Bangkok is currently serving as the regional hub for transformative urban planning as Mr. Wisanu Subsompon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, officially welcomed over 160 delegates to the United Nations Conference Centre for a high-stakes summit on sustainable transportation. The EST Regional Meeting, which runs from March 16–18, 2026, serves as a critical workshop to accelerate the Aichi 2030 Declaration, a comprehensive roadmap for greener, safer, and more inclusive mobility across the Asia-Pacific region. Addressing a diverse assembly of urban planners, environmentalists, and international infrastructure experts, Deputy Governor Wisanu emphasized that while the region shares the heavy burdens of traffic gridlock, air pollution, and climate change, these common struggles offer a unique opportunity for collective innovation and shared solutions.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is positioning itself as a proactive model for this shift, championing a philosophy of “People Mobility over Vehicle Mobility”. Over the last several years, the city has overhauled more than 1,200 kilometers of sidewalks to prioritize pedestrians and developed “first-and-last mile” solutions to bridge the gap between residential areas and public transit hubs. By integrating public bicycle systems, upgrading bus stops, and deploying real-time travel data, the BMA is attempting to make the daily commute less of a logistical headache and more of a seamless, eco-friendly experience for its citizens.

This international effort is supported by a powerful coalition of partners, including the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). The primary objective is to build a robust knowledge network where member countries can exchange best practices in policy, finance, and technology, ensuring that local successes can be scaled to a regional level. As Deputy Governor Wisanu noted, the road to sustainability is paved with shared experiences. By strengthening regional cooperation, the summit aims to ensure that the transport systems of tomorrow are not just economically efficient but are designed to fundamentally improve the quality of life for everyone in the Asia-Pacific.
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