Urban air pollution and climate are closely connected due to shared generating processes (e.g., combustion) for emissions of the driving gases and aerosols. They are also connected because the atmospheric lifecycles of common air pollutants such as CO, NOx and VOCs, and of the climatically important methane gas (CH4) and sulfate aerosols, both involve the fast photochemistry of the hydroxyl free radical (OH). Thus policies designed to address air pollution

may impact climate and vice versaSolid waste management processes and climate change operate at similar timescales, as such; there is a need to understand what the potential climate change impacts may be on waste management. The scope of this study was limited only to municipal and household waste

The Earth’s atmosphere contains many types of gases, including those known as “greenhouse gases” which hold in the sun’s warmth. Scientists call this naturally occurring phenomenon the “greenhouse effect”. Greenhouse gases help regulate global temperatures. Certain human activities such as burning fossil fuels and dumping solid waste, however, produce additional greenhouse gases and upset the natural balance by raising global temperatures. Global temperature has risen by about 0.60C over the last 100 years and 1998 was the single warmest year in the 142 – year global instrumental record (Hulme et al, 2002). Climate change could have an impact on the waste management industry, and given the operational time frame for many waste management sites, there is a need to examine whether the issues that arise are of such significance that policy or opHow Solid Waste Impacts Climate Change

Even before a material or product becomes a solid waste, it goes through a long cycle that involves removing and processing raw materials, manufacturing the product, transporting the materials and products to

markets, and using energy to transform the product. Each of these activities has the potential to generate greenhouse gas emissions through one or more of the following means:

a. Energy Consumption: Extracting and processing raw materials, manufacturing products, and transporting materials and products to markets all generate greenhouse gas emissions by consuming energy from fossil fuels.

b. Methane Emissions: When organic waste decomposes in landfills and dumps, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas.

c. Carbon Storage: Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air and store it in wood through carbon sequestration. Waste prevention and recycling of wood and paper products allow more trees to remain

“Climate change could result in changes in temperatures, cloud cover, rainfall patterns, wind speeds, and storms: all factors that could impact future waste management facilities’ development and operation. The time scales for climate change and waste management are similar. For instance, landfill sites can be operational for decades and still remain active for decades following their closure. There is, therefore, a need to consider potential changes in waste management over significant timescales and respond appropriately.”

standing in the forest, where they can continue to remove carbon dioxide from the air, which helps minimize climate change impacts.

Different wastes and waste management activities have varying impacts on energy consumption, methane emissions, and carbon storage. For example, recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions by preventing methane emissions from landfills or open dumps and by preventing the consumption of energy for extracting impacts of construction on climate change

• The cement sector alone accounts for 5% of global man-made CO2 emissions.

• Highest impact is the mining/manufacture of materials and chemicals.

• Transport of heavy materials such as cement is energy-intensive, but most building materials

tend to be sourced from close-by facilities.

• The chemical processes and use of fuel/electricity account for the major portion of the

sector’s CO2 emissions.

• On-site construction of buildings is relatively low-impact, mainly energy use; influenced by

choice of building materials, construction techniques, and modes/ distances of transportation.

• The maintenance of buildings is higher impact due to significant energy use (esp. heating,

lighting); New building regulations impact on requirements for maintenance and demolitionnd processing raChennai is not on this list, and that might be a very good thing. Here are some huge demerits to high-rises.

Urban wind tunnel

Rise in the elevation of a building increases the distance of the wind shadow and minimises the air flow at the street level behind the building. Near high-rise buildings, the local wind speed is high even in summer. In addition, high-rise buildings tend to create a turbulent flow of the gradient wind as a result of increasing the roughness of the boundary layer surface.

Increased air pollution

In summers, local wind speeds near skyscrapers are very high and troublesome. The ventilation conditions in urban spaces and major streets with high vehicular traffic have significant impact on the concentration of air pollutants at the street level. The high velocity and turbulent wind at the street level results in the mixing of the highly polluted low-level air with cleaner air flowing above the urban canopy.

Effect on urban radiation

High-rise buildings absorb direct and reflected solar radiation of the surrounding low-rise buildings and convert it into heat via convection of long wave radiation.

However, when buildings are of different heights, the walls of the higher buildings absorb part of the reflected and emitted radiation and block a portion of the sky, resulting in reduced solar exposure and long-wave emission from the roofs of the lower buildings.

Increased urban temperature

The size and density of built-up areas affect urban temperatures. In the congested centres of large cities, temperature levels are generally higher than in the suburbs. The peaks in temperature occur during clear and still-air nights, also called Urban Heat Island. Excessive opacity of high-rise buildings in city centres results in concentrated heat generation by high-density land use (traffic, lighting, heat exhaust) and contributes to the creation of urban heat islands.

Effect on night-time cooling

Nocturnal radiation is a major climatic factor that reduces atmospheric heat in urban areas located in hot, dry regions. Nocturnal radiation decreases as the density and height of built-up urban masses increases. High-rise buildings store solar energy during the day and release it slowly into low-speed local wind, especially at night. The vertical distance between cool winds above building roofs and the ground surface is long, and this results in decreased radiant cooling during the nights.

Low-rise buildings that match tree heights of 12-15 metres, on the other hand, penetrate night-time ventilated cooling at the ground level and also store cool radiation through built-up urban areas.

Cost factor

Tall buildings are colder in winter and hotter in summer than regular buildings and, therefore, require more heating and more cooling. This is particularly true of modern glass towers.

Thus, a lot of energy is required to keep these high rises functioning. Exterior cleaning and maintenance of high-rise buildings can be very costly and dangerous.

High-rise buildings are costlier and take longer to build, and impose a heavy load on civic infrastructure. The average construction cost per square foot is 20-25 per cent higher if the building has more than 12 floors.

Keywords: Skyscrapers, high-rise buildings, civic infrastructure, night-time cooling, temperature rise, air pollution, wind tunnel

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Chennai faces a unique pollution challenge – pollution levels that appear to be low or moderate, but are not so.Actual impacts can be much more severe – says CSE analysis

Unlike other mega cities, Chennai represents a different pollution challenge. Its annual average pollution levels -- though lower than other mega cities -- still vary between moderate to critical. Without the sea breeze in this coastal city, the peaks could have been worse

Analysis by CSE exposes steady and rapid increase in pollution levels, high local impacts and high traces of toxics making its air dangerous to breathe

Despite having better multi-modal public transport compared to many other mega cities, motorization rate is high. If two-wheelers are added then its personal motorization rate exceeds that of Western cities

CSE’s assessment shows how car-centric infrastructure – flyovers, signal-free roads, foot overbridges – are converting zero emissions walk trips to long motorized trips adding enormously to pollution

Over the last two decades, share of bus and train ridership has dropped drastically. The share of personal vehicle trips has increased 

Chennai needs to quickly scale up public transport, integrated multi-modal transport options, car restraint policies and walking for clean air

w materials. What Is the Relationship Between

Climate Change and Solid Waste?

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT:

The Earth’s atmosphere contains many types of gases,

including those known as “greenhouse gases,” which

hold in the sun’s warmth (see text box). Scientists call

this naturally occurring phenomenon the “greenhouse

effect.” Greenhouse gases help regulate global

temperatures. Certain human activities such as

burning fossil fuels and dumping solid waste,

however, produce additional greenhouse gases and

upset the natural balance by raising global

temperatures.

WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS?

Greenhouse gas emissions are slowly changing the

Earth’s climate. The Earth has already become slightly

warmer in the past 100 years and will continue to

become warmer. This could cause serious human

health and environmental consequences because a

warmer climate may cause more frequent and severe

heat waves, damage agriculture, and cause droughts

in some places and floods in others.

HOW DOES SOLID WASTE IMPACT CLIMATE

CHANGE?

Even before a material or product becomes solid

waste, it goes through a long cycle that involves

removing and processing raw materials,

manufacturing the product, transporting the materials

and products to markets, and using energy to operate

the product. Each of these activities has the potential

to generate greenhouse gas emissions through one or

more of the following means:

■ Energy consumption. Extracting and processing

raw materials, manufacturing products, and

transporting materials and products to markets all

generate greenhouse gas emissions by consuming

energy from fossil fuels.

■ Methane emissions. When organic waste

decomposes in landfills, it generates methane, a

greenhouse gas.

■ Carbon storage. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a

greenhouse gas, from the air and store it in wood

through carbon sequestration. Waste prevention

and recycling of wood and paper products allow

more trees to remain standing in the forest, where

they can continue to remove carbon dioxide from

the air, which helps minimize climate change

impacts.

Different wastes and waste management activities

have varying impacts on energy consumption,

methane emissions, and carbon storage. For example,

recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions by

preventing methane emissions from landfills or open

dumps and by preventing the consumption of energy

for extracting and processing raw materials.

Communities that are looking for ways to help

prevent climate change can start by implementing an

integrated solid waste management program.

GREENHOUSE GASES:

Some greenhouse gases—such as water vapor,

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and

ozone—occur naturally in the atmosphere, while

others result from human activities.

Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere

when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and

coal), and wood and wood products are burned.

Methane is emitted during the production and

transport of coal, natural gas, and oil; the

decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid

waste landfills; and by livestock. Nitrous oxide is

emitted during agricultural and industrial

activities, as well as during the combustion of solid

waste and fossil fuels.

Each greenhouse gas differs in its ability to trap

heat in the atmosphere. Methane traps over 21

times more heat than carbon dioxide, and nitrous

oxide absorbs 310 times more than carbon dioxide.

The higher the heat trapping potential of the gas,

the greater the impact on climate change. Efforts

to decrease emissions of these gases help reduce

climate change impacts. WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GASES?

Some greenhouse gases—such as water vapor,

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and

ozone—occur naturally in the atmosphere, while

others result from human activities.

Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere

when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and

coal), and wood and wood products are burned.

Methane is emitted during the production and

transport of coal, natural gas, and oil; the

decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid

waste landfills; and by livestock. Nitrous oxide is

emitted during agricultural and industrial

activities, as well as during the combustion of solid

waste and fossil fuels.

Each greenhouse gas differs in its ability to trap

heat in the atmosphere. Methane traps over 21

times more heat than carbon dioxide, and nitrous

oxide absorbs 310 times more than carbon dioxide.

The higher the heat trapping potential of the gas,

the greater the impact on climate change. Efforts

Garbage

Introduction: The disposal and treatment of waste can produce emissions of several greenhouse gases (GHGs), which contribute to global climate change. Global temperature has risen by about 0.60C over the last 100 years. Each greenhouse gas differs in its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere. Methane traps over 21 times more heat than carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide absorbs 310 times more than carbon dioxide. The higher the heat trapping potential of the gas, the greater the impact on climate change. Efforts to decrease emissions of these gases help reduce climate change impacts.

The most significant GHG gas produced from waste is methane. It is released during the breakdown of organic matter in landfills. Other forms of waste disposal also produce GHGs but these are mainly in the form of carbon dioxide (a less powerful GHG). Even the recycling of waste produces some emissions (although these are offset by the reduction in fossil fuels that would be required to obtain new raw materials). Waste prevention and recycling help address global climate change by decreasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and saving energy (Environmental Protection Agency.

The beauty of T.Nagar lies in the restoration to its past glory. The stunning growth of this part of Chennai city is stunted only by the ever increasing mounds of garbage menace. This threat is one which needs the utmost attention before we compromise its ill-effects and settle down to continue with no awareness to our bad habits. It is the problem of the society and the attitude of the present inhabitants. The broad objectives are to reduce the amount of garbage in T.Nagar.

Objectives: To minimize the global warming due to methane emission from solid waste by:

1.Making people aware of segregation, compost, reuse and recycle.

2.Minimising and avoiding Waste production wherever possible.

3.Ensuring safe disposal of waste.

Thereby, reducing the amount of garbage reaching the dumpyard resulting in reduced methane emission.

Statement: “Climate change could result in changes in temperatures, cloud cover, rainfall patterns, wind speeds, and storms: all factors that could impact future waste management facilities’ development and operation. The time scales for climate change and waste management are similar. For instance, landfill sites can be operational for decades and still remain active for decades following their closure. There is, therefore, a need to consider potential changes in waste management over significant timescales and respond appropriately.”

Methodology

1.Recycling

Recycling is one of the most well know method of managing waste. It is not expensive and can be easily done by us. If we carry out recycling, we will save a lot of energy, resources and thereby reduce pollution. We can also save money if we recycle. We can recycle papers, glass, aluminum and plastics. If we want to reduce the volume of our waste material, the best way to do so would be to recycle. If we recycle, we can eliminate batteries, tires and asphalt from our waste material and this prevents them from ending up in the landfills and incinerator. The municipality of almost all cities encourages their citizens to take up recycling. Be a responsible citizen and reduce our waste by recycling.

2. Composting

This is a natural process that is completely free of any hazardous by-products. This process involves breaking down the materials into organic compounds that can be used as manure. We can carry out composting in our own backyard. We can use the leaves, grass, twigs and add vegetable and fruit peels and skins. We can use khambha for composting. After a few days, you will see that the matter has decomposed. We can use this compost, which is rich in nutrients, to improve the soil in our garden.

3. Landfills

Waste management through the use of landfills involves the use of a large area. This place is dug open and filled with the waste. The area is then covered up with

soil. Landfills are not safe because they give off gases like methane, which are highly hazardous. We should not carry out waste management through landfills if we cannot ensure proper safety means. The landfill should be properly lined and the waste should not come in contact with the adjoining areas.

Hypothesis

As the cities are growing in size and problems seen as the generation of plastic waste, various municipal waste treatment and disposal methods are now being used to try resolving these problems. Garbage generation in household can be recycled and reused to prevent creation of waste at sources and reducing amount of waste thrown into the community dustbins. So

Effective waste management reduces landfill implications.  Effective waste management saves money for councils.  Effective waste management creates a cleaner environment. Effective waste management results in reduced global warming.

T.NAGAR HAS LOST ITS BEAUTY

Unlike other polluting agents, garbage is with its physical form is very visual and ugly. This stinking refuse occupies space. It starts as a small heap at our backyard, grows to a heap at street end and becomes a dump, then mound and finally a mountain. Over a period these mound eat away the living area.

We are studying the garbage problem of T.Nagar in the past 5 years from 2009-2014 and making plans to control so as to reduce the methane emission.

T.Nagar has lost its beauty as it can literally be seen in the above picture. This picture is taken from the tremendous shopping area, the Ranganathan Street. This is because of over-population and over-exploitation of natural & artificial resources. People have thrown their garbage on the street which not-at-all a human activity.

.

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Increase Of Garbage From 2009-2014

No.Of Tons

Year

Tons

per

Day

This shows an increase in garbage from 90 tons to 120 tons per day from 2009 to 2014. We have taken up this project to reduce the amount of garbage.

We have surveyed residents of T.Nagar by the following questionnaire.

Questionnaire to Residents

Name:

Age:

Designation:

1. What do you normally do with organic waste materials from your kitchen? For example, vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells etc.

Place in regular garbage without segregating / Backyard composter/ don’t know/Unsure

Other (specify): ____________________________________________________________________

2. If you have a backyard composter do you use it all year round?

Yes /No/ don’t know/Unsure /Not applicable

3. What do you normally do with the grass clippings from your lawn?

Place in regular garbage /dig into garden Backyard composter

Leave on lawn / mulch/ don’t know/unsure /Lawn service takes away

Other (specify): ____________________________________________________________________

4. And what about leaves? How do you normally dispose of leaves that fall on your property?

Place in regular garbage/ Dig into garden Backyard composter

Leave on lawn / mulch Bring to Landfill compost area

Please Tick:-

Method of household garbage storage

Closed container Open container

Plastic bags

Other (pile in the yard)

5. How are the garbage disposed in houses?

i) Keep it in front of the flat

ii) Disposed in the main dust-bin

6. How often the corporation people remove the garbage from the dust-bin?

i) Once-Daily

ii). Once in 2 days

To the following questions, please answer with either:yes, no, or don’t know.

Yes No Don’t Know

1. Have you ever heard about composting?2. Have you ever heard about recycling?3. If a recycling program was set up, that collected materials like plastic, paper, metals, etc, would yoube willing to separate these into separate bags for collection purposes?4. Would you be willing to pay for pickup of these recycling materials from your home?5. Would you be willing to participate in a program to compost food and yard waste?6. If you were paid for every plastic bottle that you returned to the grocery store, would you participatein a program to return the plastic bottles?7. Would you be willing to purchase eco-friendly products?

For the following statements, please tell me whether you agree, disagree, or you have no opinion.

No. Agree

Disagree

No opinion

1.I play an important role in the management of garbage in my community.2.Environmental education should be taught in schools.3.I don’t care that burning garbage can be bad for my health and the health of others.4. People throw garbage on the streets and in the drains and gullies because they have no other means of getting rid of (disposing of) their garbage.5.The Local Government is not doing enough to fix the garbage problem.6.Correct garbage management should be taught in schools.7.Other personal issues (like crime, unemployment, and cost of living) are more important to me than a garbage-free community.8.Regular collection of garbage is the only solution to the garbage problem.9.Picking up garbage around my community is my responsibility as an T.Nagar resident.10.Public education about proper garbage management is one way to fix the garbage crisis.

8. Would you like more information about how and what types of garbage you can compost, reuse,and recycle in order to reduce the amount of garbage that you need to get rid of?

Any suggestion to reduce the garbage in T.Nagar?

From the survey we got the following analysis report

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

17%

94%78%

94%Analysis Report

No.Of People

No.

of p

eopl

e

From the above analysis we infer that 17% of the residents are segregating garbage, 94% are aware of composting, 78% are willing to participate in Environmental Programs and 94% are willing to use eco-friendly products. Even though 94% of the residents are aware of composting, only 17% of the residents are segregating them due to the laziness and careless attitude of the people.

The Government should make it mandatory by:

1. Providing bins to each house to segregate biodegradable and non- biodegradable waste.

2. Constructing the composting pit in every flats.

3. Providing khambha pots to every house for composting.

4. Making arrangements to collect the non-biodegradable waste to recycle.

5. Compelling everyone to reuse the waste.

Resulting in REDUCED WASTE- REDUCED METHANE EMISSION

The Eco-Club in our school has launched Kambha Pots to convert biodegradable waste from our canteen into high quality compost. The Eco-Club also donate saplings, spread awareness of reducing pollution, preserving energy and creating wealth from waste.

On our part, we educated people the values of compost and the method of composting by giving them pamphlets.

Definition for Terms

Segregation: Waste segregation is the process of dividing garbage and waste products in an effort to reduce, reuse and recycle material reuse and recycle materials.

Waste disposal: Waste disposal is the process of collecting and removing waste and relocating it to a place where it will sit or be recycled.

Reuse: To reuse is to use an item again after it has been used. This includes conventional reuse where the item is used again for the same function, and new-life reuse where it is used for a different function.

Reduce: We can reduce the amount of waste we create by choosing what rubbish we throw away. This can be easy and fun.

Recycling: Recycling is a process to change waste materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal.

Composting: Composting is the process when plants and animal decompose and turn into soil. For anyone with a garden a compost bin, or compost heap, is an excellent way to keep kitchen and garden scraps out of landfill where they decompose anaerobically (that is, without air), so producing methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more dangerous that carbon dioxide.

Bio-degradable: Biodegradable matter is generally organic material such as plant and animal matter and other substances originating from living organisms, or artificial materials that are similar enough to plant and animal matter to be put to use by microorganisms.

Non-biodegradable: Non-biodegradable waste is a type of waste that cannot be broken down into its base compounds by micro-organisms, air, moisture or soil in a reasonable amount of time. Non-biodegradable waste is an environmental concern, as it threatens to overwhelm landfills and create disposal problems.

GREENHOUSE GASES:

Some greenhouse gases—such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone—occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities.

Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood and wood products are burned.

Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil; the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills; and by livestock.

Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during the combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels.

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT:

The Earth’s atmosphere contains many types of gases, including those known as “greenhouse gases,” which hold in the sun’s warmth. Scientists call this naturally occurring phenomenon the “greenhouse effect.” Greenhouse gases help regulate global temperatures. Certain human activities such as burning fossil fuels and dumping solid waste, however, produce additional greenhouse gases and upset the natural balance by raising global temperatures.

Conclusion: We can achieve the greatest climate benefit through:

1. Improved materials management by segregating the waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable items.

2. Composting the biodegradable wastes to manure which reduces the dumping leading to reduced methane emission.

3. Reusing the materials.

4. Recycling of most materials results in the ‘next best’ GHG savings.

Thus we can conclude that, globally, waste prevention and resource recovery represent the key activities by which the waste sector can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation.

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CSE findings – the key highlights

• Annual average levels of particulates increasing rapidly: Though lower than other mega cities of India, a rapid escalation in levels has been witnessed: PM10 levels have increased from 32 microgramme per cu m in 2007 to 94 microgramme per cu m in 2011 (a 193 per cent jump) – increasing at 29 per cent a year. 

• Annual average levels of nitrogen dioxide increasing at a more rapid rate than PM10: Between 2007 and 2011, NO2 levels rose from 9 microgramme per cu m to 24 microgramme per cu m -- an increase of 166 per cent, at 60 per cent a year. An official source apportionment study in Chennai carried out by IIT Madras under the aegis of the environment ministry attributes 63 per cent of nitrogen oxides to vehicles. 

in the country, they are much above WHO guidelines. Global assessments now available from the Global Burden of Disease estimates show that the most of the health effects occur at lower levels. Chennai has several local pollution hotspots, and road side exposures are also high. Annual averages do not help address the risks. Air quality monitoring would need to address these challenges and issue health advisories to people. There is therefore absolutely no reason to think that the risk in southern cities like Chennai is lower than other cities. In fact, a health study released by the Health Effects Institute in Chennai and Delhi in 2011 shows that in Chennai, there is a 0.4 per cent increase in risk per 10-µg/m3 increase in PM10 concentration. In Delhi, it is 0.15 per cent – thus Chennai indicates a higher impact.

Vehicles are a special problem

• High exposure to vehicular fumes: Vehicles pose a special challenge. In terms of actual exposure, people are more vulnerable to vehicular fumes while traveling and in close

proximity to roads. Pollution concentration in our breath is 3-4 times higher than the ambient air concentration. In densely-populated cities, more than 50-60 per cent of the population lives or works near the roadside where levels are much higher. This is very serious in low income neighbourhoods located close to roads. Road users, public transport users, walkers and cyclists are the most exposed groups – they are also the urban majority.

• Vehicles contribute hugely to air pollution: Source apportionment studies carried out in Chennai by Madras IIT under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment and Forests show vehicles contribute 14 per cent of particulate matter and 68 per cent of nitrogen oxides. Some other studies show that 35 per cent of PM2.5 in Chennai comes from vehicles -- tinier the particles higher the share of vehicles.

• Chennai records very high exposure to vehicular pollution: A study carried out by scientists of University of Berkeley published in Environmental Science and Technology in 2012 shows that the exposure to vehicular fumes (in terms of population-weighted intake fraction, or the grams of vehicle pollution inhaled per grams of vehicle pollution emitted) in Chennai (72) is one of the highest in cities studied in India – third after Kolkata (150) and Delhi (100).

Mobility crisis• Explosive numbers: Vehicle population increased from less than 5 lakh in 1991 to more than 30 lakh today. Cars are 20 per cent and two-wheelers 55 per cent of the total vehicular fleet. Two-wheelers and cars are 31 per cent of the total travel trips and approximately 75 per cent of the total vehicular fleet on road. Two-wheelers saw a phenomenal growth from 4 lakh in 1991 to 21.6 lakh in 2009..Average vehicles per household have increased from 0.25 to 1.26. It is said about Chennai that if we add two-wheelers, then personal motorization in the city is higher than that of Mexico City. An average of more than 800 new

two-wheelers is registered every day in the city.

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Chennai faces a unique pollution challenge – pollution levels that appear to be low or moderate, but are not so.Actual impacts can be much more severe – says CSE analysis

Unlike other mega cities, Chennai represents a different pollution challenge. Its annual average pollution levels -- though lower than other mega cities --

still vary between moderate to critical. Without the sea breeze in this coastal city, the peaks could have been worse

Analysis by CSE exposes steady and rapid increase in pollution levels, high local impacts and high traces of toxics making its air dangerous to breathe

Despite having better multi-modal public transport compared to many other mega cities, motorization rate is high. If two-wheelers are added then its personal motorization rate exceeds that of Western cities

CSE’s assessment shows how car-centric infrastructure – flyovers, signal-free roads, foot overbridges – are converting zero emissions walk trips to long motorized trips adding enormously to pollution

Over the last two decades, share of bus and train ridership has dropped drastically. The share of personal vehicle trips has increased 

Chennai needs to quickly scale up public transport, integrated multi-modal transport options, car restraint policies and walking for clean air

Chennai, August 6, 2013: According to this year’s Global Burden of Disease estimates, one-fifth of deaths across the world occur from outdoor air pollution. Also, outdoor air pollution is the fifth leading cause of deaths in India. These alarming pieces of information have drawn everyone’s attention and forced experts to take stock of pollution trends in India’s cities – including Chennai.

A recent analysis of Chennai’s air quality, done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the New Delhi-based research and advocacy body, indicates that though Chennai shows deceptively low to moderate pollution levels because of its location near the sea, local impacts and exposure are high and the pollution levels are rising steadily, thereby increasing public health risks.

CSE released the findings of its analysis here today at a stakeholder workshop conducted in association with the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board. Bhure Lal, chairperson of the Supreme Court’s Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, and Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, CSE addressed the participants.

Said Roychowdhury: “Chennai’s case is different from the trends observed in other high-growth mega cities where overall ambient air pollution is very high. But this must not breed complacency as detailed scanning of available pollution data as well as research studies point to steady and rapid increase over time, high local impacts and high traces of toxics making Chennai’s air dangerous to breathe. This demands more rigorous scrutiny of air pollution profile and aggressive action in this rapidly motorizing city.”

CSE findings – the key highlights

• Annual average levels of particulates increasing rapidly: Though lower than other mega cities of India, a rapid escalation in levels has been witnessed: PM10 levels have increased from 32 microgramme per cu m in 2007 to 94 microgramme per cu m in 2011 (a 193 per cent jump) – increasing at 29 per cent a year. 

• Annual average levels of nitrogen dioxide increasing at a more rapid rate than PM10: Between 2007 and 2011, NO2 levels rose from 9 microgramme per cu m to 24 microgramme per cu m -- an increase of 166 per cent, at 60 per cent a year. An official source apportionment study in Chennai carried out by IIT Madras under the aegis of the environment ministry attributes 63 per cent of nitrogen oxides to vehicles. 

Vehicles are a special problem

• High exposure to vehicular fumes: Vehicles pose a special challenge. In terms of actual exposure, people are more vulnerable to vehicular fumes while traveling and in close proximity to roads. Pollution concentration in our breath is 3-4 times higher than the ambient air concentration. In densely-populated cities, more than 50-60 per cent of the population lives or works near the roadside where levels are much higher. This is very serious in low income neighbourhoods located close to roads. Road users, public transport users, walkers and cyclists are the most exposed groups – they are also the urban majority.

• Vehicles contribute hugely to air pollution: Source apportionment studies carried out in Chennai by Madras IIT under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment and Forests show vehicles contribute 14 per cent of particulate matter and 68 per cent of nitrogen oxides. Some other studies show that 35 per cent of PM2.5 in Chennai comes from vehicles -- tinier the particles higher the share of vehicles.

• Chennai records very high exposure to vehicular pollution: A study carried out by scientists of University of Berkeley published in Environmental Science and Technology in 2012 shows that the exposure to vehicular fumes (in terms of population-weighted intake fraction, or the grams of vehicle pollution inhaled per grams of vehicle pollution emitted) in Chennai (72) is one of the highest in cities studied in India – third after Kolkata (150) and Delhi (100).

• Leapfrog technology to address diesel emission which is a class 1 carcinogen: India is motorising at a level of technology and fuel quality that can compound health risks. There are special concerns about growing use of poor quality diesel. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a wing of the WHO, has said that diesel engine exhaust can certainly cause cancer, especially lung cancer in humans. This finding comes at a time when India has failed to adopt a clean diesel road map, prevent use of under-taxed and under-priced toxic diesel in cars. 

Mobility crisis• Explosive numbers: Vehicle population increased from less than 5 lakh in 1991 to more than 30 lakh today. Cars are 20 per cent and two-wheelers 55 per cent of the total vehicular fleet. Two-wheelers and cars are 31 per cent of the total travel trips and approximately 75 per cent of the total vehicular fleet on road. Two-wheelers saw a phenomenal growth from 4 lakh in 1991 to 21.6 lakh in 2009..Average vehicles per household have increased from 0.25 to 1.26. It is said about Chennai that if we add two-wheelers, then personal motorization in the city is higher than that of Mexico City. An average of more than 800 new two-wheelers is registered every day in the city.

Learn from Delhi’s experience. Delhi has not been able to solve its problem of pollution and congestion by building more roads and flyovers for cars.  Delhi is most privileged to have more than 21 per cent of its geographical area under road space. Delhi has built the maximum roads and flyovers. Yet its roads are totally gridlocked. Peak hour traffic has even slumped to below 15 km/hour. Cars and two-wheelers in Delhi occupy 90 per cent of the road space but meet less than 20 per cent of the travel demand. More roads are not the answer.

Sign of congestions: Level of congestion on arterials and other major roads has increased eight-fold over the period 1984 to 2008. According to the estimates of the Chennai Corporation there were 10 key arterial roads in 1993-94 with journey speed of 31-40 km/hour. Now only 3 roads have this kind of speed. Similarly, there were only 2 roads with average peak hour journey speed  of 11-20 km/hour then. Now the number of roads in the class has increased to 20. Not only the vehicles taking over road but also the urban space to meet the insatiable demand for parking. 

Cars meet miniscule of travel demand yet car centric infrastructure getting priority: In Chennai cars meet only 7 per cent of the daily travel demand and two-wheelers as much as 26 per cent. This means the majority are either using public transport or walking and cycling. This will steadily undermine multi modal public transport which is a comparative strength of Chennai. This requires immediate intervention to scale up, reinvent and redesign the sustainable modes to protect the public transport, and walking share – a rich legacy of the city.

Erosion of public transport ridership: Over the last two decades share of bus, train and bicycle ridership has dropped drastically in the city. The share of personal vehicles trips have increased. Cycle rickshaws have totally vanished from the city, negatively impacting the last mile connectivity. Significant increase noted in the share of two wheeler trips followed by car trips. 

CSE checked out the impact of car centric infrastructure on pollution and carbon emissions in a few locations. This is diagnostic. Car centric infrastructure (signal free roads, flyovers and foot over bridges etc) increases interferes with walking accessibility, increases travel distances, encourage more motorized travel, and lead to more emissions.  For example, access to Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board is impeded due to signal free corridor and a fly over. The detour increases the car distance from the study point from 600 meters of walking access to close to 4km car ride.  This makes one petrol car emit about 0.024 gram of extra PM and a diesel car about 0.24 gram of PM -- 10 times higher than petrol car. At the same time the cars depending on the engine size emit heat trapping carbon dioxide of about 504 to 592 grams of CO2 depending upon car engine capacity. Similar issues have been noted in other locations including Alandur Road, Anna Salai to Guindy Metro station, Travel distance- 4 Kms taken by car. The cumulative impact of the detour on the traffic volume can be enormous. Such impacts must be assessed for traffic impact assessment of any road engineering projects.

Make livable cities to cut toxic emissionsCSE’s ongoing opinion survey in Chennai reveals that majority feels that air pollution is worsening and vehicles are largely to be blamed for it. Action on air pollution has begun in Chennai but needs to gather momentum. The first generation action includes successive introduction of Bharat Stage I-II-III emissions standards, introduction of LPG in autos, notification of lubricant standards for two-stroke engines, bypass heavy duty trucks during day hours, strengthening of pollution control efforts in other sectors and so on. 

The pollution challenge demands second generation action to keep ahead of the problem. The city has the chance to plan its future growth differently and avoid the path of pollution, congestion and energy guzzling. More road space is not the answer. It needs to make maximum investment in redesigning the existing road space and travel pattern and achieve compact urban form to provide the majority of the people affordable and efficient mode of public transport that can be an alternative to personal vehicles. It is time to set new terms of action. Soft options have all been exhausted. 

• Strengthen air quality, health monitoring and risk communication:Review the monitoring network keeping in mind the growth in pollution, unique challenges of the city, population exposed and newer challenges like ozone, PM2.5 and toxics. It should strengthen its monitoring grid, deploy air quality forecasting modes, must regularly and systematically monitor the health indicators. At the same time implement an air quality index system and health advisory for informing people about ill effects of poor air quality.

Estimation of Automobile Emissions and Control Strategies in India

K.S. Nesamani1

Institute of Transportation Studies

University of California Irvine

California – 92612

E-mail: ksnesa55@hotmail.com

The estimated emissions from motor vehicles in Chennai in 2005 were 431, 119, 46, 6 and 4575 tons/days respectively for CO, VOC, NOx, PM and CO2. It is observed from the results that air quality in Chennai has degraded. The estimation revealed that two and three-wheelers emitted about 64 percent of the total CO emissions and heavy-duty vehicles accounted for more than 60

percent and 36 percent of the NOx and PM emissions respectively. About 19 percent of total emissions were that of start emissions.