Increase efficiency in solid waste managementThis action plan will base on the 3Rs concept ± Reduce / Reuse / Recycle

Action plan 2: Increase efficiency in wastewater treatment

Action plan under consideration: Waste-to-Energy Project



Initiative 5: Expand park area

Trees absorb CO2 through the photosynthesis process, causing CO2 to be stored in their wood

fiber. On average as much as 9 kg of CO2 per tree per year can be absorbed. Increasing the

number of trees in parks and in other areas in Bangkok is a direct response to the need for

global warming mitigation. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has been well aware of the

significant role that parks and trees can play, thus works continuously to expand park areas in

the city.

Objective: The action plans and activities under this initiative aim to increase the number

of trees for CO2 absorption

Action plan 1: Plant trees in the Bangkok metropolitan area

Action plan 2: Plant trees in the neighboring province areas



Summary:

GHG emissions in Bangkok will increase significantly if the current socio-economic conditions

are maintained per business-as-usual (BAU) assumptions. It is expected that future net GHG

emission in Bangkok could grow from 42.65 million tons CO2 equivalent per year now, to as high

as 48.69 million tons CO2 equivalent by the year 2012. The Bangkok Metropolitan

Administration¶s target is to reduce future GHG emission by at least 15% through the

implementation of activities under the preceding 5 initiatives. These actions, if implement

properly, would yield total net GHG emissions in the year 2012 of 38.94 million tons CO2

equivalent, approximately 20% below BAU projections and better than Bangkok Metropolitan

Administration¶s targets prior to the development of this Action Plan.

As the city¶s top GHG emitter, the transportation sector will be the most important sector to

contribute to reductions in Bangkok¶s future GHG emissions. This Action Plan intends to take

advantage of the transportation sector¶s potential for significant emissions¶ reductions by

implementing an expanded and improved mass transit system that draws drivers out of their

cars, developing a more efficient road network that reduces the length of time vehicles spend on

Bangkok¶s roads, and initiating a campaign to support the increased use of bio-fuels. Electricity

consumption represents another major sector that will play a key role in Bangkok¶s global

warming mitigation plan. To be successful, the implementation of this Action Plan on Global

Warming Mitigation by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will require full support fromevery stakeholder, particularly the people of Bangkok.

case study - global warming mitigation

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