Environment, Green Infrastructure, Carbon neutral, water resources management, climate change adaptation.

1. Green Infrastructures: The need of Urban Safety
Prof. Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein Secretary, Expert Group of the National Water Resources Committee Member, National Water Resources Committee Visiting Professor Civil Engineering Department, YTU, Yangon, Myanmar
The 13th International Symposium on New Technologies for Urban Safety of Mega Cities in Asia
November 3-5, 2014 YTU, Yangon, Myanmar

2. More than half of the world's population now lives in cities. This demographic shift creates a host of new opportunities, but also some new risks, especially given the challenges posed by climatic extremes.
This timely symposium , USMCA 2014, gives proper attention on these issues, and provide important message to decision makers, researchers, and practitioners of Myanmar and Japan.
Our focus area is Yangon City. It was founded in 6th Century as a small fishing village. King Alaungapaya, the founder of the last line of Burmese kings, made the town his capital in 1753 and gave the name “Yangon”. It was the chief port of Myanmar, briefly held by the British in 1824–26; after it came under British rule in 1852.
Since then Yangon was transformed into a modern city, however, it was heavily damaged by an earthquake and tsunami in 1930, and again in World War II.
Population in 1983 was 2,458,712 (2.56 million) -- Present Yangon City hosted approximately 7 million peoples (by NGO data) and 4.775 million according to (29 Mar 2014 data). In 2040 Yangon population is expected to grow up to 11 million.

3. Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure is the network of green spaces and water systems that delivers multiple environmental, social and economic values and services to urban communities. This network includes parks and reserves, backyards and gardens, waterways and wetlands, streets and transport corridors, pathways and greenways, farms and orchards, squares and plazas, roof gardens and living walls, sports fields and cemeteries.
Green Infrastructure secures the health, liveability and sustainability of urban environments.
It strengthens the resilience of towns and cities to respond to the major current and future challenges of growth, health, climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as water, energy and food security.
In other words, Green space and Water systems = Blue Green Infrastructure

4. GI in another perspective
Green Infrastructure
‘The term ‘Green Infrastructure’ describes the network of natural landscape assets which underpin the economic, socio-cultural and environmental functionality of our cities and towns-i.e. the green spaces and water systems which intersperse, connect and provide vital life support for humans and other species within our ’urban environments’.
‘Individual components’ of GI network are referred to as ‘Green Infrastructure assets’, and these occur across a range of landscape scales— from residential gardens to local parks and housing estates, streetscapes and highway verges, services and communications corridors, waterways and regional recreation areas etc.’.
[Source: Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Green Infrastructure Report (AILA 2012)]

5. Why do we need Green Infrastructure?
Green Infrastructure = Life support for human habitats
Green Infrastructure = Network of Green Space and Water Systems
Climate change impacts are pressure to Mega Cities.
Climate change adaptation = better water management
Green Infrastructure is essential for the safety and sustainability of Mega Cities
Our focus at present is Yangon City and Shwedagon Pagoda
Green Infrastructure = Life support for human habitats

6. Safety
Safety has many dimensions:
1)human health and life
2)wealth and income
3)social life
4)mobility
5)access to information
6)access to water and sanitation
7)physical and material safety
It is to achieve the sustainability of both human and nature in Mega Cities. Two main issues involve, (i) current urban problems and (ii) climatic challenges.
The main components of this approach include city water supply and stormwater management, drainage networks, climate adaptation, development and conservation of water resources, less heat stress, more biodiversity, city-green spots, food production, better air quality, sustainable energy production, clean water and healthy soils, as well as the more anthropocentric functions such as increased quality of life through recreation and providing shade and shelter in and around towns and cities.

7. Nature
Nature: Maller et al. (2006) define nature as referring to ‘any single element of the natural environment (such as plants, animals, soil, water or air), and includes domestic and companion animals as well as cultivated pot plants’.
Researchers also subdivide nature into different categories, for example the Health Council of the Netherlands (2004) nominates the following:
Urban nature: nature in an urban setting (e.g. gardens, parks).
Agricultural nature: primarily agricultural landscape with small, dedicated patches of nature.
Natural forests: nature in ‘woodlands’ where management emphasizes more authentic vegetation.
Wild nature: nature in an environment that develops spontaneously and can be maintained with minimal management (e.g. natural rivers, waterfalls, woodlands etc.).

8. Sustainable Water Management in Mega Cities
IWRM = Integrated Water Resources Management
DRR = (Water related) Disasters Risk Reduction
WASH = Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
- . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - - . - . - . - . - . - . - .
Surface water = Rivers, Creeks, Lakes and Reservoirs
Groundwater = Shallow GW and Deep GW
Wastewater = waste water treatment and effluent disposal
Water quality = both drinking water and wastewater
Water born diseases = Health and Hygiene = WASH
Utilities and regulation of utilities
Private sector’s participation
Fair water allocation and water pricing
Tidal water = part of energy production
Air pollution control = preventing acid rains
Rainwater harvesting = water security component
More ………….
Water Affairs = IWRM + DRR + WASH

9. Flood in Yangon
Heavy monsoon rains flooded the streets of downtown Rangoon on Thursday, 22 Aug 2013 and Friday, 23 Aug 2013. Residents in Rangoon’s suburban outskirts were reportedly unable to travel to large swaths of downtown on Friday morning due to the excessive flooding that is putting additional strain on the city’s fragile infrastructure.
4 Major Causes: Heavy Rain, No CC Adaptation, non- functional Drainage System, Human behavior

10. Central Yangon on 22-23 Aug 2013, Source: Reuters

11. Map of Yangon

12. Shwedagon Pagoda and its neighbourhood

13. Shwedagon Pagoda

14. Shwedagon Pagoda and its neighbourhood (ii)

15. Sustainability of the Shwedagon Pagoda is an Issue
Danger of Groundwater over exploitation very close to the Shwedagon Hill [Source: U Khin Maung Win]
Air pollution level has been increased and Acid rain will follow [Source: U Khin Maung Win]
Localized septic tanks may pollute the groundwater underneath Shwedagon Pagoda [Source: U Khin Maung Win]
Need for centralized sewerage system (for Shwedagon Pagoda visitors and staff) with a treatment plant which can be established somewhere not so close to the Pagoda.
2.5 million tourists visited Myanmar in 2013. Even 10% of them visited Shwedagon Pagoda, the pressure on water supply and sewerage system is big. The pressure will be increased in the future as well.
Now is time to think how we can prevent the potential damage.

16. Water Quality Issue
Important Note:
Water quality testing is technical
Behavioral change is social
Water problems can not be solved 100% by either technical (or) social means alone
We should use socio-technological means!

17. Green Technologies in Water and Environment
Water treatment
Wastewater treatment
Air pollution control
Waste treatment and management
Environmental remediation
Energy conservation
Emerging green technologies
Hydrogen and fuel cells
Renewable energy
Battery storage technologies
Green buildings
Sustainable urban planning
Cleaner conventional energy
Electric power infrastructure
Cleaner transportation
Cleaner industry
Cleaner water
Carbon capture and storage
Challenges
Market challenges
Technology challenges
Financing challenges
Regulatory challenges

18. Three years ago, at the ICSE 2011, Keynote Speech on
Green Buildings was presented . . . . . . . . .

19. Green Roof and Sunshade

20. A Green Building
1. Efficient Use of Water 2. Efficient use of Energy 3. Efficient use of Natural Resources 4. Good System of solid waste management 5. Rain water harvesting 6. Good drainage system 7. Good ventilation 8. Reduce pollution 9. Use healthy materials

21. LEED RATING FOR BUILDINGS (2)
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) Green Building Rating System™

22. From Green Buildings to Green Infrastructure
International
Myanmar

23. Planning for green infrastructure
Promoting green infrastructure through national policy
Promoting green infrastructure through sub-regional coordination
Promoting green infrastructure through local policy
Development management
Delivery – peoples’ participation

24. Policy Linkage
Some of the key policy documents that will have an influence on the provision of Green Infrastructure in Australia include :
The State 30 Year Plan.
South Australia’s Strategic Plan.
Metropolitan Open Space Strategy (MOSS).
Greater Adelaide Open Space System (GAOSS).
Regional Biodiversity Plans.
The Hills Face Zone.
Development Plans.
Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Regional Natural Resources Management Plan.
Strategic Infrastructure Plan for South Australia.
Precinct and Structure Plans.
Some of the key policy documents that will have an influence on the provision of Green Infrastructure in Myanmar (begin with Yangon City) include :
2040 Yangon Vision Master Plan. Green included.
YCDC activities on drainage and water supply.
New Reservoirs for drinking water supply.
National Water Safety Plan.
National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan.
Groundwater Law (in process)
Myanmar medium-term and long-term Development Plans.
National Water Policy.
National Climate Dialogue.
National Water Framework Directive.
National Environmental Law
YCDC Municipal regulations
International Example
Myanmar Example
Important Note: Understanding Policy Contexts and Stakeholder Behaviour is
essential for Consistent and Coherent Water Policies and Environmental Policies"

25. Myanmar National Strategy Framework

26. People’s Participation
For the people, by the people
Government shall provide enabling environment to sustain the willingness of the peoples
International
Myanmar
Children forest program in Myanmar supported by OICAS

27. Key Benefits of GI in Urban Setting
Human health and well-being = long life, better income
Community livability = happiness, quality of life
Economic benefits = attract more business, comfortableness
Climatic modification = less disasters, temperature decreases, regulating the rainfall and cleaner air
Water management = sustainability and safety of cities – reduce flood and
Urban ecology = sustainability and safety of cities
Food production = sustainability and safety of cities
All benefits contribute to safety of Cities.

28. Benefit of GI for Children

29. Benefits of Climate Modifications
Improving human comfort for street users.
Modifying local microclimates.
Reducing the urban heat island effect.
Providing health benefits especially for the aged.
Reducing energy use and carbon emissions.
Assisting in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Improve soil moisture and water holding capacity.
Groundwater recharge
Water Purification
Recreating natural water cycle
Better habitat for city dwellers
Trees improve cities climatically, indeed this is probably the greatest benefit of tree planting in a built up area. “Temperature and Rainfall”

30. A compelling body of evidence: GI is essential in the design and development of healthy urban environments
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH SITES
Landscape and Human Health Laboratory
Human Dimensions of Urban Greening and Urban Forestry
American Planning Association, How Cities Use Parks
The Trust for Public Land, Center for City Park Excellence
Local Government Commission
Casey Tree Foundation, The Case for Trees & Growing a Healthier D.C.
Home Depot Foundation, Green Cities Institute
Sacramento Tree Foundation
Urban Forestry South Expo
Children & Nature Network
Evergreen, Learning Grounds
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Urban Forestry Community
UK Forest Research
Northwest Public Health, Health and the Built Environment
Source: University of Washington (2014)

31. Final words
GI strengthens the resilience of towns and cities
to respond to the major current and future
challenges of growth, health, climate change
and biodiversity loss, as well as
water, energy and food security.
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