Suthirat Kittipongvises

Routine hospital records classify waste by hazard and rarely identify non-infectious medical plastics (NIMP) as a distinct material stream, leaving circularity opportunities unmeasured. This study developed a hospital-level circular economy (CE) indicator framework for NIMP and assessed its applicability at two Thai tertiary hospitals. A structured review of 24 source documents yielded 375 indicator records, which were consolidated into 53 candidates and screened to 36 indicators across Material Circularity (16), Operational Integration (11), and Policy and Governance (9). Each indicator was assessed at each site against available evidence, from routine records and documents to field sorting and weighing, and classified as Ready, Hospital-level proxy, or Data-limited. Of the 36 indicators, 27 at Site A and 24 at Site B were represented as a value or proxy; the remaining nine and 12 were data-limited, and the same nine indicators were data-limited at both sites. The pattern was consistent across the two sites despite their different record systems: field-measured material and document-based governance indicators could be measured directly, whereas indicators requiring NIMP-specific data could not. The framework provides a practical basis for assessing readiness for routine NIMP circularity reporting and identifying priority data gaps.

Jejudo Island’s sustainable urbanisation journey offers a compelling narrative that distinguishes its cultural heritage from the broader South Korean experience. This paper investigates the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and sustainable urban development in Jejudo Island during the phase 1946~1970. Unlike the rapid industrialisation of mainland South Korea, Jejudo Island’s development has been shaped by geographic isolation, harsh environmental conditions, and a smaller population. These factors have preserved unique traditions, such as the Jejuuh dialect, Haenyeo (female divers), and Dottongsi (pig latrine systems), which reflect a deeply rooted harmony between human activity and the natural environment. The study employs a mixed-method approach, including content analysis of archival data and a questionnaire survey of 330 Jeju Special Self-Governing Province officials. Findings reveal widespread awareness of Jejudo Island’s cultural practices and their perceived contributions to economic, social and environmental sustainability. Senior officials strongly support preserving these traditions, underscoring the need to engage younger generations through targeted education and community initiatives. A core distinction between Jejudo Island and mainland South Korea lies in the island’s reliance on communal labour-sharing systems (Sunureum), collective social networks (Gwendang), and ritualistic respect for nature (Singugan). These practices exemplify Jejudo Island’s cultural resilience and self-reliant development model, which contrasts with South Korea’s top-down, growth-centric urban strategies. The research advocates for integrating Indigenous knowledge into urban planning frameworks, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Jejudo Island stands as a model for balancing modernisation with preserving intangible heritage, offering lessons for sustainable urbanisation globally.

Improper waste management poses considerable risks to both the environment and human health. Despite Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) is one of promising alternative technologies of waste management, however, it is necessary to gain insight into all environmental impacts of RDF as alternative fuel. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate potential environmental footprints and climate change related impacts from a case study of RDF power plant in Thailand. By employing the life cycle assessment (LCA) concept, gate-to-gate approach was selected as a study boundary. Functional unit was defined as “1MWh of electricity generation”. IMPACT2002+, Greenhouse Gas Protocol and IPCC2013 methods were chosen to determine life cycle potential environmental impacts and carbon- based emission. The key findings revealed that resources impact showed the highest environmental footprint, followed by climate change, human health, and ecosystem quality categories, respectively. Electricity consumption was considered the most important environmental burden associated with the RDF production (1.66 mPt). By considering the climate change impacts, the results shown that electricity-consumed in the RDF generation emitted the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions (6.81 kgCO2e), compared to diesel and natural gas utilizations. Overall, proper management efforts to minimize all negative environmental and climate impacts are necessary in the RDF electricity operation.

Climate change is currently recognized as one of the most sustainability challenges of our era. Accelerated actions to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are urgently needed in all sectors, including the waste sector. This study aimed to qualify GHG emissions from waste management in one of high-income cities in Thailand and to evaluate factors influencing effective solid waste management based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for weighting the modified OECD inventory of circular economy indicators. By employing the IPCC default method and the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the key findings showed that municipal landfill located in the case city emitted the largest share of total emissions in the waste sector between 2018 and 2022 (445,112 – 501,761 tCO_2e/year, 0.21-0.24 tCO_2e/capita/year of emission intensity). Meanwhile, biological treatment of municipal solid waste (composting) emitted only 24,240.45 tCO_2e/year (506.33 tCH₄/year and 37.97 N₂O/year). Besides, the AHP analysis revealed that governance factors (i.e., awareness raising, stakeholder engagement) had the highest AHP score (0.3717), followed by environmental benefits (i.e., emission reduction) (0.3542), infrastructure and technology (0.1754), respectively. Interestingly, economic aspects and job creation represented the lowest AHP score (0.0475 – 0.0512). Overall, co-benefits of GHG mitigation and sustainable municipal solid waste (i.e. environmental and socio-economic aspects), stakeholder partnership and good governance in municipal solid waste management should be holistic integrated in strategic planning at city level.

Resilience has gained significant prominence in the management of climate-related shocks and the minimization of disaster risks. Assessing flood resilience is, therefore, crucial in identifying areas lacking support and opportunities for development. Comprehensive risk assessments are urgently required, especially in areas prone to floods. By applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), stakeholder meetings, and keyword analysis, this study aims to assess the flood resilience of Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya Province (PNSAP) in Thailand, an area at high risk of flooding and home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Arup and Rockefeller Foundation’s City Resilience indicators, the key elements for building resilience in PNSAP include effective emergency response services, comprehensive hazard monitoring and risk assessment, and emergency medical care. In addition, the focus group discussions and keyword analysis identified the following critical components for strengthening flood resilience: “financial aspects”, “community awareness and preparedness”, “multi-stakeholder collaboration”, “citizen engagement”, and “urban flood monitoring and data management.” Moreover, to gain insight into the perceptions of people in local communities, the results of a household survey (n = 552) indicated that approximately one-third of the respondents had never engaged in flood preparedness activities. Neither the gender nor the education level of the respondents significantly influenced their engagement in flood preparedness. The respondents also perceived that infrastructure flexibility, affordable transport networks, flood monitoring and data management, the adequate provision of critical services, and reliable communication systems in building resilience were important during a flood disaster. These results provide valuable insight into the community’s perception of the effectiveness of disaster risk reduction mechanisms for building flood resilience in PNSAP and can serve as a useful guide for future resilience-building initiatives. By addressing these factors, PNSAP could enhance its resilience to the impacts of flooding and contribute to the global field of flood management and resilience building.

China updated its NDC in 2020, pledging to achieve carbon peaking before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To achieve these targets, China must revise its energy mix planning to increase energy security and meet the demand for low-carbon energy production to combat climate change. Linfen is one of the most important economic cities in Shanxi Province, which is one of China's most important coal-producing regions and is plagued by high pollution and high energy consumption. Linfen was chosen as the city of interest for this study due to being a coal hub and one of the most polluted cities in the nation. To ensure effective policy implementation, it is essential to investigate citizens understanding and integrate their perceptions into policy formulation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of Linfen citizens regarding China's National Determined Contributions (NDCs) on energy transformation for enhancing quality of life. The questionnaire, containing 27 questions, was distributed online, and received 402 valid responses. The finding revealed that 72.14% of respondents indicated that people were concerned about climate change, and more than 80% agreed with the China NDC's target of increasing the use of renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. They also revealed that developing renewable energy projects based on China's NDCs could improve their quality of life while also boosting the city's economic and social benefits. Nevertheless, it was observed that 10.34% of the participants showed a limited knowledge of the local environmental regulations and China's NDCs. To achieve the government's goals of carbon neutrality by 2030, it is essential to increase the awareness, engagement, and education of Chinese citizens. This will facilitate successful carbon neutrality efforts and necessitate the implementation of public outreach programs that foster communication among diverse stakeholder groups at the local level.

The increasing environmental concerns and dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sectors necessitate a shift towards renewable energy. Off-grid communities can particularly benefit from standalone, scaled renewable power plants. This study developed a comprehensive techno-economic framework, analyzed the objective metrics, and assessed the influence of economies of scale in solar PV power plants to electrify off-grid communities, taking Baluchistan, Pakistan, as a pilot case. Simulations and analyses were performed using the System Advisor Model (SAM). The results indicate a noteworthy reduction in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) with increased power generation capacity. It was observed that utilizing bi-facial modules with single-axis tracking leads to a more cost-effective LCOE compared to the relatively expensive dual-axis trackers. The main cost factors identified in the analysis were capital costs, installed balance of plant (BOP), mechanical, and electrical costs. Notably, the disparity between the highest and lowest LCOE values across the six different power generation pathways amounted to approximately 38.5%. The average LCOE was determined to be 2.14 USD/kWh for fixed-mounted plants, 1.79 USD/kWh for single-axis plants, and 1.74 USD/kWh for dual-axis plants across the examined power generation capacity range. The findings can serve as a valuable benchmark, specifically for regional key stakeholders, in making informed investment decisions, formulating effective policies, and devising appropriate strategies for off-grid electrification and the development of renewable energy value chains.