As I mentioned in a previous entry, the International Panel on Climate Change recently gathered in Bangkok to discuss the details of their report, which highlighted the effects of global warming, and strategies against it. French newspaper Agence France Presse reported today some of the after effects the summit had on the local government:
“Bangkok’s governor on Monday vowed to turn the Thai capital into a green city using clean energy and biofuel in an effort to help tackle global warming and make the metropolis more pleasant.
Galvanised by his recent trip to New York for a summit of large cities concerned with pollution, Governor Apirak Kosayodhin launched a five-year action plan starting this year to improve the city’s environment and lessen pollution.
Bangkok’s 5.5 million cars would be regularly checked for the level of carbon dioxide they emitted, he said, with heavy polluters made to improve.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had started working with gas stations to recycle used cooking oil into biodiesel, he said, with one station already equipped with the environmentally friendly fuel.
Waste management systems would also be improved as part of the plan, while buildings would be made to switch to more energy-efficient technologies, such as energy-saving lightbulbs.” (AFP: Bangkok launches green plan, 21 May 2007)
I was furthermore surprised to see that Bangkok adopted a version of Earth Hour on 10th May – I can’t believe I missed it! The Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies said,
“The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) kicked off Wednesday a campaign in the capital of 10 million to reduce impact of climate change with mixed responses.
Millions of lights across the metropolis were turned off by the capital’s observant world citizens for 15 minutes from 7 pm as part of a City Hall campaign to raise public awareness of the contribution of electric lighting to severe global warming. The event was designed to encourage the public to change lifestyles to help reduce an otherwise developing catastrophy.
However, the success of the campaign has yet to be confirmed. Many visitors and shopkeepers on Khao Sarn Road, one of five locations where the activities were broadcast live, knew little about the campaign.” (OAPNA: “Lights off” campaign in Bangkok combats global warming, 10 May 2007)
So it seems to event had the same effectiveness – and media response – to what was seen in Sydney. My main interest in Bangkok however is it’s link to the IPCC summit.
