Abstract
Cities are one of the key contributors to the environment and sustainability. This study aims to quantify citywide energy-related CO2 emissions and assess the sustainability feasibility of implementing climate change mitigation policies in Chiang Mai, Thailand. By employing the GPC method, it was found that the average energy-related CO2 emission in Chiang Mai from 2015 to 2019 was 2,146,060 tCO2eq. Residences, industries (i.e., food preservation industries), and commercial and governmental buildings were the top three energy consumption-related GHG emitters. According to the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), in terms of mitigation measures, LED lighting presented the highest score (0.380), followed by improving air conditioning efficiency (0.278), and the use of energy-efficient appliances (0.203). Energy-efficient technologies would be more feasible than the development of renewable energy technologies to lower CO2 emissions. In terms of sustainability, political, technical, and economic feasibility criteria presented the highest AHP score (0.789), followed by human and social dimensions criteria (0.129), and environmental performance criteria (0.073). Policy possibility had the highest AHP score, while direct contribution to climate benefits as GHG reduction presented the lowest score. The integration of climate mitigation opportunities into national policies, the green industry scheme, and promoting residents’ self-determined motivation are urgently recommended.
Highlights
The global human population is increasing exponentially
Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) pairwise comparison technique was performed based on expert interviews (n = 4) with building sector was the largest contributor to citywide energy-related CO2 emissions representatives from Chiangmai Provincial Energy Office, Provincial Electricity Authority, (650,983 tCO2eq or 31.87% of the total CO2 emission) (Figure 3b)
(650,983 tCO2 eq or 31.87% of the total CO2 emission) (Figure 3b). This result is supported by a previous study [19] that reported that residential buildings were considered an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and represent approximately 20% of the total energy consumption in the US
Summary
Reference Bureau [1], the global population is projected to increase from 7.7 billion in 2020 to 9.9 billion by 2050. This dramatic growth is clearly associated with inevitable urban growth. Cities have been the dominant driving force for economic growth and development, increasing population density in cities leads to risks and challenges for both humans and the environment. Cities account for more than 75–80% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [3]. The International Energy Agency [4] estimated that energy-related GHGs in the urban areas accounted for about 71% of the total emissions in 2008 and this number is expected to rise to 76% by 2030.
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