On December 21st (Tuesday), 2021, at 1.00 P.M., Climate Change Strategy (CCS) Sub-division, Air and Quality and noise Management Division, Department of Environment (DOE), invited Mr. Wirat Manassanitwong, Director-General of Department of Environment (DOE) to be a chairman of the public hearing of the (draft) Bangkok Master Plan on Climate Change 2021 – 2030. In such opportunity, Ms. Woranuch Suaykakaow, BMA’s Deputy Director General of Department of Environment, JICA experts, representatives from governmental, private and educational sector, and civil society sector for more than 250 people also participated in the public hearing meeting through the online video conference at Meeting Room 1, Department of Environment, BMA City Hall 2 (Din Daeng) 

         Recognizing the significance of the impacts resulting from climate change issue, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has made an effort to tackle such problem in a continuous manner. BMA initiated to operate the Action Plan on Global Warming Mitigation 2007 – 2012 prior to being inherited by the implementation of the Bangkok Master Plan on Climate Change 2013 – 2023 which is the current issue. To ensure the implementation to be in line with Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Paris Agreement, BMA modified the time frame for the implementation of the new master Plan by starting from 2021 to 2030. The new Master Plan cover 5 sectors namely transportation, energy, waste management and wastewater treatment, green urban planning, and adaptation planning. For adaptation planning, measures was also adjustable in alignment with Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) by adding issues on agriculture and food security, public health, tourism, and human security and settlement. 

         The draft of the new Bangkok Master Plan on Climate Change was set up the target for GHG mitigation at least 19 per cent or 10.15 Mt-CO2e by 2030. Furthermore, the new Master Plan was adjustable to be in line with Thailand’s Climate Change Master Plan 2015 – 2050 and Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which are the framework for the implementation on climate change at the national level. By 2022, it is expected to be officially promulgated.

         As for the public hearing meeting, it was arranged for receiving the comments and feedbacks from relevant stakeholders through the online video conference. In such opportunity, all related sectors were able to exchange and share viewpoints and creative concepts on climate change issues as well as beneficial opinions from specific experts of each sector that can be adjustable for making the new Master Plan more holistic and complete. Additionally this new Master Plan is expected to be applied in a practical and effective manner resulting in the supreme benefits for Bangkok Metropolis and its citizens.