Publication by National Academies, "Compact Development Could Reduce Vehicle Travel, Energy Use, CO2 Emissions" (2009)
By increasing population and employment density in metropolitan areas, vehicle travel, energy use, and CO2 emissions could decrease anywhere from less than 1 percent up to 11 percent by 2050, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council. The reductions depend on the extent to which current development patterns could be reversed, and some members of the study committee disagreed on the plausibility of achieving the higher estimate.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
1000 Cities and 1000 Lives - WHO Campaign
The theme for World Health Day 2010 was selected in recognition of the effect urbanization has on our collective health globally and for us individually. Embracing the positive side of urban health goes beyond the roles and responsibilities of government. It includes the contributions that civil society, community groups, architects, engineers, and responsible businesses can make.
The "1000 cities - 1000 lives" campaign is dedicated to bring communities together towards a common goal united around health – municipal authorities, community groups, and individuals. But it also represents an opportunity for people to enjoy exercise, music and being outdoors with friends and neighbours. Local businesses can enjoy increased sales, and all can enjoy the sense of community the day will bring.
Urbanization is associated with many health challenges related to water, environment, violence and injury, noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases) unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol as well as the risks associated with disease outbreaks.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Clear Skies and Hazy Data - China & India !!
"Clear Skies and Hazy Data" says the Economist, published on August 14th, 2009, referring the pollution levels in Beijing, China and the pollution data in print. And the Guardian writes, "China's environment ministry says polluters are protected by a 'black box' of secrecy as local governments withhold information".
The Economist article continues that "A recent joint study by scientists from Peking University and Oregon State University found that pollution during the Olympics was 30% worse than had been reported, and that the air held two to three-and-a-half times more particulate matter than in the previous three summer Olympics." Recently, the air quality in Beijing made several headlines for what was observed during the summer Olympics, what was reported, and what is being observed now.
The challenge for the regulatory bodies in the monitoring. Most often, the cities are growing so fast that there aren't enough monitoring stations to observe and report the exact air quality in the city. A value monitored in one corner of the city is not the same and appropriate for the second corner. For example, it is common to observe higher particulate pollution levels along the main corridors (roads) in a city, but these numbers do not represent the levels in the residential areas. Similarly, what is observed during the daytime when the people are active and exposed the most to the harmful levels of pollution will be different from the night time pollution levels. Having said that, the data is always hazy for many reasons and is never enough. A twitter page is dedicated for reporting the air pollution levels and air pollution index in Beijing for every hour. Also, see reports, inquires, and discussions on the Beijing air quality at Live From Beijing.
The problems with availability of data and reporting in not confined to one country. A recent post (August 25th, 2009) on India Together by Mr. Shripad Dharmadhikary, reports on the findings presented in 2009 Environment Report of India. He writes about the the quality of the data available with the pollution department, "the report mentions that central and state pollution control boards have identified 1532 grossly polluting industries in India. But the source for this information is a World Bank publication, and that too of 1999. In fact, the MoEF should be the primary source of information on such parameters, since pollution is something the ministry itself is supposed to monitor! And its State of Environment reports should be presenting latest figures." What is missing here - is the ministry lacking the technical prowess or the funds to carry out the necessary monitoring themselves that they have to rely on external sources for information on their industries?
With the Commonwealth Games around the corner, a lesson from Beijing to Delhi, is very obvious. The involved institutions need to focus more on the air quality - not only improving the number of monitors that the city already operates, but also better understanding the sources, the contributions of in-city and outside-city pollution sources, the hot spots of industrial and residential areas, a series of interventions which could make effective air quality management (given Delhi will not be able to shut down industries nor stop half their in-use fleet during the games), and above all, an open data dissemination platform.
A major intervention that Beijing and Delhi are counting on is the extension of the metro rail system, to shift the motorized transport trends to the metro rail. The expected level of shift is uncertain, which depends on a number of factors, some of which are recently discussed on the sustran listserve. An analysis conducted by UrbanEmissions.Info reveals a possible reduction of at least 7 percent in the criteria pollutant emissions in 2010, by the introduction of expanded metro rail system in Delhi, India.
The Economist article continues that "A recent joint study by scientists from Peking University and Oregon State University found that pollution during the Olympics was 30% worse than had been reported, and that the air held two to three-and-a-half times more particulate matter than in the previous three summer Olympics." Recently, the air quality in Beijing made several headlines for what was observed during the summer Olympics, what was reported, and what is being observed now.
The challenge for the regulatory bodies in the monitoring. Most often, the cities are growing so fast that there aren't enough monitoring stations to observe and report the exact air quality in the city. A value monitored in one corner of the city is not the same and appropriate for the second corner. For example, it is common to observe higher particulate pollution levels along the main corridors (roads) in a city, but these numbers do not represent the levels in the residential areas. Similarly, what is observed during the daytime when the people are active and exposed the most to the harmful levels of pollution will be different from the night time pollution levels. Having said that, the data is always hazy for many reasons and is never enough. A twitter page is dedicated for reporting the air pollution levels and air pollution index in Beijing for every hour. Also, see reports, inquires, and discussions on the Beijing air quality at Live From Beijing.
The problems with availability of data and reporting in not confined to one country. A recent post (August 25th, 2009) on India Together by Mr. Shripad Dharmadhikary, reports on the findings presented in 2009 Environment Report of India. He writes about the the quality of the data available with the pollution department, "the report mentions that central and state pollution control boards have identified 1532 grossly polluting industries in India. But the source for this information is a World Bank publication, and that too of 1999. In fact, the MoEF should be the primary source of information on such parameters, since pollution is something the ministry itself is supposed to monitor! And its State of Environment reports should be presenting latest figures." What is missing here - is the ministry lacking the technical prowess or the funds to carry out the necessary monitoring themselves that they have to rely on external sources for information on their industries?
With the Commonwealth Games around the corner, a lesson from Beijing to Delhi, is very obvious. The involved institutions need to focus more on the air quality - not only improving the number of monitors that the city already operates, but also better understanding the sources, the contributions of in-city and outside-city pollution sources, the hot spots of industrial and residential areas, a series of interventions which could make effective air quality management (given Delhi will not be able to shut down industries nor stop half their in-use fleet during the games), and above all, an open data dissemination platform.
A major intervention that Beijing and Delhi are counting on is the extension of the metro rail system, to shift the motorized transport trends to the metro rail. The expected level of shift is uncertain, which depends on a number of factors, some of which are recently discussed on the sustran listserve. An analysis conducted by UrbanEmissions.Info reveals a possible reduction of at least 7 percent in the criteria pollutant emissions in 2010, by the introduction of expanded metro rail system in Delhi, India.
10:10 Campaign
What is 10:10?10:10 is an empowering climate change campaign with the aim of getting individuals, companies and institutions to reduce their carbon footprints by 10% during 2010.
Why 10% in 2010?
Although politicians argue about targets for 2050 and 2030, the scientists say world emissions must peak and begin to fall within the next few years. That means we need deep cuts in the developed world as quickly as possible. The longer we leave it, the smaller our chance of avoiding disastrous warming.
Read more about the campaign @ The Guardian
Air Pollution Alerts - September 1st, 2009
News & Information; Every Sunday (Last on August 30, 2009)
Telegraph, September 1st, 2009
Clean air mission - Pollution board chalks out plan for Dhanbad, Jharia.
Xinhua Net, August 31st, 2009
Beijing sees better air quality in August.
Science Daily, August 30th, 2009
How Cities Mimic Life: Megacities Breathe, Consume Energy, Excrete Wastes And Pollute.
Science Daily, August 30th, 2009
Tunnels Concentrate Air Pollution By Up To 1,000 Times.
Global Arab Network, August 29th, 2009
Environmental challenges for the Arab world.
Financial Express, August 28th, 2009
Clean Stoves, Health, & Climate in India.
Science Daily, August 28th, 2009
Nitrous Oxide Now Top Ozone-depleting Emission.
NPR, August 28th, 2009
Nitrous Oxide: A Necessary Evil Of Agriculture.
Science Daily, August 28th, 2009
Small Fluctuations In Solar Activity, Large Influence On Climate.
Times of India, August 27th, 2009
No-pollution three wheelers unveiled in New Delhi.
Science Daily, August 27th, 2009
Scientists Investigate Urban Climate In Rotterdam And Arnhem.
Economist, August 20th, 2009
Carbon Markets in China.
CNN, July 20th, 2009
Computer Software to Track Climate Change.
Capital Weekly, August 20th, 2009
Climate benefits, community safeguards can come together.
Grist, August 19th, 2009
Hotter summers will pose public health challenges.
Chian Daily, August 19th, 2009
UNEP praises China's green efforts.
TIME, August 19th, 2009
Are Chinese Citizens Ready for a Green Revolution?
OMB Watch, August 18th, 2009
CDC Attempts to Track Health and Pollution Connections.
MedIndia, August 18th, 2009
Unsee Air Pollutants Responsible For 380,000 Human Deaths Annually.
UPI, August 18th, 2009
China's air pollution is reducing rainfall.
Shanghaiist, August 18th, 2009
China's CO2 emissions will continue to rise until 2030.
AFP, August 18th, 2009
Chinese city aims for greener growth.
Rising Voices, August 18th, 2009
Nomad Green: More Workshops In Ulaanbaatar.
India PR Wire, August 18th, 2009
Agilent Technologies sets up "Clean Air Challenge" workshop for middle and high school teachers.
Auburn Journal, August 17th, 2009
Fire smoke can make air unfit for some.
New Times, August 16th, 2009
Increase in air pollution in China over last 50 years reduces rainy days by up to a quarter.
Epoch Times, August 16th, 2009
Beijing Air’s Quality More ‘Hazardous’ Than Officials Report.
Press Information Bureau, India, August 15th, 2009
Prime Minister's Independence Day Address.
Economist, August 14th, 2009
Pollution in China: Clear skies; hazy data.
Discovery News, August 14th, 2009
Air Pollution Travels, Kills Thousands Annually.
R&D, August 14th, 2009
The sky is not falling: Pollution in eastern China cuts light, useful rainfall.
Peoples Daily Online, August 13th, 2009
How does China deal with climate change and environmental problems?
Economist, August 13th, 2009
Economics of Natural Gas: Drowning in it.
Gasgoo, August 13th, 2009
China has an opportunity and the luxury to develop a competitive electric vehicle industry.
Center for Sciences and Environment, August 12th, 2009
Official delay in setting fuel economy standards smacks of state-sponsored fuel guzzling.
Economist, August 6th, 2009
Rainforest: Burning issues.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Microsoft Joins the Climate Change Calculations - Project 2 Degrees
While the Microsoft founder Bill Gates and a dozen other scientists have raised eyebrows by submitting patent applications for a technology to reduce the danger of approaching hurricanes by cooling ocean temperatures, the global software firm has created an online tool called Project 2 Degrees for cities across the world to monitor their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The carbon footprint calculations and compensating ones (individuals and firms) footprint by buying a
ppropriate carbon credit is already a known practice. However, the Project 2 Degrees for cities takes on different challenge of inventorizing carbon in the cities - where the the real action is.
A article recently published in Foreign Policy in Focus quotes "Cities Can Save the Earth" (May, 2009). Though the article tends to focus more on the transport oriented protection of the cities, the underlying message is clear - the protection comes from less consumption. Lesser the consumption, lesser the demand for energy, lesser the emissions, lesser the pollution, and sustainable the city and healthy the people. Alternet in April 2009 wrote, "Consumption, not population is our main environmental threat".
Cities account for only 2 percent of the worlds land mass but produce up to 75 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, so became the focus for Project 2 Degrees that is a collaboration with software designers Autodesk and the Clinton Climate Initiative.
Currently 40 cities are participating in this program called "C40 group", with New York and Sydney as pilot studies. Other cities in the program include cities Delhi, Bangkok, Manila, Sao Paulo, etc. Check the best practices section for examples of low carbon applications.
The carbon footprint calculations and compensating ones (individuals and firms) footprint by buying a
ppropriate carbon credit is already a known practice. However, the Project 2 Degrees for cities takes on different challenge of inventorizing carbon in the cities - where the the real action is.A article recently published in Foreign Policy in Focus quotes "Cities Can Save the Earth" (May, 2009). Though the article tends to focus more on the transport oriented protection of the cities, the underlying message is clear - the protection comes from less consumption. Lesser the consumption, lesser the demand for energy, lesser the emissions, lesser the pollution, and sustainable the city and healthy the people. Alternet in April 2009 wrote, "Consumption, not population is our main environmental threat".
Cities account for only 2 percent of the worlds land mass but produce up to 75 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, so became the focus for Project 2 Degrees that is a collaboration with software designers Autodesk and the Clinton Climate Initiative.
Currently 40 cities are participating in this program called "C40 group", with New York and Sydney as pilot studies. Other cities in the program include cities Delhi, Bangkok, Manila, Sao Paulo, etc. Check the best practices section for examples of low carbon applications.
Pollution Due to Trucks - Gross Polluters in Bangkok
As part of the DIESEL program (Developing Integrated Environmental Strategies for Evaluating Land Transport) in Bangkok, a series of surveys were conducted to understand the driver behaviour and driving cycles for the heavy duty vehicles (HDV) and the light duty vehicles (LDV). Following the surveys, approximately 250 vehicles, including a mix of manufacturers, age, and fuel quality, were tested for emission rates for the primary pollutants.
This study was supported and funded mutiple agencies and primarily lead by a teams from the Pollution Control Board in Bangkok and the World Bank in Washington DC, USA. The final report was dessiminated along with summary of emission factors at a workshop in June 2008 in Bangkok.
The emission tests emphasized the importance of going after the gross polluters in the fleet for effective management of the emissions in Bangkok. The three tables below presents an analysis of the emission tests for the three categories light duty vehicles, buses, and trucks. The total emissions (in gm) presented for each of the category represent the sum of all the emission factors measured and used here to estimate the fraction of the gross polluters among the fleet.
For example, for the light duty vehicles, the 24 percent of the vehicles are (9 out of 38) are polluting the most contributing approximately 46 percent of the emissions. A direct abolishment of the gross emitters will result in a faster reduction of fleet emissions.
Similarly, for the buses and trucks, where the average fleet age is high, the percentage of vehicles polluting the most is high. Among the heavy duty trucks, 15 percent of the fleet contributes to approximately 45 percent of the emissions. It is important to note that this is based on the sample used for the emissions testing, which was assumed representative of the ~3.9 million vehicles on road in Bangkok.
The analysis provided a basis for strategy development for in-use old and incoming new vehicles, which is detailed in the DIESEL final report.
Also see
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Pollution Due to Trucks - Kolkata & Dhaka
To the relief of the urban dwellers in Kolkata, recent ban of ~15,000 old trucks and buses and phasing out taxis (nearly 7,600), seem to have yielded some clean air results.
The truck ban did create its share of problems in the city, but the results once released are better for the public and the truck operators (for example, new vehicles are more fuel efficient than the old). See the video below.
Authorities in Dhaka announced that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) admitted nearly 50 percent of the vehicles in the capital do not have fitness certificates. The air pollution due to the black smoke emitted by nearly 150,000 old and junk vehicles causing are causing a serious environmental threat for the Dhaka city dwellers. A recent study estimates 15,000 annual deaths due to urban air pollution in Bangladesh.
While Dhaka banned 3-wheelers and 3-wheel cycles in the past, maybe a replication of phasing out old vehicles might help decrease the number of gross polluters on road.
Also see
The truck ban did create its share of problems in the city, but the results once released are better for the public and the truck operators (for example, new vehicles are more fuel efficient than the old). See the video below.
Authorities in Dhaka announced that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) admitted nearly 50 percent of the vehicles in the capital do not have fitness certificates. The air pollution due to the black smoke emitted by nearly 150,000 old and junk vehicles causing are causing a serious environmental threat for the Dhaka city dwellers. A recent study estimates 15,000 annual deaths due to urban air pollution in Bangladesh.
While Dhaka banned 3-wheelers and 3-wheel cycles in the past, maybe a replication of phasing out old vehicles might help decrease the number of gross polluters on road.
Also see
Pollution Due to Trucks - Gross Polluters in Delhi
In the SIM 25-2009 working paper, "Photochemistry of Air Pollution in Delhi, India: A Monitoring Based Analysis", the monitoring data from the Indian Tax Office (ITO) station in Delhi, India, (operated by the Central Pollution Control Board) is analyzed to explain the observed trends in the criteria pollutants, PM2.5, NOx, CO, and Ozone.The analysis of the measurements shows that
- the diurnal variation of the mixing layer height is very pronounced in Delhi, which effects the night time concentrations. This is very important for the cities like Delhi, where the diesel operated trucks are allowed to pass through the city only at night, and thus enhancing the night time ambient concentrations. However, since the population exposed to these higher concentrations of PM (mostly diesel soot) and other pollutants is lower during the night time, the impacts of the night time emissions are generally less observed.
- while the passenger travel in the city has grown over the last decade, the importance of the freight transport (via trucks) in the night should not be neglected, since the high concentrations observed during the night tend to linger during the rush hours (mixed with the passenger travel) and beyond (through ~11 AM) and hence increasing the exposure times and related health concerns along the major corridor.
- In the city, the night time concentration of particulates is a growing concern; the night-time concentrations particularly in the winter and spring seasons are approximately twice the day time levels. All the heavy duty trucks are diesel based with an average age of at least 5 years. Also, the lower mixing heights and poor ventilation in the night, prevents proper dispersion of these pollutants, causing this buildup of pollutants. At the sunrise, the buildup of the pollutants is felt among the rush hour commuters.
Also see
Hindustan Times writes "Mumbai New Pollution Capital"?
On August 24th, 2009, an article titled “Mumbai new pollution capital” was published in the Hindustan Times (HT), on the front page. The title suggests big things and sadly, I was quoted in the article.
The day I came back from trekking in the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges of the Himalayas, I was interviewed by phone for this piece. The article is based on one of my papers i
n the SIM-air working paper series, No.24 titled “Motorized Passenger Travel in Urban India - Emissions & Co-Benefits Analysis”, which presents the emissions analysis of the motorized “in-city” passenger travel from twenty cities in India, covering the current trends in four modes of transport (passenger cars, motorcycles, 3 wheelers, and buses), estimated energy consumption for the assumed growth patterns, and possible co-benefits of three combined scenarios (public transport, policy reforms, and non-motorized transport).
The 20 cities included in this analysis are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kanpur, Agra, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Jaipur, Surat, Pondicherry, Bhubaneswar, Panaji, Patna, Kochi, Nagpur, and Guwahati.
The paper also discussed the urban passenger travel statistics in India formerly published by the Ministry of Urban Development titled "Transport Strategies for Urban India" in May 2008.
A topic that WAS NOT discussed in the paper is the pollution ranking of the cities. This is the contentious part of the piece published in the Hindustan Times, related to the misunderstanding of the air pollution sources and the information available to the media and the media publishing the titles like “Mumbai new pollution capital” without fully understanding the material in front of them.
I am an affiliate assistant research professor at DRI, but DRI neither supports nor funds the research presented under the SIM-air working paper series, in any official form, which was clearly conveyed to the HT author on phone and by email.
Bottom line is that the pollution awareness and the seriousness of the multiple air pollution sources is necessary and the media can help with the public awareness in a lot of ways, but NOT by misinforming the public using partial information and shifting priorities by ranking pollution among various cities.
The day I came back from trekking in the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges of the Himalayas, I was interviewed by phone for this piece. The article is based on one of my papers i
n the SIM-air working paper series, No.24 titled “Motorized Passenger Travel in Urban India - Emissions & Co-Benefits Analysis”, which presents the emissions analysis of the motorized “in-city” passenger travel from twenty cities in India, covering the current trends in four modes of transport (passenger cars, motorcycles, 3 wheelers, and buses), estimated energy consumption for the assumed growth patterns, and possible co-benefits of three combined scenarios (public transport, policy reforms, and non-motorized transport).The 20 cities included in this analysis are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kanpur, Agra, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Jaipur, Surat, Pondicherry, Bhubaneswar, Panaji, Patna, Kochi, Nagpur, and Guwahati.
The paper also discussed the urban passenger travel statistics in India formerly published by the Ministry of Urban Development titled "Transport Strategies for Urban India" in May 2008.
A topic that WAS NOT discussed in the paper is the pollution ranking of the cities. This is the contentious part of the piece published in the Hindustan Times, related to the misunderstanding of the air pollution sources and the information available to the media and the media publishing the titles like “Mumbai new pollution capital” without fully understanding the material in front of them.
- The numbers presented in the paper are emissions only and do not translate to the pollution that one observes on the roads or residential areas or industrial zones.
- More importantly, the numbers presented in the paper relate only to the passenger travel and the word “pollution” encompasses a whole lot of sources from domestic to long range, which is not covered in the paper. By quoting some numbers based on one source, it is FALSE and UNETHICAL to make up titles like “Mumbai new pollution capital”.
- The references in the article are also false. The table quotes the number from the SIM-air working paper series and refers to it as based on CPCB data. The data used in my analysis is from multiple sources (mostly academic) and does not involve CPCB in any form in providing the data. This was clearly mentioned and the sources of the data for various cities is also discussed in the paper, and yet the HT author choose to misquote the references.
I am an affiliate assistant research professor at DRI, but DRI neither supports nor funds the research presented under the SIM-air working paper series, in any official form, which was clearly conveyed to the HT author on phone and by email.
Bottom line is that the pollution awareness and the seriousness of the multiple air pollution sources is necessary and the media can help with the public awareness in a lot of ways, but NOT by misinforming the public using partial information and shifting priorities by ranking pollution among various cities.
Air Pollution Alerts - August 30th, 2009
News & Information; Every Sunday (Last on August 23, 2009)
Mother Nature Network, August 29th, 2009
Destination of the Week: Hong Kong.
Cosmopolitan Asian city offers green attractions, but smog remains a problem.
Granta Magazine, August 29th, 2009
Capital Gains - Story of Delhi, India.
Wall Street Journal, August 28th, 2009
Technology Can Fight Global Warming.
Economic Times, August 28th, 2009
Auto industry demand scrappage incentives in India.
BBC, August 27th, 2009
Hijacked by climate change?
China Dialogue, August 27th, 2009
Do we know change when we see it?
Caijing, China, August 26th, 2009
Experts reveal a new and thus far ignored culprit in China's struggle against air pollution.
Business Standard (India), August 25th, 2009
Mysore gets boost under JNNURM.
Seeking Alpha, August 25th, 2009
Emerging Economies: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Go Kunming, August 25th, 2009
Kunming air quality ranks number two among Chinese cities.
EuroActive, August 25th, 2009
Europe's air quality improving, data shows.
EuroActive, August 25th, 2009
Electric cars: On the road to greener transport?
Economic Times, August 24th, 2009
China's pressing pollution problem.
Australia, August 22nd, 2009
Implications of climate change for Australia's World Heritage properties.
Sydney Morning Herald, August 22nd, 2009
Power plant will put lives at risk.
Derry Journal, August 21st, 2009
City pollution could worsen swine flu.
The News (Pakistan), August 21st, 2009
Pollution on the rise in Lahore City.
Maimi Herald, August 19th, 2009
No more loopholes for King Coal.
World Streets, August 12th, 2009
John Whitelegg on the Global Transport Challenge.
China Daily, August 4th, 2009
Protests help clear the air.
Washington Post, August 1st, 2009
When It Comes to Being Green, Cash for Clunkers Is a Lemon.
Malaysia Star, August 1st, 2009
Building cities which matter to the people.
India Express, July 31st, 2009
Chennai Metro: Will imitating Delhi help?
In Depth News, July 30th, 2009
Polluters Must Inform Citizens.
Telegraph, July 30th, 2009
What can China do about climate change?
AFP, July 30th, 2009
Beijing closing coal plants in environmental move.
Examiner, July 29th, 2009
We can't pin our ozone problems on China.
Reuters, July 29th, 2009
World Bank arm sees China as Africa energy partner.
Urban Vision, July 29th, 2009
Rethinking urban mobility.
India Press Information Bureau, July 29th, 2009
Impact of rising number of vehicles on environment.
The New Nation, July 29th, 2009
Old vehicles causing serious environ threat to Dhaka.
EEA, July 29th, 2009
Ground-level ozone pollution has become a "global air pollution problem".
Earth Times, July 28th, 2009
Cutting Transportation Emissions is 'Critical' to Achieving Goals of House-Passed Climate Bill.
World Watch Institute, July 28th, 2009
World Bank Initiates Carbon Footprint Analysis.
Green Peace, July 28th, 2009
Polluting power: ranking China's power companies.
Ceylon Daily News, July 28th, 2009
Learn from the past to develop the future.
Business Standard, July 27th, 2009
India to host environment friendly vehicles conference in November, 2009.
WBCSD, July 27th, 2009
The planet's 2 biggest emitters open new round of climate talks.
Express, India, July 27th, 2009
Choke factor: 425 new vehicles every day in Hyderabad, India.
WBCSD, July 24th, 2009
Cleaner shipping rules to hit fuel oil market.
Financial Times, July 23rd, 2009
India widens climate rift with west.
Dehli Struggle, July 23rd, 2009
Why delhi’s buses are so deadly: an economic analysis.
WBCSD, July 22nd, 2009
Companies Need to Better Understand Emissions, Impacts from Global Supply Chains.
WBCSD, July 15th, 2009
UK says low carbon sector will grow in recession.
Foreign Policy in Focus, May, 2009
Cities Can Save Earth.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Back from Trekking in Zanskar - Darcha to Lamayuru
Photos from the trek are finally Up. October 18th, 2009.
****
Greetings from Delhi. Hope all is well and enjoying the last days of the summer.
I have been away for a month, trekking through the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges of the Himalayas, starting in Manali and ending in Leh. The foot journey started at Darcha, covering ~350 km over 22 days and ending at the Lamayuru Monastery (a few hours drive east of Kargil). En route, we crossed 11 passes and half the foot distance was along the Zanskar river, passing some very beautiful villages, otherwise a vast land of mountains and full of stars at night.
The most notable pass was the first on the 5th day called "Shingo La" at an altitude of 5050m. This is also the birth place of the Zanskar river. The challenging part of this leg was a river crossing for which we had to be on top of glacier before 10 AM to avoid the glacier melts and the rush of the river. I did take a patel shot standing on top of the glacier, right after which I slipped a few meters towards the river. I ended up sitting there for a few seconds and started climbing again following the expert guidance from Puja. Walking on the glacier knowing that the river is flowing beneath it was exhilarating.
The scenery changes in this region every 2 hours and with every range. Every pass has its beauty trapped in the valley. The gorges with at least 500m walls of the mountains are spectacular. Though the last gorge to the Lamayuru monastery was dry, dusty, and long, which was not fun. My picture attached is from the top of the
"Hanuma La" pass at 4800m, where all the eye can see was the ranges of mountains to come. The peak to the right hand side is the "Shinge La" pass, meaning "Lion's Breath" at 5230m (highest on the trek), which we climbed two days later on the Indian independence day (looks very close in the picture).
A noteworthy town after the "Hanuma La" pass is "Lingshed". The monastery is well known and old. We reached this village two days prior to the arrival of His Holiness Dalai Lama. If we had any idea of his coming, we would have planned better. Along the passes, we saw entire villages packed and moving to Lingshed to see His Holiness. Couple of well wishers were carrying sofa's on there backs, hoping that the Dalai Lama might sit on it.
The end of the journey from Lamayuru to Leh was a four hour drive along the Sindhu river. We are still sorting through the 1000 odd pictures and will post a selected bunch in the coming weeks.
One objective that we did not achieve is the weight loss. We had a fantastic support staff and the cook from Nepal even managed to bake a cake in the middle of nowhere. The menu was simple, but included pakoras for evening snacks and bed tea in the tent :-)
As beautiful a trek this has been, the sad part is the construction. There is a road being built along the sections of the trek. This will change the trek route, now supported by the horses and donkeys, to t
he one supported by the horse power of the jeeps and vans. At the current rate, may be in 5-10 years. On our second last pass "Sirsir La", as we reached the top of the pass, we saw a bulldozer cutting through the other side :-(
We had a fantastic time along the trek, besides complaining about waking up early and having to clear the tent in the cold. We do hope that some of you will have a chance to see this part of the world before the cars and trucks outrun them.
Cheers,
Sarath
****
Greetings from Delhi. Hope all is well and enjoying the last days of the summer.
I have been away for a month, trekking through the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges of the Himalayas, starting in Manali and ending in Leh. The foot journey started at Darcha, covering ~350 km over 22 days and ending at the Lamayuru Monastery (a few hours drive east of Kargil). En route, we crossed 11 passes and half the foot distance was along the Zanskar river, passing some very beautiful villages, otherwise a vast land of mountains and full of stars at night.
The most notable pass was the first on the 5th day called "Shingo La" at an altitude of 5050m. This is also the birth place of the Zanskar river. The challenging part of this leg was a river crossing for which we had to be on top of glacier before 10 AM to avoid the glacier melts and the rush of the river. I did take a patel shot standing on top of the glacier, right after which I slipped a few meters towards the river. I ended up sitting there for a few seconds and started climbing again following the expert guidance from Puja. Walking on the glacier knowing that the river is flowing beneath it was exhilarating.The scenery changes in this region every 2 hours and with every range. Every pass has its beauty trapped in the valley. The gorges with at least 500m walls of the mountains are spectacular. Though the last gorge to the Lamayuru monastery was dry, dusty, and long, which was not fun. My picture attached is from the top of the
"Hanuma La" pass at 4800m, where all the eye can see was the ranges of mountains to come. The peak to the right hand side is the "Shinge La" pass, meaning "Lion's Breath" at 5230m (highest on the trek), which we climbed two days later on the Indian independence day (looks very close in the picture).A noteworthy town after the "Hanuma La" pass is "Lingshed". The monastery is well known and old. We reached this village two days prior to the arrival of His Holiness Dalai Lama. If we had any idea of his coming, we would have planned better. Along the passes, we saw entire villages packed and moving to Lingshed to see His Holiness. Couple of well wishers were carrying sofa's on there backs, hoping that the Dalai Lama might sit on it.
The end of the journey from Lamayuru to Leh was a four hour drive along the Sindhu river. We are still sorting through the 1000 odd pictures and will post a selected bunch in the coming weeks.
One objective that we did not achieve is the weight loss. We had a fantastic support staff and the cook from Nepal even managed to bake a cake in the middle of nowhere. The menu was simple, but included pakoras for evening snacks and bed tea in the tent :-)
As beautiful a trek this has been, the sad part is the construction. There is a road being built along the sections of the trek. This will change the trek route, now supported by the horses and donkeys, to t
he one supported by the horse power of the jeeps and vans. At the current rate, may be in 5-10 years. On our second last pass "Sirsir La", as we reached the top of the pass, we saw a bulldozer cutting through the other side :-(We had a fantastic time along the trek, besides complaining about waking up early and having to clear the tent in the cold. We do hope that some of you will have a chance to see this part of the world before the cars and trucks outrun them.
Cheers,
Sarath
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