As global sustainability efforts pick up steam, Bangkok is taking strides in redefining its environmental agenda under the stewardship of Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Shifting focus from the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative that his predecessors initiated, the governor is now pushing forward with an even more ambitious vision.
Mr. Chadchart aims to create what he calls a “15-minute city” where residents can access green spaces within a short stroll. This plan involves adding 130 parks and doubling the original tree-planting goal to two million trees by 2026, a significant leap after Bangkok successfully hit its initial target of one million trees within just two years.
“The first thing he did when he came into office was he went to a park and planted the first tree,” says Pornphrom Vikitsreth, the BMA’s Chief of Sustainability and advisor to the governor.
Thailand faces a slew of environmental problems, including rampant deforestation, diminishing biodiversity, and escalating soil erosion. Urban centers like Bangkok also battle severe air pollution due to traffic congestion and industrial emissions, severely impacting residents’ health. The waste management system is under immense stress, with increasing plastic waste further polluting land and water ecosystems.
With a population of 10 million and some of the smallest per capita green spaces in Asia, Bangkok often struggles with the perception of being overcrowded. Enhancing green spaces is crucial to making the city more appealing to expatriates and competitive against neighboring cities like Singapore.
Transitioning from Green Bangkok 2030, which aligns with the Paris Agreement’s emission goals, the governor now aims to champion the “15-minute park” concept—creating pocket parks in underserved areas to guarantee that every resident has equitable access to green spaces.
“Parks are a smaller investment with big gains,” Mr. Pornphrom notes.
The “15-minute city” concept ensures that residents can walk to essential amenities like schools, malls, restaurants, and, of course, green spaces within a quarter of an hour. Parks are the linchpin of this vision in Bangkok. Instead of creating one or two large parks annually, the plan now prioritizes numerous smaller pocket parks to ensure fair distribution and access.
Mr. Pornphrom elaborates that selecting a new park’s location involves a meticulous process:
- Analyse the Need: Conduct a thorough analysis to determine if a new park is needed, especially in densely populated areas near community centers.
- Engage the Community: Set up a circle of chairs on the identified land and invite residents for a discussion on their needs, asking them, “What do you want?”
- Design Based on Input: Tailor the park’s design based on community feedback, incorporating features such as playgrounds, trails, outdoor gyms, or benches to meet local needs.
“We want to get them to come and be a part of the process from the beginning,” he says. “And then once the park is open, they feel like they are the owner.”
The work doesn’t stop once the park opens. These green spaces need regular users to help maintain them and ensure their security. Mr. Pornphrom hopes locals will view these parks as extensions of their own backyards.
“We have to be more inventive when we don’t have the land,” he adds. Finding space for pocket parks in a city teeming with condominiums has been a challenge. Creative solutions include reimagining areas under expressways, converting concrete spaces into greenery, repurposing parts of parking lots, and partnering with local schools to open their grounds to the public after hours.
Trees and green spaces are vital for physical and mental well-being, enhancing air quality, aiding in carbon sequestration and drainage, providing shade from the intense heat, and most importantly, making cities more livable for everyone, Mr. Pornphrom says.
Ensuring the survival of trees has been bolstered by a new policy to introduce 50 arborists to the city. These specialists, also known as tree doctors, focus on assessing and maintaining the overall health of trees instead of just performing routine maintenance. In 2022, Bangkok had only one such arborist, but the current administration has boosted this number to 15, with plans for ongoing training and certification to expand the team further.
To ensure the parks are of high quality, they have implemented quality checks to assess the vitality of these green spaces. “People are very happy they voted for the new governor,” Mr. Pornphrom says. “They feel more free.”
While Gov. Chadchart’s vision is commendable, I feel doubling the tree-planting goal might be unrealistic. Bangkok’s dense urban setting offers limited space for such immense green projects.
Emily, have a little faith! Innovative solutions like converting unused spaces can make this achievable. It’s about creative utilization.
Mark, I appreciate your optimism, but we’re talking about 2 million trees! There’s also the question of water resources and maintenance.
Emily raises an important point. Sustainability needs to be balanced with feasibility. Bangkok needs comprehensive planning if this dream is to become a reality.
I agree with Emily. The heatwave and droughts could make it even more challenging to maintain these green spaces.
I’m thrilled with the idea of pocket parks! More green spaces amidst the concrete jungle can only be a good thing.
Redirecting public spaces like schoolgrounds for green initiatives is a genius approach. It fosters a sense of community ownership.
I hear you, Sara, but there are liability issues concerning public access to school properties. Who covers the insurance?
Jake, that’s a valid concern. Partnerships with local businesses could provide the necessary funds for insurance.
Is it really practical to have parks under expressways? Wouldn’t that still expose people to pollution from traffic?
Interesting point, Alex. Pocket parks under expressways aren’t ideal, but it’s better than no green space at all. They could use air-purifying plants.
True, but we need to think about the long-term health impacts. Maybe those areas could be turned into community centers instead?
Alex, Mary J., adaptive reuse like this isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s practical urban solving for limited space. Besides, any greenery improves air quality.
Finally a leader who listens! Community engagement in park planning ensures the spaces cater to actual needs.
Yeah, but how often do politicians follow through on community feedback? This sounds like another PR move.
Fair concern, Pete. However, increased transparency and community involvement could change that. The process is just as important as the end product.
Let’s give Chadchart a chance. Small steps like these can lead to bigger changes.
Introducing more arborists is a smart move. Maintaining tree health is essential for the sustainability of this project.
With Bangkok’s overcrowding, the 15-minute city concept sounds utopian. Nice in theory but tough in practice.
James, I think that level of skepticism is unwarranted. Many cities globally have successfully implemented the 15-minute concept.
Sure, Sophie, but there’s a huge difference in infrastructure between those cities and Bangkok.
More green spaces are great, but what about tackling traffic congestion and industrial pollution directly?
I think this initiative can help reduce heat effects in Bangkok. Trees significantly lower temperatures.
Perhaps other cities should take note. Urban greenspaces have so many mental and physical health benefits.
What about funding? How will Bangkok finance these parks and hire more arborists?
Ray, they could look into public-private partnerships or even international green grants.
Good point, Eco4Life, but relying on external funding could also mean losing some control over the projects.
This sounds like a lot of political fluff. I’ve seen other initiatives like this fall flat in the past.
Susan, you might be right, but we can’t just disregard positive plans because of past failures.
This green initiative might just give Bangkok the competitive edge it needs compared to cities like Singapore.
I love the idea of making parks feel like an extension of people’s backyards. It could really improve quality of life.
I think the involvement of arborists is crucial. It’s not just about planting trees but ensuring they thrive.