High-rise buildings and mismanagement of solid waste in the city are two factors adding to greenhouse gases, increasing the local temperature and pollution in the city. Experts who presented different aspects of urban planning and creating low carbon cities at the conference on Low Carbon Cities at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) recently emphasised that future cities must lower their carbon footprint if their citizens are to lead healthy lives.
“The city has a tropical climate and in recent times has seen high-rise buildings with glass facades. This kind of architecture tends to conserve the heat and hence use of air conditioners and fans have increased, shooting up electricity consumption. This in turn increases green house gas emission causing increase in the local temperature,” said Dr T.V. Ramachandra, from IISc, while presenting a paper on ‘Carbon Footprints of Greater Bengaluru’.
“The existing solid waste treatment system in the city is not very effective, which is another contributor to green house gases. There are open dump sites in Bengaluru in the central areas and emission from these dump sites releases carbon and other harmful gases in the air. We need to segregate waste at household level and government must levy heavy penalties on those who dump waste in open sites and lake beds,” Dr Ramachandra added.
Qin Bo of the Department of Urban Planning and Management, Remin University, China, said that city planners must press for development that reduces the carbon footprint. “Floods and increased temperatures in China prove that greenhouse gas emissions have some effect on local temperatures. “Hence city planners must create low carbon CBDs (Central Business Districts) and popularise mass transport systems. Using dedicated lanes for buses to create a Bus Rapid Transit system will help more urban dwellers switch to public transport,” he said.