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Residents must be active players in efforts to improve their own quality of life, not just cast votes in city elections every four years and wait for politicians to help them, they added.

"We have to feel we are owners of this city, not just service recipients," said Dr Decharut Sukkumnoed, director of the Healthy Public Policy Foundation.

"If the new Bangkok governor is to successfully create a people-friendly city, they must mobilise resident participation and honour its input."

Most candidates for the position dwell in the world of "traditional politics". They promise policies. But when they fail to deliver, nobody holds them responsible because residents don't feel "a part of" those policies, Decharut said.

Introducing a mechanism called health impact assessment, Decharut said it could be a crucial tool in minimising the health, social and environmental impacts of urban development.

Public participation is at the heart of the idea and ensures development "encompasses people's concerns".

He cited the impact from construction of new residential high-rises along Skytrain routes and key business areas. Residents in these neighbourhoods must endure inconvenience without having a say how they want to be protected.

National Health Commission adviser Dr Wiput Poolcharoen advocates the assessment to protect public health.

He said it could be used to scrutinise how the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and its leaders spend money for the benefit of residents.

"The process will give transparency to budget allocation," Wiput said.

"Bangkok residents are mostly well-educated people. They should be encouraged to take part in how their taxes are spent."

Anat Prapasawad, managing director of Advance Energy Plus, said it was time governors incorporated future issues into urban planning.

He said climate change could contribute positively to Bangkok's environment, health and quality of life if green projects were pursued.

"Say we want to create bike lanes all over the city because we have to get people out of their cars and reduce carbon emission and traffic congestion. The governor should plan to seek carbon credits from those reduced emissions," he said.

"Money from selling carbon credits can be used to fund green projects to make Bangkok a more liveable city."