Case Studies on Low Emission Development

This case study describes Thailand's 'Low Carbon City' initiative, a systematic approach developed by the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) to help local governments reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It focuses on the pilot implementation in Muangklang Municipality, detailing the nine-step process used to identify emission sources, set voluntary reduction targets, and implement mitigation measures across sectors such as waste, transport, and agriculture.

• The Royal Thai Government is implementing a national strategy to transition toward a low carbon society, supported by the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012-2016) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s National Master Plan on Climate Change (2011-2050). These policies prioritize climate change mitigation and include the development of a carbon fund, a GHG registry, and carbon markets.
• The Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), with academic support from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, established a nine-step process for localities to become low carbon cities. This process involves surveying activities, preparing GHG inventories, identifying and selecting mitigation technologies, projecting emissions under 'business as usual' (BAU) and mitigation scenarios, setting targets, and creating and implementing action plans.
• Muangklang Municipality in Rayong province served as a pilot for the Low Carbon City approach. The municipality established a 2010 baseline GHG inventory covering agriculture and forestry, industry, transportation, waste, and commercial and residential buildings. Based on this, Muangklang set voluntary targets to reduce per capita emissions by 100 kgCO2e annually (5%) within five years and by 200 kgCO2e annually (10%) within 10 years.
• Muangklang implemented sector-specific mitigation measures, including the installation of a municipal waste separation belt to reduce landfill methane and the construction of a municipal rice mill to reduce transport emissions. Other measures included promoting 'Energy Label No.5' products for buildings, converting public fleets to biofuels and natural gas, and increasing public park areas to reduce motorcycle use.
• The Muangklang pilot demonstrated that communicating the co-benefits of GHG mitigation is critical for stakeholder engagement. For example, the waste separation belt is projected to avoid 448.4 tCO2e over 10 years while lowering disposal costs by 312,500 baht and generating revenue from recyclables. The municipal rice mill is expected to avoid at least 61.6 tCO2e from transport while increasing food security and income for small-scale farmers.
• Success in the Low Carbon City initiative depends on supportive national policies, the political will of local leaders, the involvement of diverse local stakeholders, and the demonstration of tangible co-benefits to compel action.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2013). Case Studies on Low Emission Development. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Asia-LEDS-Partnership-Case-Study-Thailand-Low-Carbon-City-Initiative-March-2013.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Case Studies on Low Emission Development. 2013. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Asia-LEDS-Partnership-Case-Study-Thailand-Low-Carbon-City-Initiative-March-2013.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Case Studies on Low Emission Development |date=February 2013 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Asia-LEDS-Partnership-Case-Study-Thailand-Low-Carbon-City-Initiative-March-2013.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2013case, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Case Studies on Low Emission Development}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2013}, month = feb, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Asia-LEDS-Partnership-Case-Study-Thailand-Low-Carbon-City-Initiative-March-2013.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }