Cities and climate change

Rapid urbanisation has enabled cities to become engines of economic growth and helped reduce urban poverty levels. But the same process has made them highly vulnerable to the severe effects of climate change. Although cities use only two per cent of the land mass, they are responsible for 75 per cent of human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere, making them the biggest contributors to global warming. To bring world attention to this disquieting fact, UN Habitat has chosen the theme of Cities and Climate Change for this year's World Habitat Day. The larger objective is to drive home the point that unless growth is intelligently planned for and energy use patterns are rethought radically, cities run a big environmental risk, which would make them susceptible to climate-changeinduced disasters such as sea level increase and frequent flooding. Urban sprawl, combined with unsustainable transportation planning and energy guzzling building practices, has been the main source for the GHG emission. Urban waste now accounts for only 3 per cent of total emissions, but given the accelerated expansion of urban populations, increasing waste volumes could become a big concern in the conceivable future. How have the Indian policymakers measured up to these challenges? A mission on sustainable habitat has been constituted as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Instead of seriously promoting a green growth model and pushing for radical reforms in urban planning, the mission has been pursuing an ineffective incremental approach. It has not influenced any major policy shifts at the State or city level. Despite the rapid increase in commercial building construction, the new Energy Conservation Build ing Code, framed four years ago, is yet to be made mandatory, nor have the States integrated it into their building regulations. Given the present trends, electricity-related emissions are likely to increase by 390 per cent in four decades (UNEP, 2010) and could cost the cities dear. It is now established that every one per cent increase in the density of urban areas would reduce the carbon monoxide level by 0.7 per cent. Specific environmental targets have not been built into the urban planning process. A high-density, poly-nodal, public-transport oriented urban pattern that would reduce travel distances and encourage non-motorised travel has not found favour with India's city planners. It is vital that urban and climate change policies synergise at the local body level and a sustainable growth pattern is adopted on priority. Simultaneously, the resilience of cities, particularly of their poor areas, has to be vastly improved so that they can better manage the impact of climate change.

Comments:
It is a pity much is talked about urbanization evil effect on climate but very little done to prevent this; the reason why rural folks flock to cities is mainly survival - this must be addressed, by creating enough opportunities in our villages, by micro industries and development of skills to locals,that could help reduce immigration and resultant upsurge of urban population. Who cares - none of our top leaders are committed to this principle. So we continue to face this problem - will also witness total disastrous consequences in health related issues; God save India ! from: Radhik Hairam Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 00:56 IST

Urban Heat-island affect directly introduces heat to global warming. Recently UNEP & WMO released a new concept in Kenya, Nairobi, "Stopgap climate change" where pollution and health hazards are highlighted. NOx and VOCs released into atmosphere under sunlight convert in to ground level ozone, which health irritant and also several times more effective GHG over carbon dioxide. NOx comes from the vehicles. Adulterated fuel produces more NOx. VOCs are released by industries in and around urban centres. To minimise these rural development activities that provide alternate employment or additional income are essential to reduce urban migration. Secondly, rail based public transport system in urban areas is essential. from: Dr. S. Jeevananda Reddy Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 06:01 IST Dear Editor: It isn't clear whether the last word on Climate Change has been said as of yet. Robert Bryce, a senior fellow at the Manhattan institute and author of "Power Hungry: The myths of Green Energy and the real fuels of the future" states that in the same decade that Mr Al Gore and the IPCC dominated the environmental debate, global CO2 emissions rose by 28.5%. Those increases reflect soaring demand for electricity, up by 36% which in turn fostered a 47% increase in coal consumption. CO2 emissions are growing because people around the world understand the essentiality of electricity to modernity. And for many modern countries, the cheapest way to produce electricity is by burning coal. Regardless of whether its getting hotter or colder-or both- we are going to need to produce a lot more energy to remain productive and comfortable. from: Dwarakanath Srinivasan Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 06:08 IST In the goodwill of both,the planet and mankind this issue needs to be given more weight.Environment issues have fond favour with the hearts and heads of educated people ,which is a good sign.We must owe the responsibility of promoting environmental ethics in a splendid style in the interests of all of us. from: Saurabh shubham Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 07:30 IST From last twenty years all our cities are overpopulated,congested,too much vehicles made life unsecured people living in hell. You could not walk on footpath because they are occupied by hawkers.No good playground for kids.We can till save our cities if citizens determined but no one have a will - everyone thinks selfishly.Let me tell one ancient myth how our citizens behave selfishly.Long long ago there was a small kingdom in remote part of India.Once there arises a very terrible contagious disease many people were dying,King requested to his citizens please bring liter milk and pour in jug we can offer this milk to Goddess to please her with her blessing disease can finished. One citizen think why not to pour one liter water in jug that can easily mix up with milk of others so he poued water instead of milk other citizens also behaved same way so jug was filled by water. from: Ramesh Raghuvanshi Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 12:36 IST

No proper planning. Its complete destructive growth. It has become worse after the reforms and especially in last 10 years. from: Giridhar Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 18:12 IST I am scared to opine that with the advent of modern technologies and rapid urbanisation,the word rural is going to be a history .We were always known to be an Aricultural nation but the past 20-25 years have seen us transform into highly urbanised country.HIMUDA,HUDA,NOIDA,etc are some of the names that have made their presence felt big time.This has somehow added to higher life standards for few but at the cost of impediments for larger few.Displacement of agricultural land into sophisticated and salubrious accomodations have pretty much cause a major trouble for the larger chunk of population.Noise pollution,landslides at construction sites,drainage problems are few of the problems associated.In short Unplanned urbanisation at the cost of these menaces is a risky bargain. from: Anurag s Thakur Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 19:25 IST There is no magic wand for a sustainable growth. The shedding of crocodile tears by the environmentalists on the issue of climate change will no way bring a reform whereby our political patrons shall go for a synergistic policy overhaul to assist a sustainable growth. The issue will remain unattended as long as there is no tangib le loss to the human society, but that will be too late. So, the repercussions of the climate change must be addressed in a much exaggerated fashion to impart public awareness and a social consensus, so that the future generation is not devoid of the benign mother nature. Adds pertaining to climate change and the curse of urbanization should be vigorously displayed in popular TV channels and Internet. The endeavor of Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity is much needed than before in this regard. from: Krushna Prasad Pradhan Posted on: Oct 8, 2011 at 20:36 IST The huge socio economic differences prevail in the urban and rural societies of india.Huge population habitating in the rural areas with the huge deprivations. the dwindelling resorces and the weakening rural resource infrastructure force the rural people to the urban areas.the non uniforn regional development in india promote the migration to the few urbanised spots.The urban cities which were never developed taking care this huge migration face the various problems like scarce resources of power ,water etc supplies. The peak hours streat jams ,the concentrating pollution in these hubs leaves the harmful effects on the health of the peoples.the under capacity waste disposal facitlity and the sewer handling system causes health problems. The unbalanced urban migration also cause the problem of the growing social corruptions there.the sky rocketing inflation further deteorate the socio economic situation of these urban migrated labour population dividing the city in rich and under poor. from: KHAN Posted on: Oct 9, 2011 at 07:57 IST

The debate on global warming and climate change has just been injected with some fresh perspective by the latest findings of the scientists at CERN, where recent studies have now found that the 'cosmic radiation' of the Sun,and not man-induced action,really,accounts for global warming! Although it would be quite early to interpret it as conclusive evidence,what needs to be realized is that the climate change quagmire is far from the unilateral rhetoric of castigating neo-liberal policies - an almost cathartic reaction amongst various policy makers and sections of the media. A nuanced approach,devoid of prejudicial leanings is desired. from: Smit Maheshwari Posted on: Oct 9, 2011 at 11:11 IST Rapid urbanisation due to industrilization & infrastructure has resulted human migration and climate change even though our motive is to better the villages. Village development must include better agricultural produce, transport, education, potable water and health care. Municipalities and panchayats are ruining the country by wasting tax money with bad roads & sanitation and with zero contribution in tree plantation and growth for better green environment. These institutions should be absolved of all other responsibilities except sanitation & clean n green if we are serious to help better climate. We should double our tree wealth in coming three years for our survival to make India a great contributor to nature. from: Vyas K Susarla Posted on: Oct 9, 2011 at 12:16 IST Currently,I along with my professor working on Urban Air Pollution.There no doubt that Rapid urbanisation has enabled cities to become engines of economic growth and helped reduce urban poverty levels. But the same process has made them highly vulnerable to the severe effects of climate change. Although cities use only two per cent of the land mass, they are responsible for 75 per cent of human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere, making them the biggest contributors to global warming. from: SIRAJUDDIN.M.HORAGINAMANI Posted on: Oct 17, 2011 at 11:03 IST