This presentation was presented in 'The Lahore Project' Monthly Discussion Forum on Environment, introducing the scope of the sector, key concepts, issues and strategies for a sustainable urban ecology by Rafia Kamal, on 21st Aug.2013 at Dabistan-e-Iqbal, (2-S, Gulberg II) Lahore.
2. Environment – What is it?
The physical (non-living) and biological
(living) factors along with their chemical
interactions that affect an organism.
3. Another (simpler) definition of environment
Everything that makes up our
surroundings and affects our ability
to live on the earth, the air we
breathe, the water that covers most
of the earth's surface, the plants and
animals around us, and much more.
4. How it all started!
The fast pace of industrial and technological
advancements was achieved at the expense
of unplanned massive consumption of
natural resources.
Widespread land transformations and rapid
urbanization had profound influence on
ecosystems that resulted in deterioration of
environment.
5. Rio de Janeiro Conference on Sustainable
Environmental Development, 1987
Brundtland Report
“…development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
6. Need of the day
Adherence to environmental friendly
principles and practices is an
essential tool in preservation and
conservation of urban developments.
7. Where we wish to be
A Green City of Tomorrow
A sustainable and environmental friendly city
8. Environmental Issues in Lahore
• Unplanned Urbanization and Land use changes
• Depletion of Renewable and non-renewable
resources.
• Air and Noise pollution.
• Water pollution, water depletion, water
management.
• Land/Soil pollution.
• Waste generation and waste management.
• Reduction in urban green spaces and deforestation.
9. Sustainability
The Solution to Environmental Issues
• Urban planning and Land use
• Resource Management
• Clean Air
• Energy conservation
• Water conservation and management
• Waste minimization and management
• Green infrastructure
• Environmental planing, policy and
implementation
10. Focused areas
Unplanned Urbanization &Land Use Changes
Deforestation and soil erosion.(Reduced tree cover with
imbalance rain cycle, floods, Greenhouse effect and global
warming leading to Urban heat island effect).
Agricultural activity.(Land evacuation for agricultural use,
Land degradation due to use of toxic chemicals of pesticides
and fertilization).
Urbanization activity. (Construction of buildings, roads,
housing schemes).
11. Focused areas
Resource Management
Environmental resources management aims
to ensure that ecosystem services are
protected and maintained for equitable use
by future human generations. The goal of
resource management is sustainable use or
to slow down the rate of resource utilization
12. Focused areas
Renewable Resources. Natural resources which
can be replenish within few human generations
e.g Solar, Wind, Water, Biomass.
Non-renewable Resources. Natural resources
which cannot be replenished within few human
generations. e.g Fossil fuels( Coal, oil, gas) and
minerals.
13. Focused areas
Clean Air
To improve ambient air quality, Pollutant
Standard Index should be followed.
Regulatory measures to be taken to reduce
emissions from stationary and mobile sources.
a. Industrial sector
b. Community services
c. Vehicular emissions
14. Focused areas
Energy Conservation
Promote energy efficient energy saving practices.
Green building designs
Green technologies
Encourage projects on renewable energy sources.
Solar
Hydal
Biomass
15. Focused areas
Water conservation and management.
• Ensure water quality to meet international standards.
• Ensure potable water quality to meet WHO standards
for drinking water.
• Reduce per capita domestic water consumption.
• Enhance water conservation and management
technologies ( Green Irrigation practices)
• Increase supply of water from non-conventional sources.
Watershed management.(Reservoirs)
Rain water harvesting.
16. Focused areas
Land Pollution (Soil pollution).
Industrial effluents. Effluents and toxic chemicals from
the drains of industries are a cause of soil contamination
by entering into the ground water, water channels,
agricultural soil and neibhouring populated areas
through percolation and run off
Pesticides and fertilizers Use of highly toxic fertilizers
and pesticides for eradication of insects, fungi and
bacteria from the crops and the overuse of these
chemicals, result in contamination and poisoning of soil
17. Focused areas
Land Pollution (Soil pollution).
Waste and garbage dumping sites
Unplanned waste disposal system results
in dumping sites in various parts of the city
as well as outskirts and river banks of
Lahore which is another cause of land
degradation and deterioration
18. Focused areas
Waste Management
What is waste?
European Union definition "an object the holder
discards, intends to discard or is required to
discard”.
Basel convention definition: Wastes are
substances or objects which are disposed or are
intended to be disposed or are required to be
disposed of by the provisions of national laws.
19. Waste Management
Types of Waste
• Municipal Waste
(Residential, commercial,
institutional, industrial,
and municipal).
• Hazardous Waste
• Industrial Waste
• Bio-medical Waste
• Agricultural Waste
• Universal Waste
• Construction and
Demolition
Waste
• Radioactive Waste
• Mining Waste
20. Waste management includes everything from
Generation
Storage
Collection
Transfer
Transportation
Processing and recovery
Ultimate disposal
21. Integrated waste management
Reduce - Source reduction. Reducing the
quantity and toxicity of waste
Reuse - Reusing existing products or
packaging
Recycle - the waste of one can be a resource
for other, e.g. composting
22. Integrated waste management
Incineration - controlled burning of solid,
liquid, or gaseous wastes. Reduces volume &
generates ” waste to energy”.
Landfill - Physical facility spread on acres
used for disposal of residual solid wastes in
the surface soils of the earth. Source of
methane gas.
23. Green Infrastructure
What it means?
A sustainable bridge between natural and built
environments
• Support native species
• Maintain natural ecological processes
• Sustain air and water resources
• Contribute to the health and quality of life for
communities and people
25. Green Infrastructure – how it works
• Better air quality – trees
• Temperature reduction – trees
• Water shed management
Rain gardens
Bioswales
Rain water harvesting
Artificial wet lands
• Green building designs
• Green roofs
• Green walls
26. Blue print for future
Plans
Procedures
Policy
Governance