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Article Citywide Energy-Related CO2 Emissions and Sustainability Assessment of the Development of Low-Carbon Policy in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Sittisak Sugsaisakon 1 and Suthirat Kittipongvises 2,*

1 Environment Development and Sustainability (EDS) Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; [email protected] 2 Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand * Correspondence: [email protected]

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 technologies to lower CO2 emissions. In terms of sustainability, political, technical, and economic feasibility criteria presented the highest Citation: Sugsaisakon, S.; AHP score (0.789), followed by human and social dimensions criteria (0.129), and environmental Kittipongvises, S. Citywide performance criteria (0.073). Policy possibility had the highest AHP score, while direct contribution to Energy-Related CO2 Emissions and Sustainability Assessment of the climate benefits as GHG reduction presented the lowest score. The integration of climate mitigation Development of Low-Carbon Policy opportunities into national policies, the green industry scheme, and promoting residents’ self- in Chiang Mai, Thailand. determined motivation are urgently recommended. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789. https:// doi.org/10.3390/su13126789 Keywords: energy-related CO2 emissions; low-carbon policy; sustainability assessment; Thailand

Academic Editor: Wen-Hsien Tsai

Received: 24 May 2021 1. Introduction Accepted: 11 June 2021 The global human population is increasing exponentially. According to the Population Published: 16 June 2021 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 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral urban growth. It is projected that the world will have 43 so-called megacities, with more with regard to jurisdictional claims in than 10 million inhabitants, by 2030, most of which will be in developing regions [2]. published maps and institutional affil- iations. Although cities have been the dominant driving force for economic growth and devel- opment, increasing population density in cities leads to risks and challenges for both humans and the environment. The rise of megacities in the global economy has boosted the demand for both primary and secondary raw materials. It can lead to greater pressures on land and other finite natural resources, including energy, food, and mineral resources. In Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. terms of energy consumption, over two-thirds of the global primary energy consumption Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. was attributable to cities. Furthermore, cities account for more than 75–80% of global This article is an open access article greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [3]. The International Energy Agency [4] estimated that distributed under the terms and energy-related GHGs in the urban areas accounted for about 71% of the total emissions conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// in 2008 and this number is expected to rise to 76% by 2030. More specifically, energy creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ consumed in the building sector accounts for as much as 30–40% of the global energy 4.0/). demand [5]. From a consumption-oriented point of view, approximately 80% of C40 cities,

Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126789 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 2 of 14

which is a network of global megacities committed to addressing climate change, con- tributed the largest share of consumption-based GHG emissions [3]. It should be noted that urban form and technological and economic factors were considered major determinants of citywide GHG emissions. VandeWeghe and Kennedy [6] estimated residential- and transport-related GHG emissions in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area to define the impacts of urban form on emission-causing activities and found that GHGs from private auto use sources are on par with those from fuel use for building heating. Dhakal [7] found that the 35 largest cities in China accounted for about 40% of the total energy usage and carbon emissions. By employing the input–output subsystem model, Ge et al. [8] investigated the sectoral roles in GHG emissions in China and found that the three-largest CO2 emitters were electricity and heat production and distribution; transportation, storage, postal services and telecommunications; and metal mining. In terms of the final sectoral demand, construction was considered the largest carbon emitter. Specifically, the service sectors generated more carbon emissions than the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. CO2 was the largest component (99.45%) of the total emissions, followed by N2O (0.45%) and CH4 (0.10%), respectively. Above all, it is often emphasized that cities are at the forefront of reducing total urban energy consumption and cutting carbon emissions. A study by Tian et al. [9] revealed that citywide energy-related CO2 emissions have gained increasing attention in recent years because citywide GHG inventories can promote energy efficiency and climate change mitigation policy, and thus help guide the direction of a city’s emission reduction efforts. From a policy point of view, Thailand intends to cut its GHG emissions by 20% from the business-as-usual (BAU) level by 2030 as mentioned in its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) [10]. Correspondingly, Thailand’s INDC was formulated based on the National Economic and Social Development Plans, Climate Change Master Plan B.E. 2558–2593 (2015–2050), Power Development Plan B.E. 2558–2579 (2015–2036), Thailand Smart Grid Development Master Plan B.E. 2558– 2579 (2015–2036), Energy Efficiency De- velopment Plan (EEDP) B.E. 2558–2579 (2015–2036), Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) B.E. 2558–2579 (2015- 2036), Environmentally System Plan B.E. 2556–2573 (2013–2030), National Industrial Development Master Plan B.E. 2555–2574 (2012–2031), and Roadmap. As indicated in the National Climate Change Master Plan, emissions from energy and transport sectors would be reduced by 20–70% by 2020 compared to emissions under the BAU scenario. By 2050, the proportion of investment in low-carbon and environmentally friendly industries would be increased, while the ratio of GHG emissions to GDP would be reduced. To achieve the INDC tar- gets, the EEDP aims to lower energy intensity by about 30% in 2036 compared to that in 2010 primarily through (i) compulsory measures (i.e., enforcement of standards in designed factories and buildings, building energy code in new buildings, energy labeling on equipment/appliances (HEPS and MEPS), and the Energy Efficiency Resource Standard) and (ii) voluntary measures (i.e., promoting increased use of LEDs via price mechanisms, supporting financial incentives, and supporting energy performance achievements and energy-saving measures in the transport sector) [11]. To foster sustainable urban development and limit the net carbon emissions, it is very important for cities to better understand and credibly measure their own baseline green- house gas emissions. Indicatively, cities must play a central role in global climate change mitigation and the implementation of low emission development strategies (LEDS) [12]. Many countries are promoting the implementation of climate change-related policies fo- cusing on the deployment of low-carbon power and energy-efficient technologies across all sectors. A sustainability assessment of measures related to energy and climate change mitigation is urgently needed. Recently, Rösch et al. [13] assessed the sustainability of the German energy system by considering the following goals of sustainable develop- ment: (i) securing human existence (i.e., protection of human health, satisfaction of basic needs, autonomous subsistence based on income from own work, and just distribution of opportunities to use natural resources), (ii) maintaining society’s productive potential Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 3 of 14

(i.e., sustainable use of renewable and non-renewable resources, sustainable use of the environment as a sink for waste and emissions, such as energy-related GHG emissions, of human and knowledge capital, such as added value creation from energy efficiency measures in households), and (iii) preserving society’s options for development and action such as participation in societal decision-making processes and society’s capability for self-organization. Despite the importance of the topic, there is a total lack of databases on energy-related CO2 emissions at the provincial level in developing countries like Thailand. Further, the local implementation of climate change mitigation ac- tions faces several challenges, including a lack of alignment of climate policies, institutional blockage, and low prioritization of motivation for climate policy adaptation [14]. Therefore, this study estimated citywide energy-related CO2 emissions and proposed some potential climate change mitigation measures in the energy sector. A multi-criteria decision analysis based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and sustainability indicators were employed to assess the feasibility of implementing energy-efficient and energy-saving measures to lower CO2 emissions in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from a sustain- ability perspective. Ultimately, the results of this research can provide deeper insights into how city-scale actions can potentially contribute to both the global climate goals and the NDC targets. Furthermore, this research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge because it is one of the first studies conducted in a country that applied sustainability indicators and a multiple-criteria decision analysis approach to the investigation of the energy sector’s potential in driving low-carbon strategies and related policies at a city-wide scale. As a regional economic and socio-cultural hub in the northern part of Thailand, Chiang Mai was selected as a case study for this research.

2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Case Study As a regional economic hub of the north and the second-largest province of Thailand, Chiang Mai province was selected as a case study. The city is located approximately 700 km (435 miles) north of Bangkok (Figure1). In terms of urbanization, many parts of the province have undergone rapid land use changes, especially during the rapid urban expansion and population growth. In 2020, the population and Gross Provincial Product (GPP) of Chiang Mai were 1,779,254 and 135,785 million Thai Baht (THB), respectively. Non-agricultural sectors, including industry and service, contributed about 81.3% of total GPP in 2018 [15]. Electricity consumption by both the service and industry sectors has Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 15 grown substantially. As one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, Chiang Mai received 3.2 million overseas tourists and about 7.5 million domestic visitors in 2018.

Figure 1. Research case study: Chiang Mai, Thailand. Figure 1. Research case study: Chiang Mai, Thailand.

2.2. Boundaries of Energy-Related CO2 Emissions The Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) was employed to estimate citywide energy-related CO2 emissions [16]. In this con- text, the GPC indicated three scopes to calculate and report city-scale GHG emissions. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from city-owned sources that are located within the city boundary, Scope 2 covers indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity, heat, and steam within the city boundary, and Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions oc- curring outside the city boundary. It should be noted that only emissions under Scope 1 and 2 were reported in this study and expressed as CO2 equivalent (CO2eq). The geo- graphic boundary of Chiang Mai province served as the boundary for the city’s GHG in- ventory.

2.3. Estimation of Energy-Related CO2 Emissions As previously mentioned, emissions under both Scope 1 (i.e., all emissions from fuel combustion) and Scope 2 (i.e., all emissions from the use of grid-supplied electricity within the city boundary) were accounted for and estimated. The energy consumption data of each sector were collected from the Chiang Mai Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and Provincial Industry Office. Furthermore, based on the GPC, a scaled-down method using population indicators was used to represent the overall citywide energy consumption in this research. CO2 emissions from the energy used by the city were calculated using Equa- tion (1). Stationary energy emissions mainly originate from residential buildings, com- mercial and institutional buildings, and the manufacturing and industrial sectors. Energy use in agriculture and forestry was also included.

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝐺𝐻𝐺 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 (CO eq) = 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑, × 𝐸𝐹, (1)

where Energy GHG emissions is total energy-related CO2 emissions (CO2 equivalent), En- ergy used is the total electricity consumed (kilowatt-hours; kWh) and each type (i, j) of fuel (liters) in the city, and EF is the Emissions Factor of each type of energy (i, j).

Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 4 of 14

2.2. Boundaries of Energy-Related CO2 Emissions The Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) was employed to estimate citywide energy-related CO2 emissions [16]. In this context, the GPC indicated three scopes to calculate and report city-scale GHG emissions. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from city-owned sources that are located within the city boundary, Scope 2 covers indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity, heat, and steam within the city boundary, and Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions occurring outside the city boundary. It should be noted that only emissions under Scope 1 and 2 were reported in this study and expressed as CO2 equivalent (CO2eq). The geographic boundary of Chiang Mai province served as the boundary for the city’s GHG inventory.

2.3. Estimation of Energy-Related CO2 Emissions As previously mentioned, emissions under both Scope 1 (i.e., all emissions from fuel combustion) and Scope 2 (i.e., all emissions from the use of grid-supplied electricity within the city boundary) were accounted for and estimated. The energy consumption data of each sector were collected from the Chiang Mai Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and Provincial Industry Office. Furthermore, based on the GPC, a scaled-down method using population indicators was used to represent the overall citywide energy consumption in this research. CO2 emissions from the energy used by the city were calculated using Equation (1). Stationary energy emissions mainly originate from residential buildings, commercial and institutional buildings, and the manufacturing and industrial sectors. Energy use in agriculture and forestry was also included.

Energy GHG emissions (CO2eq) = ∑ Energy usedi,j × EFi,j (1)

where Energy GHG emissions is total energy-related CO2 emissions (CO2 equivalent), Energy used is the total electricity consumed (kilowatt-hours; kWh) and each type (i, j) of fuel (liters) in the city, and EF is the Emissions Factor of each type of energy (i, j).

2.4. Potential Options for Mitigating Citywide GHG Emissions 2.4.1. GHG Mitigation Potential in 2030 Regarding GHG mitigation scenarios, both the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) mitigation plan were projected. CO2 emissions in 2015, which was the base year, were estimated and forecasted to the target year, 2030, in the BAU scenario, which assumes no additional climate change or introduction of energy policies. In the NDC scenario, the following policy interventions and measures indicated in Thailand’s NDC are accounted for: (i) energy-saving strategies (i.e., installing LED lights and using more efficient heating and cooling systems, energy- efficient appliances, and high-efficiency cooking stoves) and (ii) applying renewable energy (i.e., solar power and energy). Chiang Mai’s provincial economic growth rate was estimated at 4% to forecast trends in GHG emissions between 2015 to 2030 using Equation (2).

!1/(n−1) GPPcurrent yr Economic growth rate (%) = − 1 (2) GPPf irst yr

where GPPcurrent yr is the Gross Provincial Product in the present year, GPPfirst year is the Gross Provincial Product in the first year of considered period and n is a number of the year intervals in the considered data.

2.4.2. Multi-Criteria Assessment of Climate Mitigation Policy in the Energy Sector The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique, was employed to help prioritize climate change mitigation options and explore the key areas of concern for developing low-carbon policies for the energy sector Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 15

𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝑅 = (5) 𝑅𝐼 where CI is the consistency index and RI is the random consistency index A modified sustainability assessment method [14,18] was employed to assess the sus- tainability of adopting low-carbon policies in the energy sector and implementing the most preferred climate policy measures derived via the AHP technique. As presented in Table 1, all environmental, technological, and socio-political aspects were designed to as- sess the sustainability of proposing climate mitigation policies in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Table 1. Indicators for assessing the sustainability of developing low-carbon policies and the most preferred climate mitigation measures.

Aspects of Sustaina- Indicators References bility • Direct contribution to environmental benefits [13] Environmental per- • Direct contribution to climate benefits as GHG formance [13,18] reduction • Costs and benefits of implementing climate miti- [13] Political, technical gation measures and economic feasi- • Policy possibility/stringency for non-compliance [13] bility • Technological feasibility of implementing climate [13] mitigation measures • Added value creation from energy efficiency Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 [13] 5 of 14 measures in households Human and social di- • Participation in societal decision-making pro- mensions [13,18] cesses (Figure2). The prioritization of mitigation options using the AHP involves the following • Society’s ability of self-organization [13] two steps.

Figure 2. Overall framework for sustainability assessment in this research. Figure 2. Overall framework for sustainability assessment in this research. Step 1: Selection of mitigation measures in the energy sector as indicated in Thailand’s 3. NDC.Results In this context, the following options were proposed: (i) LED lighting installation,

3.1.(ii) Total development Citywide Energy-Related and implementation CO2 Emissions of high-efficiency air conditioning systems, energy- efficient appliances, high-efficiency cooking stoves, and (iii) development of renewable Using the GPC method, the average energy-related CO2 emissions in Chiang Mai in solar cells and biogas energy. 2015 and 2019 was determined to be 2,146,060 tCO2eq (maximum = 2,270,460 in 2019 and Step 2: Weighting the relative priority of the proposed climate mitigation policies. An minimum = 2,042,584 in 2015) (Figure 3a). In 2015, under the BAU scenario, the residential 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). This result is supported Provincial Industry Office, and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Support and by a previous study [19] that reported that residential buildings were considered an im- Rescue Center of Chiangmai. The weighting of each mitigation option derived from Step 1 portant source of GHG emissions and represent approximately 20% of the total energy was computed using Equation (3). The experts have to provide a 9-point numerical scale consumptionin the pairwise in the comparison US. Interestingly, matrix from in this 1 to study, 1/9 [17 industrial]. All pairwise energy comparison consumption numerical was values were consequently normalized and summed to 1. To avoid any incidental judgment, the consistency ratio (CR) value was calculated. Theoretically, the estimated weighting coefficients are acceptable if the CR is less than 0.1 (Equations (4) and (5)).   1 aij ... a1n     A = aij = 1/aij 1 a2n (3)  1/a1n 1/a2n 1 

where A = [aij] is a representation of the expert’s preference for each GHG mitigation measure and defined as the element of row i and column j of the matrix (i,j = 1, 2, . . . , n)

λ − n CI = max (4) n − 1

where λmax is the greatest eigenvalue of the pairwise comparison matrix and n is the factor number CI CR = (5) RI where CI is the consistency index and RI is the random consistency index A modified sustainability assessment method [14,18] was employed to assess the sustainability of adopting low-carbon policies in the energy sector and implementing the most preferred climate policy measures derived via the AHP technique. As presented in Table1, all environmental, technological, and socio-political aspects were designed to assess the sustainability of proposing climate mitigation policies in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 6 of 14

Table 1. Indicators for assessing the sustainability of developing low-carbon policies and the most preferred climate mitigation measures.

Aspects of Sustainability Indicators References • Direct contribution to environmental benefits [13] Environmental performance • Direct contribution to climate benefits as GHG reduction [13,18] • Costs and benefits of implementing climate mitigation measures [13] Political, technical and • Policy possibility/stringency for non-compliance [13] economic feasibility • Technological feasibility of implementing climate mitigation measures [13] • Added value creation from energy efficiency measures in households [13] Human and social dimensions • Participation in societal decision-making processes [13,18] • Society’s ability of self-organization [13]

3. Results 3.1. Total Citywide Energy-Related CO2 Emissions

Using the GPC method, the average energy-related CO2 emissions in Chiang Mai in 2015 and 2019 was determined to be 2,146,060 tCO2eq (maximum = 2,270,460 in 2019 and minimum = 2,042,584 in 2015) (Figure3a). In 2015, under the BAU scenario, the residential building sector was the largest contributor to citywide energy-related CO2 emissions (650,983 tCO2eq or 31.87% of the total CO2 emission) (Figure3b). This result is supported by a previous study [19] that reported that residential buildings were considered an important source of GHG emissions and represent approximately 20% of the total energy consumption in the US. Interestingly, in this study, industrial energy consumption was considered the second largest CO2 emitter, accounting for 27.69% of the total emissions (565,597 tCO2eq). More specifically, as depicted in Figure4a, food preservation and ice production industries were by far the largest contributor of GHG emissions attributable to industrial energy consumption in Chiang Mai (27–33%). Meanwhile, fish and seafood preservation and rice milling factories accounted for only 6–8% of the total emissions from industrial energy consumption. Similarly, food-related production accounted for roughly 29% of all consumption-derived GHG emissions in the European Union [20]. It could be presumed that electricity utilized for food production processes (i.e., used for operating cooling and freezing equipment) is one of the largest sources of energy-related CO2 emissions. For instance, the climate impact of seafood factories is dominantly due to GHG emissions from onboard cooling equipment and diesel combustion [20]. In this research, the remainder of citywide energy-related CO2 emissions in Chiang Mai were from commercial and governmental buildings (15.10%; 308,393 tCO2eq), energy use in agriculture activities, and unidentified activities (Figure3b). As the third-largest emitter of citywide energy-related CO2 emissions, the primary sources of GHG emissions from commercial and governmental buildings in Chiang Mai were shopping malls (51.7%), universities and hospitals (32%), and hotel and apartment services (16.3%) (Figure4b). Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 15

considered the second largest CO2 emitter, accounting for 27.69% of the total emissions (565,597 tCO2eq). More specifically, as depicted in Figure 4a, food preservation and ice production industries were by far the largest contributor of GHG emissions attributable to industrial energy consumption in Chiang Mai (27–33%). Meanwhile, fish and seafood preservation and rice milling factories accounted for only 6–8% of the total emissions from industrial energy consumption. Similarly, food-related production accounted for roughly 29% of all consumption-derived GHG emissions in the European Union [20]. It could be presumed that electricity utilized for food production processes (i.e., used for operating cooling and freezing equipment) is one of the largest sources of energy-related CO2 emis- sions. For instance, the climate impact of seafood factories is dominantly due to GHG emissions from onboard cooling equipment and diesel combustion [20]. In this research, the remainder of citywide energy-related CO2 emissions in Chiang Mai were from com- mercial and governmental buildings (15.10%; 308,393 tCO2eq), energy use in agriculture activities, and unidentified activities (Figure 3b). As the third-largest emitter of citywide Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 energy-related CO2 emissions, the primary sources of GHG emissions from commercial 7 of 14 and governmental buildings in Chiang Mai were shopping malls (51.7%), universities and hospitals (32%), and hotel and apartment services (16.3%) (Figure 4b).

Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEWFigureFigure 3. 3.AverageAverage energy-related energy-related CO2 emissions CO2 emissions in Chiang Mai, in Chiang Thailand Mai, from Thailand2015 to 2019 from defined8 of 2015 15 to 2019 defined as (a) emissions by sector (tCO2e) and (b) proportion of emissions (%). as (a) emissions by sector (tCO2e) and (b) proportion of emissions (%).

Figure 4. Percentage of GHG emissions from (a) industrial energy consumption and (b) energy con- Figure 4. Percentage of GHG emissions from (a) industrial energy consumption and (b) energy sumption in commercial and governmental buildings in Chiang Mai, Thailand. consumption in commercial and governmental buildings in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 3.2. GHG Mitigation Scenarios As mentioned earlier, the following two scenarios were developed to assess the po- tential of GHG mitigation in the energy sector of Chiang Mai province: (i) BAU and (ii) NDCs mitigation plan. In the BAU scenario, Chiang Mai’s total GHG emission is expected to increase from 2,042,583 tCO2eq in 2015 to 3,248,243 tCO2eq in 2030 assuming the fore- casted annual economic growth rate of 4.0% (Figure 5). In 2015, GHG emissions from en- ergy consumption in residential buildings and manufacturing and industrial sectors con- tributed the highest fractions of the total emissions at 31.87% (650,983 tCO2eq) and 27.69% (565,597 tCO2eq), respectively. This was followed by GHG emissions from energy usage in commercial and institutional buildings (493,425 tCO2eq), which accounted for 24.16% of the total GHG emissions in 2015. Under the BAU condition, GHG emissions from resi- dential sectors (approximately 1,211,942 tCO2eq) are expected to contribute 37.31% of the total GHG emissions in 2030. This is followed by the manufacturing sector, which is esti- mated to emit around 1,087,147 tCO2eq or 33.47% of the total. Emissions associated with energy demand in commercial and institutional buildings are projected to be around 742,273 tCO2eq, which is approximately 22.86% of the total predicted GHG emissions in 2030. Potential GHG mitigation options were proposed based primarily on Thailand’s NDC. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 8 of 14

3.2. GHG Mitigation Scenarios As mentioned earlier, the following two scenarios were developed to assess the po- tential of GHG mitigation in the energy sector of Chiang Mai province: (i) BAU and (ii) NDCs mitigation plan. In the BAU scenario, Chiang Mai’s total GHG emission is expected to increase from 2,042,583 tCO2eq in 2015 to 3,248,243 tCO2eq in 2030 assuming the fore- casted annual economic growth rate of 4.0% (Figure5). In 2015, GHG emissions from energy consumption in residential buildings and manufacturing and industrial sectors con- tributed the highest fractions of the total emissions at 31.87% (650,983 tCO2eq) and 27.69% (565,597 tCO2eq), respectively. This was followed by GHG emissions from energy usage in commercial and institutional buildings (493,425 tCO2eq), which accounted for 24.16% of the total GHG emissions in 2015. Under the BAU condition, GHG emissions from residential sectors (approximately 1,211,942 tCO2eq) are expected to contribute 37.31% of the total GHG emissions in 2030. This is followed by the manufacturing sector, which is estimated to Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEWemit around 1,087,147 tCO2eq or 33.47% of the total. Emissions associated with energy9 of de-15

mand in commercial and institutional buildings are projected to be around 742,273 tCO2eq, which is approximately 22.86% of the total predicted GHG emissions in 2030. Potential GHG mitigation options were proposed based primarily on Thailand’s NDC.

FigureFigure 5. 5. PotentialPotential of of GHG GHG mitigation mitigation in in the the energy energy sect sectoror of of Chiang Chiang Mai Mai province province of of both both the the (i) (i) BAUBAU scenario scenario and and (ii) (ii) NDCs NDCs mitigation mitigation plan. plan. More specifically, if all policy interventions as indicated in Thailand’s NDC Roadmap More specifically, if all policy interventions as indicated in Thailand’s NDC Roadmap on Climate Change Mitigation (2021–2030) are “fully” implemented in Chiang Mai, the on Climate Change Mitigation (2021–2030) are “fully” implemented in Chiang Mai, the total GHG emissions would be reduced by approximately 189,378 tCO2e or 5.83% of the total GHG emissions would be reduced by approximately 189,378 tCO2e or 5.83% of the total expected GHG emissions in 2030. total expected GHG emissions in 2030. 3.3. Sustainability Assessment of GHG Mitigation Scenarios and Mitigation Policy-Based AHP 3.3. Sustainability Assessment of GHG Mitigation Scenarios and Mitigation Policy-Based AHP The potential of mitigating energy-related GHG emissions from the energy sector and theThe feasibility potential of implementingof mitigating energy-related climate change GHG mitigation emissions policies from in the Chiang energy Mai sector were andassessed the feasibility based on of expert implementing interviews climate and usingchange the mitigation AHP-pairwise policies comparison in Chiang Mai technique. were assessedTable2 shows based theon expert calculated interviews AHP weightedand using scoresthe AHP-pairwise of energy-related comparison GHG mitigationtechnique. Tablemeasures 2 shows in Chiang the calculated Mai’s energy AHP sector. weighted The resultsscores revealedof energy-related that LED lightingGHG mitigation presented measuresthe highest in Chiang score (0.380) Mai’s energy in the AHPsector. pairwise The results comparison, revealed that followed LED lighting by improving presented the theenergy highest efficiency score (0.380) of air in conditioners the AHP pairwise (0.278), comparison, and the use followed of energy-efficient by improving appliances the en- ergy(0.203) efficiency in both of residential air conditioners and industrial (0.278), and sectors. the use As of implementing energy-efficie LEDnt applianc lightinges demon-(0.203) instrated both residential the greatest and potential industrial for sectors. climate mitigation,As implementing the behavior LED lighting of Thai demonstrated consumers in theterms greatest of purchasing potential energy-saving for climate mitigation, lighting products the behavior was investigated of Thai consumers based on in the terms Theory of purchasingof Planned Behaviorenergy-saving (TPB) lighting [21]. It was products found thatwas attitude investigated is a strong based predictor on the ofTheory purchase of Plannedintention Behavior towards (TPB) LED lighting[21]. It was products, found whilethat attitude the subjective is a strong norm predictor remains of the purchase weakest intention towards LED lighting products, while the subjective norm remains the weakest predictor of purchase intention. In this research, improving the energy efficiency of cook- ing stoves showed the lowest score in the pairwise comparison (0.026). Among renewable energy technologies, solar power and biogas energy ranked 4th and 5th, respectively. These results imply that the implementation of energy-efficient technologies or energy- saving options would be more feasible than developing renewable energy technologies for lowering energy-related CO2 emissions.

Table 2. Overall AHP-weighting of energy-related GHG mitigation measures (CR = 0.0927).

Energy-Related GHG Mitigation Measures Weight Ranking LED lighting 0.380 1 High-efficiency air conditioning system 0.278 2 Energy-efficient appliances 0.203 3 Solar cell power 0.072 4 Biogas energy 0.042 5 High-efficiency cooking stoves 0.026 6 Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 9 of 14

predictor of purchase intention. In this research, improving the energy efficiency of cooking stoves showed the lowest score in the pairwise comparison (0.026). Among renewable energy technologies, solar power and biogas energy ranked 4th and 5th, respectively. These results imply that the implementation of energy-efficient technologies or energy-saving op- tions would be more feasible than developing renewable energy technologies for lowering energy-related CO2 emissions.

Table 2. Overall AHP-weighting of energy-related GHG mitigation measures (CR = 0.0927).

Energy-Related GHG Mitigation Measures Weight Ranking LED lighting 0.380 1 High-efficiency air conditioning system 0.278 2 Energy-efficient appliances 0.203 3 Solar cell power 0.072 4 Biogas energy 0.042 5 High-efficiency cooking stoves 0.026 6

Apart from the multicriteria decision AHP analysis, sustainability indicators were used to assess the feasibility of implementing GHG mitigation scenarios and climate mit- igation policies in the energy sector of Chiang Mai, Thailand. As presented in Table3 and Figure6, political, technical, and economic feasibility criteria showed the highest AHP score (0.789). Policy possibility presented the highest score compared to all other sustainability indicators (0.322), followed by the technological feasibility of implementing climate mitigation measures (0.247) and costs and benefits of implementing climate miti- gation measures (0.230). Although the possibility of climate change policy development showed the highest score in the AHP pairwise comparison, the effectiveness of city-level policy (i.e., climate change and energy saving) mainly depends on the ability of local policies to meet GHG reduction goals while pursuing both economic growth and fiscal sustainability [22]. This is one of the possible reasons why the costs and benefits of mit- igation measure implementation ranked third among all AHP factors. Overall, criteria with human and social dimensions showed the second-highest score (0.129), including society’s ability for self-organization in the implementation of energy-efficient technologies or energy-saving options (0.048) and participation in societal decision-making processes on climate change energy policies (0.045). Interviews with experts revealed that a lack of or ineffective multi-stakeholder participation (i.e., local residents and representatives from industries and private sectors) is a major obstacle in the drive for climate change mitigation policies and other initiatives in their community. Altogether, environmental performance criteria showed the lowest score in the AHP comparison (0.073) (i.e., direct contribution to both environmental benefits (0.042)). More surprisingly, direct contribution to climate benefits as GHG reduction and added value creation from energy efficiency measures in households showed the lowest AHP score compared to all other sustainability indicators in this study. Added value creation focuses on the creation of sustainable added value by promoting energy efficiency and energy saving in residential and household sectors. Rösch et al. [13] suggested that the sustainable development of man-made and knowledge capital to drive the sustainable use of energy resources in the community is urgently needed. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 10 of 14

Table 3. Overall AHP-weighting of the feasibility of climate policy implementation in the energy sector (CR = 0.070).

Sustainability Aspects Factors Weight Ranking

Environmental performance • Direct contribution to environmental benefits 0.042 6 (0.073) • Direct contribution to climate benefits as GHG reduction 0.030 8 • Costs and benefits of implementing climate 0.230 3 mitigation measures Political, technical, and economic feasibility • Policy possibility 0.322 1 (0.798) • Technological feasibility of implementing climate 0.247 2 mitigation measures • Added value creation from energy efficiency measures 0.036 7 in households SustainabilityHuman 2021 and,social 13, x FOR dimensions PEER REVIEW 11 of 15 (0.129) • Participation in societal decision-making processes 0.045 5 • Society’s ability of self-organization 0.048 4

Figure 6. Results of the multicriteria decision AHP analysis based on (a) weightings of sustainability Figure 6. Results of the multicriteria decision AHP analysis based on (a) weightings of sustainability aspects and (b) prioritizing multiple sustainability indicators for driving climate change policy in the aspects and (b) prioritizing multiple sustainability indicators for driving climate change policy in energy sector of Chiang Mai, Thailand. the energy sector of Chiang Mai, Thailand. 4. Discussion 4. Discussion 4.1. CO2 Mitigation Potential 4.1. COAs2 Mitigation elaborated Potential in the previous section, in a case where all of Thailand’s NDC mitigation measuresAs elaborated are fully in implemented the previous section, in the energy in a case sector, where the all total of Thailand’s emissions inNDC Chiang mitiga- Mai tionwould measures be lowered are fully by 189,378implemented tCO2e in (5.83%). the energy In support sector, ofthe this, total a 5.83%emissions GHG in reduction Chiang Mai would be lowered by 189,378 tCO2e (5.83%). In support of this, a 5.83% GHG reduc- tion by 2030 from energy-related CO2 emissions alone was estimated in the BAU scenario. Previous studies have also primarily focused on energy efficiency improvement and the integration of energy generated with renewable resources. For instance, research con- ducted by Gouldson et al. [12] found that the most effective options for reducing carbon emissions in Kolkata, India, were embracing green building standards in all new build- ings in commercial areas and implementing the most energy-efficient air conditioners in the residential sector. In Romania, a study carried out by Prada et al. [23] proposed intel- ligent energy efficiency solutions in hospital buildings, aiming to contribute to the 2050 target of 70% GHG emissions reduction, 70% renewable energy development, and 70% energy efficiency in buildings, under the new “70-70-70” efficiency concept. Further, a study performed by Bungău et al. [24] reported that energy requirement, energy perfor- mance class, and CO2 emissions were considered to be key considerations in the assess- ment of spaces. In Palembang City, Indonesia, the five most carbon- effective options were replacing diesel with biodiesel in industries, substituting diesel boilers with water heaters, promoting landfill gas waste to energy (WTE) Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 11 of 14

by 2030 from energy-related CO2 emissions alone was estimated in the BAU scenario. Previous studies have also primarily focused on energy efficiency improvement and the integration of energy generated with renewable resources. For instance, research conducted by Gouldson et al. [12] found that the most effective options for reducing carbon emissions in Kolkata, India, were embracing green building standards in all new buildings in com- mercial areas and implementing the most energy-efficient air conditioners in the residential sector. In Romania, a study carried out by Prada et al. [23] proposed intelligent energy efficiency solutions in hospital buildings, aiming to contribute to the 2050 target of 70% GHG emissions reduction, 70% renewable energy development, and 70% energy efficiency in buildings, under the new “70-70-70” efficiency concept. Further, a study performed by Bungău et al. [24] reported that energy requirement, energy performance class, and CO2 emissions were considered to be key considerations in the assessment of sustainable living spaces. In Palembang City, Indonesia, the five most carbon-effective options were replacing diesel with biodiesel in industries, substituting diesel boilers with solar energy water heaters, promoting landfill gas waste to energy (WTE) utilization, promoting WTE, particularly in heat and power projects, and supporting energy efficiency in industries through steam reforming technology. In China, considering an annual GDP growth rate of 6.45%, the total primary energy demand is projected to increase by approximately 63.4%, 48.8%, and 12.2% in the BAU, carbon reduction, and integrated low-carbon economy sce- narios, respectively [25]. Total carbon emissions will decrease by approximately 19.6% and 42.9% by 2050 in the carbon reduction and integrated low-carbon economy scenarios, respectively, in the BAU scenario. Zhou et al. [25] promote the use of all climate mitigation policies such as long-term low-carbon development strategies, improvement of energy efficiency, and development of economic instruments (i.e., carbon taxation). In Thailand, this is further supported by Misila et al. [26] who determined that the adoption of energy efficiency measures and the promotion of cleaner technologies, such as energy efficiency labeling, building energy codes, designated buildings, financial incentives, LED lighting, and renewable energy would lead to a reduction in GHG. Mitigation measures in the household sector are energy efficiency labeling, LED, and the adoption of renewable en- ergy technology. Minimizing overall GHG and energy intensity and promoting energy diversification were considered as the co-benefits of the energy-related CO2 reduction. Furthermore, the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO) [27] conducted a few studies on GHG emissions projections at the city level in Thailand and found that CO2 emissions in some provinces are projected to reduce by about 1.01–18.23% by 2030 compared to the BAU baseline scenario. The ability of local governments to help mitigate GHG emissions and achieve climate commitments at the city level depends on local policies on climate change mitigation and low-carbon innovations. In this particular situation, the government should provide both technical and financial support to local authorities to foster a rapid transition towards a low-carbon society at the city level. For Chiang Mai, the integration of local climate actions within the AEDP, EEP, and the NDCs national plans should be more fully considered and fully implemented for long-term low-emission development strategies.

4.2. Climate Change Mitigation Policy Based on Multicriteria Decision AHP Analysis Regarding the AHP-pairwise comparison, the results of this study are in line with a study conducted by Heinrich et al. [18]. This study reported that indicators of imple- mentation feasibility such as administrative and financial feasibility and network capacity were the most important criteria for initiating GHG mitigation measures in the energy sector. In this previous study, climate benefits as CO2 mitigation showed the highest score in AHP analysis, which is inconsistent with the current research. However, in the Asian Context, cities alone lack the capacity to continually drive climate change mitigation policies. In other words, city-level action on climate change associated with GHG emissions is partly determined by national initiatives on policies, strategies, and mechanisms. A Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 12 of 14

multi-level cross-sectoral governance arrangement in climate change policy is, therefore, critically important.

4.3. Technical and Policy Implications Through our analysis, it seems obvious that cities are in the frontline of the impacts of a changing climate and are essential for achieving sustainability goals. The following technical and policy recommendations were provided to promote and accelerate sustainable CO2 emission reduction in the energy sector: Environmental Sustainability: As mentioned above, environmental performance crite- ria (i.e., environmental benefits and climate benefit as GHG mitigation) had the lowest score in the sustainability assessment. According to Thailand’s Second National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conducted by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, human resource and technical limitations in developing GHG inventory and climate change mitigation scenar- ios are key constraints in promoting low and zero-carbon solutions at the sub-national level [28]. It should be highlighted that the integration of climate change mitigation oppor- tunities, particularly with energy as the priority sector, into sub-national policies, plans, and development projects in Thailand is urgently needed. More specifically, the feasibility of implementing technical measures (High Energy Performance Standard (HEPS), Economic Building (EB), and Zero Energy Building (ZEB)) for reducing energy-related CO2 emissions in commercial buildings should be studied from a holistic perspective. Moreover, GHG emission reduction targets should be linked with the green industry scheme. Achieving higher sustainability in production systems in industries (i.e., food industry) is urgently needed. A combination of Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis for energy saving and GHG mitigation measures in residential buildings should be also conducted in conjunction with the sustainability assessment scheme [29]. Human and : Value creation through household energy efficiency and saving presented the lowest AHP score among the social sustainability criteria. This re- sult is supported by Dubois et al. [30], who found that there was an urgent need to address the current mismatch between the roles conveyed by climate mitigation policies and house- holds’ perceptions of their individual responsibility. In this context, based on the model of goal-directed behavior (MGB), Cheung et al. [31] reported that self-determined motivations and intrinsic motivation were important predictors of pro-environmental intentions and actions, particularly for household energy consumption behavior. In short, participants with high self-determined motivation are more likely to take pro-environmental actions. Therefore, improving residents’ self-determined motivation is considered the most effec- tive and long-lasting solution to drive their willingness to adopt energy-saving measures and consequently mitigate GHG emissions [32]. Economic incentives as external rewards could effectively encourage people to adopt energy-saving behaviors and proactive climate actions in a comparatively short period of time. Local governments may consider cooperat- ing with local authorities and electricity companies to offer financial rewards to residents instead of subsidizing residential electricity bills [31]. From a long-term sustainability perspective, both self-organizing behavior and participation in climate governance (i.e., planning and priority-setting) should be promoted by providing long-term environmen- tal education to nurture environmentally conscious and aware residents. From a wider perspective, as hotels and apartment services were determined to be one of the largest sources of GHG emissions among commercial buildings in this study, practices should be promoted and maintained in the long run. More importantly, to address stakeholder engagement strategies, this study strongly suggests that the Thai government should integrate climate change mitigation policies and related activities into the sub- national-level plan based mainly on decentralization processes. Cross-level interactions between national and sub-national governance levels and facilitation of multi-sector and multi-level climate change policy learning should be more organized. Moreover, to attract Sustainability 2021, 13, 6789 13 of 14

private sector engagement in climate change mitigation strategies, an ambitious GHG emission reduction target should be integrated into the green industry scheme.

5. Conclusions Cities can play an important role in combating climate change. Based on the GPC and expert interviews and using the AHP-pairwise comparison technique, this study revealed that electricity consumption in residential buildings, manufacturing and industrial sectors, and commercial and governmental buildings were responsible for the largest share of city-level energy-related CO2 emissions in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In terms of mitigation potential, if all policy interventions as indicated in Thailand’s NDC are fully implemented in the city, total GHG emissions would be reduced by 5.83% of the total GHG emissions expected in 2030 compared to the BAU scenario. In terms of sustainability, the AHP results showed that political, technical, and economic feasibility had the highest score, whereas environmental performance presented the lowest AHP score. Long-term environmental education and promotion of proactive behaviors and adaptive capacity through self-determined motivation are urgently needed to drive the transition to a low- carbon economy and sustainable urban communities.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, S.S. and S.K.; methodology, S.S. and S.K.; software, S.S. and S.K.; validation, S.K.; formal analysis, S.K.; investigation, S.S. and S.K.; resources, S.S. and S.K.; data curation, S.S.; writing—original draft preparation, S.S. and S.K.; writing—review and editing, S.K.; visualization, S.S.; supervision, S.K.; project administration, S.K.; funding acquisition, S.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding: This research was funded by Chulalongkorn University, The 100th Anniversary Chula- longkorn University for Doctoral Schorship and The 90th Anniversay of Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund). Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank the 100th Anniversary Chulalongkorn Uni- versity Fund and the 90th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund) for supporting this research. The authors also appreciate the support from the Chiangmai Provincial Energy Office, Provincial Electricity Authority, Provincial Industry Office, and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Support and Rescue Center of Chiangmai for their data provision. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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