Archive for Cool Cities
April 29, 2011 at 4:34 am · Filed under Climate Change, Cool City Lahore, Environment, Events, Health Hazard, Pressure Points, West Punjab
SDPI Monday Seminar on
Climate Change Adaptation through Promotion of
Alternate and Energy Efficient Technologies in Pakistan
Date: Monday 2nd May, 2011
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Venue: SDPI Seminar Hall, 38, Embassy Road, G-6/3, Islamabad
Climate change is a global phenomenon and a challenging reality for thinkers, planners, policymakers and professionals alike. It is a phenomenon that is likely to impact almost every sector of Pakistan’s economy. Today it stands not only as a major environmental issue but also as a multi-dimensional developmental issue.
Climate change resulting from an increasing concentration of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere due to the use of fossil fuels and other human activities has become a major worldwide concern. It is particularly so for Pakistan because climate change could pose a direct threat to its water security, food security and energy security. The country’s vulnerability to such adverse impacts is likely to increase considerably in the coming decades as the average global temperature, which increased by 0.6 °C over the past century, is projected to increase further by 1.1 to 6.4 °C by the end of the current century. Pakistan contributes only about 0.38% of the total global GHG emissions. On per capita basis, Pakistan with 1.9 tonnes per capita GHG emissions stands at a level which corresponds to about one-third of the world average, one-fifth of the average for Western Europe and one tenth of the per capita emissions in the U.S., putting it at 135th place in the world ranking of countries on the basis of their per capita GHG emissions.
For mitigating and reducing the GHG emissions from the energy sector Energy Security Action Plan 2005-2030 envisages large roles for hydropower, renewable energy technologies (in particular, windmills), nuclear power and alternate energy technologies in future energy supplies. A number of projects on energy efficiency improvement, energy conservation and use of decentralized renewable energy technologies being implemented by many institutions including Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET).
The focus of this seminar is to create awareness about changing climate scenarios and provide recommendations for efficient use of alternate energy sources through adopting adaptation measures and promoting energy efficient technologies. Further the introduction of Energy Efficient Cooking Stoves (EECS) Technology would be highlighted in presentations and during the session. An energy efficient stove is a new technology that is replacing our traditional stoves. Traditional stoves are big threat to firewood consumption and forest degradation.
Chair
Mr Abdul Rasheed Khan, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoP
Speakers
Dr Mahmood A. Khwaja, Senior Advisor, SDPI
Mr Zafar Iqbal Khokhar, Director General, Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technology PCRET
Mr Babar Khan, National Integrated and Development Association (NIDA) Pakistan, Besham
Mr Bakht Muhammad, Sahara Welfare Foundation (SWF), Malakand
Ms Javeriya Hasan, Research associate, SDPI
Ms Anusha Sherazi, Project Associate, SDPI
For further details please contact:
Anusha Sherazi
Research Assistant
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
House 38, Old Embassy Road, G-6/3, Islamabad-Pakistan
anusha@sdpi.org
anusha_sherazi87@yahoo.com
Tel: ++(92-51) 2270674-6, 2275642, 2278134
Fax: ++(92-51)2278135
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December 10, 2010 at 5:33 pm · Filed under Arts, Cool Cities, Pressure Points and tagged: Amitabh Bachan blog, Art Deco, Heritage Regulations for Mumbai, Mumbai India, Queen's Necklace, Share your memories of Marine Drive
Marine Drive in Mumbai, with its windswept promenade, sweeping row of Art Deco buildings, and where many citizens take in a breath of fresh air and view the daily sunsets, is under threat.
From builders in collusion with politicians and corrupt government
officials, who are working systematically to destroy Mumba’s iconic
sea-front.
The last few years have seen numerous amendments and attempts to lift the legal protection available to this heritage percinct precinct from the CRZ and Heritage Regulations for Mumbai.
Are we soon going to be left with only memories of the “Queen’s Necklace”?
Amitabh Bachan has recently written on his blog about his memories of Marine Drive. Read at http://bigb.bigadda.com/?p=7060
What are your favourite memories of Marine Drive? Do share your thoughts and memories. Send these to info@karmayog.org. These will be compiled and displayed on the Karmayog website.
Regards,
Vinay
www.karmayog.org
PS: If you would like to help a group of citizens fighting to save Marine Drive, do mention that in an email and send us your contact details.
PPS: If you do not wish to receive emails, please inform us.
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December 8, 2009 at 12:41 am · Filed under Cool City Lahore, Environment, Green Belts, Health Hazard, Natural Resources, Social Environment, West Punjab and tagged: City District Government Lahore (CDGL), lahore, Sign 'Save Lahore Canal' Petition
Here is the link to the Petition: Save Lahore Canal Petition
To: The Citizens of Lahore
As you may have heard, The Punjab government is planning to widen the road on both sides of the Lahore Canal, from Thokar Niaz Baig to Dharampura, as a so-called solution for the congestion on the canal road due to the rapidly increasing automobile population. The Punjab Chief Minister had announced that the project would begin immediately after Eid-ul-Azha, however, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took suo moto notice and effectively restrained the government from commencing work on the project on 27 November 2009. The government has not fulfilled its legal obligation of carrying out an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) for the project and the lack of transparency of the program is depriving the citizens of Lahore from having a say in this change.
Sign the Petition
It is the consensus of a great number of organizations and groups of concerned citizens that the Rs 3.15 billion project violates basic principles of traffic design and will not only prove ineffective in countering traffic congestion, but also lead to an outstanding number of problems related to the well-being of the public and the environment. Widened roads have historically proven to only end up attracting more traffic, and the government’s focus on providing for the car-owning citizen over the abounding majority (which requires public transport, sidewalks, public toilets, phones and drinking water) is entirely against the principles of equity. The project also means the cutting down of several thousand old trees and losing over 50 acres of the green belt, which is sure to lead to a staggering number of environmental problems including rising temperatures and carbon and toxic content, not to mention the loss of ancient species of trees and shrubs that provide shelter to a variety of birds and small animals. The historical, environmental, recreational and aesthetic value of this green space cannot be stressed enough.
Sign the Petition
We demand that our voice be heard to address these critical issues and help preserve the beauty and grandeur of our city.
Sincerely,
created by Members of Lahore Chitrkar, and written by Shahid Mirza (info@lahorechitrkar.com).
Sign the Petition
December 2, 2009 at 3:59 am · Filed under Cool City Lahore, Environment, Events, Green Belts, Social Environment, West Punjab and tagged: Concerned Citizens of Pakistan, Lahore Bachao, Lahore Chitrkar, punjab, Save Lahore Canal, Save Our City, Shajr Dost, WWF
Following the announcement of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the Canal Road Widening Project, activists from Lahore Bachao Tehreek, Shajar Dost, the Concerned Citizens of Pakistan and the WWF appeared before the Supreme Court today along with officials from Environment Protection Agency of the Punjab, NESPAK and the Punjab provincial Government.
The Chief Justice took strong exception to the fact that the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) was attempting to rush through a Rs. 3.15 billion project for an environment impact assessment of a project that had incurred a cost of mere Rs. 700 million. The Chief Justice questioned Punjab Government’s decision to allocate so much money for a project that would aid only automobile drivers – a small percentage of the residents of the city. He observed that the Canal widening project threatened to destroy the natural heritage of the city of Lahore.
The Chief Justice has ordered that the project be stopped till the next date of hearing, and has directed the parties involved to appear before him on 21 December, 2009.
Information on the environmental and social impact of Lahore canal widening project by Rabia Nadir
A short film on Lahore canal by Shahid Mirza
Photographs of Lahore Canal,
Short film by Danayal rasheed on urban issues of Lahore
Lahore Bachao on Facebook
earthPoems 