Why Indian cities need sustainability

Very often, the impacts of climate change are studied in terms of rural areas. The rural approach in terms of impact assessment from climate change is justified because the rural population of the country are the most vulnerable because of their dependency on natural resources. The government of India along with several key international and domestic non-governmental organisation are working towards adaptation and mitigation mechanisms to minimize the impacts of climate change mostly in rural areas.

With respect to climate change, adaptation means antedating the impacts of climate change and acclimating to the impacts either to minimize the damage (Switching to renewable sources) or to reap the benefit from the impacts (Changing agricultural patterns with respect to the changing climate). Mitigation means limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases by using new technology or renewable technology and by changing older technology more efficient.

The urban centers of India are also under pressure from the impacts of climate change. The impacts can be seen in the bad air quality levels in the major cities. Congestion, ground water pollution, lack of green cover, climate variability and change are gripping the urban cities. One must not overlook the contribution of the cities in the carbon emission list. The ever increasing automobiles on the street are emitting carbon dioxide, Air-conditioners, and other electric appliances are consuming electricity which is increasing the demand for more. According to the Food & Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO) report states that, “Cities occupy less than 3% of the global terrestrial surface but accounts for 78% of the carbon emissions”. The improvement in the quality of life is not improving the environment in the urban areas.  

The problem is the lack of attention from the policy makers. Considerable work has been done in the rural areas but somehow very little has been done in the urban settings. Though sustainable practices like carpooling and consumption of power saving home appliances are being followed by the people but it has not happened on a larger scale. The depleting levels and pollution of groundwater is another big problem in the urban areas.

The solution lies in developing a framework in tandem to the United Nation’s Sustainable cities programme. 

The main focus of the policy makers have to be on improving resource use and reducing pollution and poverty. The growing number of slums in urban hubs of India does not have access to the basic services. Waste management is a big issue in the urban areas where waste is being burnt in the open with the minimum segregation. Sanitation is another facet where much improvement is required. Open defecation and urination is also an issue in the urban areas. More public toilet complexes should be made for addressing this issue. From the gender perspective, women have been vulnerable because of the lack of sanitation infrastructure.

Safe drinking water is another issue where more emphasis should be given. The groundwater should be protected and new groundwater conservation and rainwater harvesting should be given priority. Increasing the green cover of urban areas should also be in the priority list of the policy makers as to tackle the increasing carbon emissions, green cover in a city is the necessary. For instance, the concept of urban green space can be implemented.    

Urban areas are the economic hotbeds where people come to better their standard of living. But without a healthy environment, there is no improvement in the standard of living. The need of the hour in India is more sustainable cities.

The art of procastination

Sitting at the same place
Checking the clock, expecting the time for solace
With unending deadlines looming over head
He fantasizes of painting the town red.

Monday to Friday, all looks the same
With the free office internet, he is always game
From close friends to distant relatives, he chats with them all
In the allotted nine hours, he is having a ball

The toilet, canteen, terrace becoming his lair
With innumerable cigarettes up in the air, he even finds time for his hair
As the multiple tabs are piling on,
He realizes that its time to move on.

As the clock shrieks six
His mind is in a fix
The time for solace has arrived
But the assignment has still not been derived

I will do it tomorrow, exults the golden boy
While his mind experiences a gust of ardent joy
He has indeed survived another day,
With the art of procrastination in his bay. 
      

Climate change: Time to take action

Climate change: Time to take action

With natural calamities on the rise, it is without reasonable doubt that climate change is real. No matter what people may believe, climate change is happening and India should buckle up to at least minimise natural tragedies like the one in Jammu & Kashmir. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent annual report, the global temperature is going to increase by 2 to 3 degrees by 2030. Climate change is no longer a notion but comes with scientific facts and data.

The good thing about climate change is that its impacts are predictable and human actions can restore such changes over a period of time. However, the bad news is that more than half of India’s population does not have much knowledge about climate change and an overwhelming sentiment is that since we are a developing nation, we need to first get admitted into the ‘developed club’, i.e. we can still release substantial amounts of carbon emissions, and fulfil our ‘superpower’ dreams.

The impacts of climate change over India are pretty diverse. In Assam, incessant rains are creating havoc, loss of life and property with each passing day. Similarly, the rain is playing hide and seek with Delhi with highly unpredictable rainfall patterns.

In the hilly parts of the country, landslides too are becoming a regular phenomenon, courtesy - massive deforestation. In pursuit of development, we are busy chasing foreign investment, and the recent ‘Make in India’ campaign simply shows India’s lethargic approach over fighting climate change. It is a helpless situation where one is witness to such stark environmental changes and is not able to do anything about it. 

The need of the hour is a reality check.

Currently, India is focussing more on its developmental needs which seems justified when we look at the percentage of the poor and the unemployed. But, development would be justified only if environment is sustained. A recent World Health Organization report cited that Delhi’s air is so polluted that breathing here is equivalent to being a chain smoker.

The National State Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was released in 2009. The objective of the action plan was to come out with a comprehensive framework to address climate change and bring in mitigation and adaptation approaches to policy–making processes. All the states have been asked to develop a State Action Plan on Climate Change. In 2014, only seven states have their action plans. Work towards tackling climate change is underway but the pace is very slow. Numerous studies by organisations like Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) etc. and Central governmental agencies like the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, have analysed the vulnerabilities from a climate change perspective and say that the rural poor will face the most impacts of a changing climate.

At the least, India will have to follow five important approaches to strengthening its stand on tackling climate change.

The first and foremost approach of policy makers should be to lay stress on the dissemination of knowledge on climate change and creating awareness amongst people.

Second, adaptation and mitigation have to be given more importance. According to Climate Action, EU, "adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause, or taking advantage of opportunities that may arise. It has been shown that well planned, early adaptation action saves money and lives later."

Whereas according to United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), “Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energies, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behaviour. It can be as complex as a plan for a new city or as a simple as improvements to a cook stove design. Efforts underway around the world range from high-tech subway systems to bicycling paths and walkways. Protecting natural carbon sinks like forests and oceans, or creating new sinks through green agriculture are also elements of mitigation".

The policy makers have to keep these two approaches in mind while formulating climate change policies since now it is about limiting and adjusting the damages rather than repairing it.

Third, strengthening the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is of upmost importance. The NDMA is the backbone, in terms of rehabilitating the nation in the event of any natural or manmade calamity. With increasing climate change induced disasters, the NDMA needs to be strengthened to be able to minimise the loss of lives and property by taking effective steps. A stronger NDMA will provide better and faster rehabilitation approaches.

There is a need to employ a multi-dimensional approach in analysing climate change in the Indian context. For instance, the fact that the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) recognises the relationship of climate change and gender but there is no concrete approach on tackling climate change’s impact on gender, which is of grave concern.

Policy makers need to broaden their horizon and look for unconventional as well as conventional ways of inculcating adaptation and mitigation into policy making. Similarly, other sectors like health, renewable technology, agriculture, forestry, industries, and water issues require equal attention which is only possible by creating separate departments for strengthening each sector without any administrative and jurisdictional confusion.

Also special consideration and attention need to be placed on the diversity of the country. Applying one particular approach on the whole nation will only worsen the strengthening process. The topography, demography has to be taken into consideration as well as the rural urban divide. Therefore any approach or step should be aimed at being context-specific to maximise its impact. 

Lastly, the government must push for a carbon neutral economy. As a developing country, the impetus is on attaining a developed status. There is no problem in pursuing development but the pursuit becomes a constraint if the cost for development is a degraded environment. A carbon neutral economy will sustain development and environmental restoration simultaneously. Subsidising renewable technology is one way of embarking on the path towards a carbon neutral economy.

The climate is changing and will continue to change. Therefore it is we, the people, who have to take the responsibility of restoring the environment. It is a fact we all need to realise. At the end of the day, a healthy GDP, better economy, high standard of living etc. is only valid if we have a liveable atmosphere. Complacency is not going to save the world. Actions will. We can’t wait till tomorrow. This is our only home.

 
The path is full of uncertainties but there has to be a start somewhere.