GSP Conference 2018: Urban Possibilities: Reimagining Chiang Mai

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More than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities, where economic opportunity is concentrated and where there are dense social, business and political networks. Secondary cities, in particular, are assuming greater prominence as focal points of urban expansion and development. The promise and peril that are inherent in the rise of (secondary) cities demand policy attention and critical examination.

The Governance Study Project (GSP) Conference will take place on 4 July 2018 at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. This year’s conference focuses on Chiang Mai – one of the fastest growing secondary cities in Thailand and Southeast Asia. As Chiang Mai undergoes rapid urbanisation, it faces significant challenges relating to sustainable growth, liveability and environmental degradation. Its key industries and developmental experience will also be shaped by global and regional agendas, such as the recently established ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which is centred on the free flow of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and freer flow of capital. Issues such as sanitation, urban transportation, seasonal flooding, as well as air and water pollution will be analysed using the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These problems are often exacerbated by poorly planned, uncoordinated or misguided policies, with wider implications for prosperity, health and the quality of life.

In this conference, students will put to use the knowledge and skills learned throughout the MPA programme and is hence primarily conceived of as an applied test of concepts. The outcomes are detailed policy proposals based on rigorous primary and secondary research and analysis with recommendations to be presented directly to stakeholders.

 

Conference Schedule

GSP Programme Schedule_27_jun_2018 

 

Post conference slideshow


 

Session 1: Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6)

Venue: Lobby, OTH Building
Time: 09:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Water ATMs – An Approach to Fight Fluorosis in Chiang Mai

Group Members: Ankit Dashora, Enkhbold Bukhchuluun, Nazrana Binte Zainuddin, Ng Yew Heang Rachel

Fluoride is essential for the development of teeth and bones but excess intake of the mineral can cause decay of tooth enamel and in extreme cases, structural damage to bones and joints. Dental and skeletal fluorosis is a prevalent problem among the residents of Chiang Mai as the ground water has high-levels of fluoride. The fluoride occurs naturally in the ground water and is further intensified through rigorous extraction of ground water.

The residents are aware of the harmful repercussions of drinking untreated ground water but some are still using untreated ground water in food preparation and cooking. This is largely due to lack of understanding, for example, that the fluoride in the water will disappear through the cooking process; and the absence of alternative and affordable sources of defluorinated water.

Efforts have been made by various municipalities in Chiang Mai to provide treated water to its community but these have proven to be inadequate both in terms of supply and geographical reach. Currently, there is a lack of collective action and cooperation between municipalities in exploring joint-efforts which are environmentally and financially sustainable.

Our team strongly believes that there is merit for a directed policy intervention to tackle the fluorosis issue in Chiang Mai. We are excited to present our recommended policy intervention – exploring a fresh and collaborative approach among the various stakeholders to deliver a sustainable and feasible water purification and distribution system via “Water ATMs”.  This will help Chiang Mai achieve the sustainable development goal of ensuring its community’s access to affordable, safe, clean and drinkable water.

The Problem of Unsustainable Septage Management in Chiang Mai

Group Members: Abhishek Gautam, Chen Yankai Aloysius, Mohana Anita Anthonysamy, Rebecca Goba Chiedza, Shaun Steven

Chiang Mai has seen rapid urbanisation and growth over the past decade. Sanitation, in particular septage management, has not been upgraded to meet the needs of urban Chiang Mai. Although there is one central septage treatment plant in Chiang Mai, the sewerage network does not comprehensively cover all of urban Chiang Mai, and the majority of households use Onsite Sanitation Systems.

This project analyses the current system of septage management in Chiang Mai. It also looks at the problems that can occur if the septage management system is not developed and septage is discharged untreated into the environment.

Building Drought Resiliency In Rural Thailand: The Promise Of ICT

Group Members: Aimal Hakim, Lim Ee Ling (Lin Yiling), Narayanan S/O Velayutham, Niu Pengbo, Wendy Jane Rockett

Agriculture, a major component of Chiang Mai's economy, has undeniably been the sector hardest-hit by recent droughts in the region. With worsening climate change, rice farmers have become increasingly reliant on the Government to mitigate the effects of drought.

This study builds on existing literature that enhancing access to information on drought patterns is crucial to building resilience in the agricultural sector. Through qualitative studies conducted amongst rice farmers, village heads and government authorities, access to such information was identified as a key issue in Chiang Mai.

For this reason, the study proposes a collaboration with the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII), a government agency in Thailand. Tasked with supporting agricultural and water resource management, the agency's Flood and Drought Portal provides real-time information on drought patterns. Originally developed by an international consortium, the portal is managed by HAII in Thailand. It enables stakeholders to compile information from models, indicators and existing planning approaches and develop robust planning scenarios.

The proposed project will promote greater subscription to the portal at the grassroots level through training of community-based organizations and farmers. At the same time, user feedback from farmers will refine the tool for use in the field. In the longer-term, the scope of the portal can be expanded to include local and international best practices which facilitate ground-up efforts and cross-learning amongst farmers of Chiang Mai, enabling them to remain resilient in the face of worsening drought periods.

 

Session 2: Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7)

Venue: Lobby, OTH Building
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Haze and Air Quality in Chiang Mai

Group Members: Isaac Kumaran Wen Jun Raman-Seow, James Boon Hwee Tay, Lim Feng Ling, Richard Aboagye-Gyan, Tham Yin Yee

Annually, Chiang Mai is plagued by temporal bad ambient air quality between February and April. This is caused by multiple point and diffuse sources - local agricultural burning, vehicular emissions as well as burning in neighbouring countries such as Myanmar and the Laos. Poor air quality has adverse effects on environment, health and key industries including tourism. 

An analysis of the underlying causes and stakeholders involved point to local agricultural burning, especially of corn waste, as the major contributor of poor air quality. This is inextricably tied to the livelihoods of the community where corn is a cash crop that is harvested several times in a year. 

Existing interventions such as reforestation and on burning bans neglect the farmers’ dependence on corn for income. Instead, we explore an integrate, multi-pronged approach that addresses the collective nature of the problem. We propose to explore the feasibility of a decentralized model of composting (at the village level) as an alternative waste disposal to reduce the reliance on slash-and-burn practices, coupled with continued open burning ban as a deterrent. In assessing the long-term viability of this proposal, we identify the stakeholders involved and assess the conditions necessary.

Renewable Energy in Chiang Mai - Strategies to Develop Solar and Biochar

Group Members: Ajay Jagannath, Carlos Caleb Jnr Sengu, Lee Ai Lian Grace, Leigha Miyata

Thailand ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016. With this, Thailand aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from existing levels by 2030. To work towards this goal, a key element is the use of renewable energy. Thailand has plans to increase the share of renewable energy in its final energy consumption from 12% in 2014 to 30% by 2036.

Chiang Mai can play a big part towards meeting Thailand’s renewable energy targets. Amongst others, two types of renewable energy seem more promising in Thailand and can potentially be scaled up further – solar energy and biomass. Given Chiang Mai’s terrain and weather, solar energy can be harnessed as an alternative source of energy. However, the main disadvantage is that it is weather-dependent and requires battery technology. Biomass also has potential as Chiang Mai is mainly an agricultural province, hence crops are easily available. The main contention against biochar, a specific type of biomass, is that it is not a clean energy source, unlike sunlight.

Given the advantages and limitations of solar energy and biomass, the strategy is for these two types of renewable energy to complement each other in order to achieve Thailand’s renewable energy targets. The project discusses strategies to further develop these two forms of renewable energy, by taking feasibility, budget and environmental impacts into account.

Getting Businesses to help Farmers and Chiang Mai

Group Members: Maria Kristina Bernadette Concepcion Mojica, Muhammad Ali Bandial, Rian Ernest Tanudjaja, Shashwat Shrivastava, Wong Sok Yee Evon

Poverty in Chiang Mai’s rural agricultural households present a stark contrast to cosmopolitan Bangkok and even to the bustling and tourist-packed Chiang Mai city. While other sectors in Thailand are developing quickly, rural farmers are still caught in a poverty trap. The intensive use of pesticides and chemicals during the farming process cause health issues for the farmers and pollution to the land and water. The downward spiral of poorer health, lesser yields, and increased debt ensue.

If the situation is left unchecked, many sectors, including businesses who have benefited from Thailand’s economic growth, will be affected. To list a few examples: environment degradation ultimately affects agricultural exports; growing discontent among rural farmers may lead to political unrest, and also affect the economy. There are therefore strong incentives for businesses to help farmers.

The objective of this project is to explore how the Chiang Mai government can facilitate a win-win platform for businesses and farmers to work together. We are proposing a solution where businesses can not only improve their bottom line but also benefit small farm holders by incorporating them into their business value chains. The proposed intervention will create an eco-system to bring together sustainable agricultural practices in Chiang Mai.

 

Session 3: Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

Venue: Lobby, OTH Building
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m

Chiang Mai Tourism - Addressing Information Asymmetry and Fostering Capacity Building

Group Members: Amol Pandey, Foo Wen Ling, Ma Ke, Manu Sharma, Shivashni D/O Subramaniam

This governance study examines the sustainability of Chiang Mai tourism in light of the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030 and makes recommendations to enhance the same.

Our study identifies economic leakages owing to information asymmetry and the lack of capacity in local supply bases as the key problem areas for Chiang Mai’s tourism. Economic leakages and information asymmetry lead to lower revenue earned per person and thus drive the need for volume-based tourism. Plugging these gaps would lead to higher revenue per person and lower resource intensity of the tourism sector.

The methodology employed includes literature review, stakeholder analysis, and field research (including stakeholder interviews), in order to understand the context, current developments in Chiang Mai, including addressing weaknesses as well as tapping on opportunities in the tourism industry.

Our recommendations are informed by principles of sustainable development such as moral and physical limits to growth, the need for edgrowth, and the triple bottom line. The central idea for our recommendation is to undertake localized capacity-building to boost the tourism sustainability, empower and inform local communities, and finally, enhance value captured from existing tourism. Specifically, our three main recommendations are as follows:

a) Create a tourism mobile application to facilitate information-sharing and direct booking for tourists;

b) Conduct skills-training workshops for local tour guides and villagers; and

c) Develop a policy backdrop by local governments to oversee resource utilisation.

The desired outcomes of our recommendations are: providing an information platform; enhancing the skills of local tourism sector professionals which in turn enhances revenue generation and retention; and concurrently reducing the impact on the environment.

A Vision for Sustainability: MICE in Chiang Mai

Group Members: Goh Shi Yun Jaslyn, Jose Raymond S/O Thomas Devaraj, Lim Hiong Li, Matthew Baden

The MICE industry is considered a strategic priority for the Thai government for future economic growth. Chiang Mai, or Thailand’s “Rose of the North”, is promoted as one of the country’s top MICE destinations, with a grand five-year plan to develop MICE as a key industry by 2018.

While the MICE industry brings about many economic opportunities for Chiang Mai, it has not been strategically implemented to a large extent. There has been some development of facilities, but their linkages to amenities and accommodation are poor. Furthermore, the development of MICE has not been accompanied by the necessary improvements in public infrastructure and services.

These challenges raise concerns about the long-term sustainability of MICE as an engine of growth for the province, and its trickle-down effects to the community at large. At the same time, Chiang Mai faces continuous pressure to grow its MICE industry and further distinguish itself from other MICE locations throughout the world, including its own capital in Bangkok. Since Chiang Mai's goal is for MICE to play an important role in the economy, how can it do so in a way that is economically rewarding, and yet aligned with the goals of sustainable development?

Our project assesses the impacts and challenges of the MICE industry in Chiang Mai, in terms of its sustainability. In view of our assessment, we will propose recommendations to develop Chiang Mai’s MICE industry along a more sustainable path, capitalising on its inherent value proposition for the city as well as to better integrate the industry in managing common pool resources. By doing so, MICE can be brought closer to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of promoting sustained and inclusive growth, and full and productive employment for Chiang Mai’s citizens.

Chiang Mai Live Digital Gallery

Group Members: Goh Shi Yun Jaslyn, Jose Raymond S/O Thomas Devaraj, Lim Hiong Li, Matthew Baden

The MICE industry is considered a strategic priority for the Thai government for future economic growth. Chiang Mai, or Thailand’s “Rose of the North”, is promoted as one of the country’s top MICE destinations, with a grand five-year plan to develop MICE as a key industry by 2018.

While the MICE industry brings about many economic opportunities for Chiang Mai, it has not been strategically implemented to a large extent. There has been some development of facilities, but their linkages to amenities and accommodation are poor. Furthermore, the development of MICE has not been accompanied by the necessary improvements in public infrastructure and services.

These challenges raise concerns about the long-term sustainability of MICE as an engine of growth for the province, and its trickle-down effects to the community at large. At the same time, Chiang Mai faces continuous pressure to grow its MICE industry and further distinguish itself from other MICE locations throughout the world, including its own capital in Bangkok. Since Chiang Mai's goal is for MICE to play an important role in the economy, how can it do so in a way that is economically rewarding, and yet aligned with the goals of sustainable development?

Our project assesses the impacts and challenges of the MICE industry in Chiang Mai, in terms of its sustainability. In view of our assessment, we will propose recommendations to develop Chiang Mai’s MICE industry along a more sustainable path, capitalising on its inherent value proposition for the city as well as to better integrate the industry in managing common pool resources. By doing so, MICE can be brought closer to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of promoting sustained and inclusive growth, and full and productive employment for Chiang Mai’s citizens.

 

Session 4: Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

Venue: Lobby, OTH Building
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Unclogging Chiang Mai's Traffic Congestion

Group Members: Fu Yaqin, Saw Chun Kiat, Tan Lu Hsia, Xu Kuang

As one of the fastest-growing secondary cities in Southeast Asia, Chiang Mai is undergoing rapid urbanisation. Due to the absence of effective traffic demand management policies, public transport investment, and a lack of integrated transport and land use planning over many years, the automobile-dependent city is facing pressing urban transport challenges such as growing traffic congestion, high accident rates, and worsening air pollution. These problems not only compromise Chiang Mai’s liveability and environmental sustainability but also pose a direct threat to the tourism industry – one of the city’s main economic drivers. While it is hardly possible to eradicate congestion in a growing and economically-vibrant city like Chiang Mai, sound policies should be deployed as soon as possible to mitigate traffic-related problems to ensure the city’s sustainable development.

This project sets out to analyse the factors that have contributed to Chiang Mai’s traffic congestion and to come up with policy alternatives that could mitigate the problem. Developing an effective congestion management system requires broad and holistic changes involving long time horizons and high costs. Working within the allocated budget of $17,000, the project team proposes small-scale policy alternatives which could have an effect on road users’ behaviour to reduce road congestions and the use of private motor vehicles. Specifically, this project will examine the possible ‘nudging’ effects through the use of parking management tools, with a view towards designing a pilot experiment using the allocated budget.

Smart Agriculture in Chiang Mai: Innovation through Inclusion

Group Members: Akihiro Suzuki, Devjit Roy Chowdhury, Liu Yiwen, Christine, Parameswaran Venkatesh

In February 2017, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (under Thailand's Digital Economy and Society Ministry) announced that USD $1.2 million would be invested in developing Chiang Mai into an innovation-driven Smart City, making it one of the three selected model smart cities in Thailand. The Smart City outlook, i.e. integrating Information and Communications Technology (ICT) with the Internet of Things (IOT), is perceived as critical for secondary cities such as Chiang Mai which have burgeoning urban populations. A key area in Chiang Mai’s Smart City initiative is promoting “smart agriculture". Eighty percent of Chiang Mai Province's population are farmers; who are mostly small-scale. Increasing income through use of ICT has the potential to boost the local economy as well as living standards. Yet, amidst all these initiatives, digital literacy remains a key challenge for Chiang Mai farmers. Advancements in digital technology need to incorporate farmer inclusion, engagement, and agency.

Our project aims to fill this lacunae by proposing a human-centered design to augment our understanding of the needs of farmers. Further, we study an ecosystem of digital tools and methodologies, in addition to behavioral nudges that could contribute in improving the agriculture sector in Chiang Mai. Instead of a top-down approach, we suggest a multi-stakeholder and participatory attitude as it is crucial for community ownership of the process and outcomes. Finally, our proposal emphasizes the SDGs; particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and the need to be localized for a farmer-led digital transformation of agriculture in Chiang Mai.

Spatial Inequality and Urbanisation: A Comparative Study of Chiang Mai and Singapore

Group Members: Members: Muhammad Fiaz Gul, Muhammad Majid, Ng Chye Wee, Ong Jiefang, Prasanna Vishwanatha Salian

Rapid economic growth is often associated with spatial inequality and uneven regional and urban development. Spatial inequality can occur anywhere, within a country, between cities, as well as between rural and urban areas. Spatial inequality is an important feature of many emerging cities because there is more demographic diversity and more inequity between distinct geographical areas. Chiang Mai provides an example of a large urban environment with a high level of spatial inequality in terms of access to infrastructure and access to basic services such as affordable housing, medical care, plenty of green and public spaces, clean drinking water, sanitation etc. From the standpoint of equity, spatial inequality may be socially undesirable if it contributes to social inequality across regions.

Spatial inequalities present significant socio-economic and political challenges in Thailand and Chiang Mai in particular. Policy makers are concerned that development is likely to exacerbate rather than reduce spatial inequalities and therefore there is a need to respond to growing spatial inequalities in Chiang Mai. Singapore’s experience reveals that, to achieve sustainable urban development, there is a need for effective land-use planning and efficient spatial concentration, which depends on an appropriate combination of many factors. In this context, this project attempts to look at the issues of spatial inequality in Chiang Mai. By drawing lessons from Singapore’s development experience in reducing spatial inequality, the study seeks to recommend appropriate policy suggestions for more strategic and equitable urban development in Chiang Mai and to achieve the targets set under SDG 11.