LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT : A CASE STUDY OF MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM IN BANGKOK METROPOLITAN

Abstract

Sustainable transportation has been raised up into the mainstreaming of low carbon development and sustainable city frameworks since first recognized at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in the outcome document namely the Agenda 21. Nowadays, sustainable transport is one of the major approaches for the mega cities to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Bangkok Metropolitan is one of the cities in Asia where become more vulnerable areas to climate change impacts and unsustainable city patterns caused by urbanization, economic growth, high energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As results from inefficient public transport system, lack of land-use planning as well as lack of mobility management, Bangkok has more environmental, social and economic problems. In Thailand, the mass rapid transit (MRT) master plans have been developed as the key role in developing Bangkok Metropolitan toward low carbon and sustainable city, but there still lack of sustainable transportation concept applied in such plans. The objectives of the study are to study the current situation of transportation system and its impacts in Bangkok Metropolitan, and to propose low carbon development strategic model on sustainable transport toward sustainable and low carbon city. This research was designed as exploratory research applying a qualitative research methods consisting of 1) desk reviews of international, national, and local policies and relevant documents which related to sustainable development, sustainable transport, low carbon city, and mass rapid transit system; and 2) in-depth semi-structured stakeholder interviews were conducted with key respondents that classified into six stakeholder groups; namely governmental agencies, mass rapid transit operators, consulting companies, international organizations, non-profit organizations, and experts. Multiple viewpoints of different key stakeholder groups were analyzed and presented in the form spider charts which somewhat useful for the inductive analysis processes. The research found that policy and institutional elements issues are major challenges for implementing low carbon development strategy for sustainable transport and low carbon city; including inconsistency of policy and plan, lack of stakeholder involvement and buy-in, lack of readiness in data, human resources, technology and finance, and ineffective regulations enforcement. The proposed model highlighted the major factors and supplemental key elements composing of institution, technical and human capacity development, institutional framework and stakeholder mapping, policy setting, process integration and inclusive plans, as well as plan of implementation with concrete and continuity action plan and implementation. These would support effective strategic process for low carbon development strategy on sustainable transport and low carbon city. The study would highly recommend that both inter- and intra-connecting networks of the MRT systems as well as the transit oriented development for developing inclusive and effective transport systems need to be strongly taken into account. In addition, a high-level participation and a clear direction of the governmental policies also need strongly support in achieving sustainable transport towards low carbon city development processes.