The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's initiative to launch a pilot "low-emission zone" (LEZ) project in five districts sounds literally like a breath of fresh air for Bangkok residents who have suffered from high levels of air pollution for too long.
This is especially true given that during the first half of this year, the Public Health Ministry reported that seven million people residing in 13 areas -- including Bangkok -- had their health affected by air pollution.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt led an air pollution seminar yesterday to announce the campaign with the BMA's partners, mainly the ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and the Centre for Clean Air Solutions (CCAS).
LEZ is a strategy to reduce emissions and air pollution from vehicles. Within an LEZ zone, polluting vehicles are restricted or deterred to improve air quality in the area.
For a city like Bangkok, the big question is what the BMA's LEZ pilot projects would be like in practice.
Is it going to be just hype and hot air?
Unlike the cities of London or Singapore that make use of laws and incentives to reduce traffic and phase out polluting vehicles, the LEZ zones in this Bangkok pilot project are shopping malls, temples and foundations.
For example, the LEZ in Pomprap Sattruphai are Ruamkatanyu Foundation and major temples such as Wat Sa Ket, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat and Thon Buri hospital.
In Pathumwan district, LEZ zones are all major shopping malls -- Paragon, Central department store, and MBK shopping complex.
For Klong Toey, the LEZ includes Khlong Toey Port, Emporium Department Store and a condominium in Soi Sukhumvit 50.
But Mr Chadchart was very light on details on how the LEZ projects would work, and it came across like another conservation programme during the launch.
It's unclear what the action plans are to reduce emissions and what the public can expect.
Will it be a case of reduced single-use plastic bags, more recycling, banning incense-burning in temples, and more electric charger bays in shopping complex car parks? Is that the kind of LEZ that Bangkok needs?
Bangkok is the capital city, which creates prototypes for other provinces to emulate. It would not be a big surprise if other cities used LEZ names for environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
These LEZ pilot schemes at present appear like voluntary environmentally sustainable projects that private companies have been doing with CSR projects, which appear more like ticking boxes.
It is about time the BMA joins with the Transport Ministry to start real LEZ projects.
As part of that, City Hall should pressure the national government to pass strict laws that will make it harder for big lorries to enter the city area or create good distribution centres outside the city.
The BMA should focus more on creating safe bicycle lanes in communities where people can travel short distances.
It could also create car-free zones and car-free days.
It can help reduce traffic emissions by reducing ticket fees for the BTS Skytrain and working with mass-transit operators to create a common ticket system.
Residents and voters expect more from the BMA. Bangkok needs major transportation alternatives and a real LEZ -- not another CSR.