PROJECT #2000-18
Urbanization, Industrial Transformation, and Environmental Change
| Project Leader |
Richard C. ROCKWELL
Executive Director
The Roper Center & Institute for Social Inquiry
Professor of Sociology
341 Mansfield Road, U-164
Storrs, CT 06269-1164
USA
Tel: +1-860-486-4440
Fax: +1-860-486-6308
Email: richard@ropercenter.uconn.edu
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| Funding |
The workshop was funded using the Hyogo Prefecture APN Workshop fund
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| Participating countries |
Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea,
Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA
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Introduction/Background
On 12-14 July 2000, APN hosted a scoping workshop to assist in the
development of research programs on how urbanization affects the environment
and how environmental changes due to urbanization and the associated industrialization
can be mitigated. Participants were selected on the basis of interest
shown at a prior scoping workshop (October 1999) and other evidence of
interest and willingness to contribute to a collaborative research planning
effort. Natural scientists, engineers, and social scientists were involved.
The International Human Dimensions Programme - Industrial Transformation
(IHDP-IT) science project views these workshops as part of the implementation
of the Cities and Industrial Transformation focus of IDHP-IT and participated
in the planning of the workshops. The two research proposals resulting
from the workshops are seen as important contributions to the implementation
of the Industrial Transformation Science Plan. The Scientific Committee
of IHDP-IT will support the development of the projects as a basis for
further research on Cities in Southeast Asia.
Outline of activities conducted
Building upon the discussions at the previous workshop, this workshop
considered three specific potential projects that could be developed into
regional pilot projects. Participants convened in plenary session
to come to a joint understanding of the task for the workshop; broke into
three small working groups for reports, discussions, and research planning;
and then reconvened in plenary session for inter-group discussions.
These three projects include:
1) Changes in the hydrological cycle, the impacts of human activities
on the hydrological cycle, and the effects of those changes on the adequacy
of supplies of usable water.
2) Urban emissions of greenhouse gases, other gases, and particulate
matter, and why levels of emissions differ among the cities of the region.
3) The state of and options for transportation systems to serve the
growing cities of the region.
The following sections summarize discussion and recommendations on each
of the candidate pilot projects:
Urban Environmental Issues - Water for Asia-Pacific Cities
Of the potential effects of climate change, the implications for water
resources are among the most important to society. In many parts of Asia
and the Pacific, the demand for consumptive uses of freshwater (e.g., drinking
water supply) and for non-consumptive uses (e.g., navigation, hydroelectric
power generation, industrial cooling, and in stream flow) is barely balanced
by sustainable surface and ground water. Poor water quality is also affecting
the health and well being of urban populations, particularly in developing
nations. To achieve better urban water management in the face of global
climate change, a greater understanding of hydrology and water demand in
cities is required. The project developed in Kobe would provide such information
and would inform social and institutional adaptations to climate change.
Cities to be compared include Kobe; Tianjin; Bangkok; Bandung; Suva; Singapore;
Karachi; Phnom Pen; and Kuala Lumpur. The key idea is to "follow
the water" that serves these cities from its origins in precipitation or
aquifers to its disposal as waste or reusable water.
The Budgets of GHGs, Urban Air Pollutants and their Future Emission
Scenarios in Selected Mega-Cities in Asia
The proposal aims to generate emission inventories of greenhouse gases
and other urban air pollutants from seven selected Asian mega-cities, which
are the region's epicenters of human settlement and of use of energy and
resources. The selected mega-cities are Tokyo; Beijing; Shanghai; Seoul;
Manila; Delhi, and Calcutta. These are selected on the basis of their differences
and commonalities. The project will (a) prepare inventories of emissions
of GHGs and urban air pollutants from the selected mega-cities for the
years 1970, 1980, 1990, 1995 and 2000; (b) develop methodologies to account
for "embodied emissions" and to undertake "Life Cycle Assessment;" (c)
develop indicators for comparative analysis; and (d) develop future projections
under different scenarios for energy and fuels. The project will provide
useful information to policy-makers about appropriate measures to reduce
the threat of global warming, to improve air-quality, and to promote sustainable
development by employing efficient use of energy and resources.
Outcomes/Products
The first two groups (water and gases) submitted proposals for regional
pilot projects in APN's September 2000 competition and hope to learn of
their success in Spring, 2001. Researchers are prepared to begin
research and have, in addition, become further involved in international
activities sponsored by the IHDP, IGBP, and (soon) WCRP. This arises
from the decision of the three international global change science programs
to form joint projects. The areas of two of these joint projects
(water and carbon cycle) coincide with the proposals submitted to APN.
Future directions/Follow-up work
The working group on transportation had not previously convened and
may seek only a seed grant. The two proposals submitted to APN should,
if supported by APN, yield important pilot studies, which would then lead
to major comparative research across the Asia-Pacific region.
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