5(a) Effects of urbanization and climate change are converging dangerously in India.

Explain using spatial examples.

CONTENT:

Cities are major contributors to climate change. They produce more than 60% of all
carbon dioxide and significant amounts of other greenhouse gas emissions. At the
same time, cities and towns are heavily vulnerable to climate change.
Due to uncontrolled urbanization in India, environmental degradation has been
occurring very rapidly and causing many problems like land insecurity, worsening
water quality, excessive air pollution, noise and the problems of waste disposal. There
is a two-way linkage between urbanization and climate change.
Hundreds of millions of people in urban areas across the world including India will
be affected by rising sea levels, increased precipitation, inland floods, more frequent
and stronger cyclones and storms, and periods of more extreme heat and cold
According to IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) AR5 (Assessment
Report 5) Synthesis Report, climate change will increase risks like heat stress, storms
and extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, landslides, air pollution,
drought, water scarcity, the rise in the sea level and storm surges in the cities.
MAJOR CAUSES:

Encroachment of green spaces: Very high rate of population growth of metro cities
has led to encroachment of green spaces like wetlands, forests, rivers etc. It makes
urban areas vulnerable to extreme events like foods, draught etc.
Over Utilisation of Resource: Cities, by their very nature, are energy intensive i.e. they
need more supply of electricity, water, and land. Besides, the changing lifestyles that
allow people to splurge - shopping in malls, living in high-rises with spas, swimming
pools, gyms, etc. - definitely shoots up the requirements of essential resources like
water and electricity.
Inefficient building designs: Which does not recycle resources, does not use natural
light, ventilation and thus waste energy.
Transportation: High use of personal vehicles result into higher fossil fuel use and
greater GHG emission which then contribute to climate change.
Slums and other illegal encroachments create additional burden on cities because
their resource requirement have not been taken into consideration at the time of
planning. These are also associated with most inefficient utilization of resources.
SPATIAL EXAMPLES:

Many major coastal cities globally with populations of more than 10 million people are
already under threat. In India, also Mumbai is facing the threat of rising sea level.
Climate change may also negatively impact infrastructure and worsen access to basic
urban services and quality of life in cities. The floods in Chennai, Gurugram,
Chandigarh, Mumbai etc created havoc for authorities. In addition, most of the vital
economic and social infrastructure, government facilities, and assets are located in
cities.
The issue of Urban Heat Island is becoming so alarming almost everywhere
The most affected populations are the urban poor - i.e., slum dwellers in major cities
of India - who tend to live along river banks, on hillsides and slopes prone to
landslides, near polluted grounds, on decertified land, in unstable structures
vulnerable to earthquakes, and along waterfronts in coastal areas.
Frequent outbreaks of Epedemics at various parts of India , particularly cities
WAY FORWARD:
 According to the Twelfth Five Year Plan, India loses up to 2 percent of its GDP due to
natural disasters of which floods and high winds account for 60 percent.
The challenge therefore is to link climate change to local environmental and other
developmental priorities.
On the supply side, there are strategies that make certain alternative sources of energy
more attractive to users than fossil fuels.
On the demand side, a better planned city with reduced urban sprawl, greener
buildings, and better public transport can reduce a city's carbon footprint while at the
same time providing a better quality of life for its citizens and an environment that is
more attractive for business.
Establishment Green Building and infrastructure can function using an optimum
amount of energy, consume less water, conserve natural resources, generate less waste
and create spaces for healthy and comfortable living, as compared to conventional
buildings. Green buildings not only reduce these impacts but are also healthier and
consume less energy saving money in the long run. Apart from this protection of
natural resources like water bodies, wetlands, salt pans, and mangroves play a
significant role as they have the capacity to absorb such climatic shocks; failing which
the cities would be washed away in no time.

CASE STUDIES:
Olympia Tech Park Chennai: Rated as one of the largest LEED Gold rating buildings of the
world, this tech park has the lowest energy consumption, high natural lighting systems, 100
per cent water recycling and other environment-friendly practices.