In this report, ESCAP explores the future of urbanization in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the dynamic shifts in the region’s urban landscape. It highlights the region’s demographic transformations, including population ageing, and the persistent challenges of urban poverty and inequality. The analysis covers urban areas of all sizes, …
Development, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation and mitigation all have a common concern with reducing risk and protecting vulnerable populations – although they may focus on different risks and time scales. All cities need to become resilient to climate change’s direct and indirect impacts and to build this …
The Note is addressed primarily to decision-makers and stakeholders in the Global South engaged in developing national climate change policies. Define such policies in the present context as high-level documents that set forth in a consolidated manner a country’s approach both to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate …
The increasing frequency and severity of environmental disasters in Asia are highly correlated with the rapid urban transition now taking place in this world region. Five types of urban transition effects are identified to explain how the urbanization of disasters calls for fundamental changes in approaches to disaster prevention, response, …
Energizing Green Cities in Southeast Asia: Applying Sustainable Urban Energy and Emissions Planning lays out a blueprint for transforming EAP cities to global engines of green growth by choosing energy-efficient solutions to their infrastructure needs. It urges national and municipal governments to reform institutions, build capacity, and strengthen energy planning …
Rajendra Kumar, Rajkot’s district collector, has had a first-hand experience of the disease his office is tracking. “On the very first day of fever, I had my blood tested to rule out dengue,” he says. “I was extremely weak and had to be hospitalised in the first week of September.” …
A recent report of the Union water resources ministry states that villages in Rajasthan are most affected by contaminated water in the country. According to the report, in Rajasthan, 25,504 rural habitations or 1.09 crore people are getting water with chemical or bacterial contamination. Assam comes next with 12,879 rural …
Earth scientists studying air pollution have just released a map that shows air pollution deaths over time on a global scale. The stark map shown above was created at NASA Earth Observatory by data visualizer and designer Robert Simmon. This atmospheric computer model shows the average number of deaths per …
The Punjab government has released Rs120 million for the construction and rehabilitation of 56 km long roads and highways in Burewala subdivision. On the recommendations of MNA Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad Arain and MPA Ch Irshad Ahmad, the Punjab CM ordered construction of Burewala-Gaggo Mandi 16.30 km dual carriageway a cost …
In a move environmentalists have called disastrous, the Delhi Development Authority has issued a public notice seeking to reduce the city's zone O — comprising Yamuna and the river front — by as much as 40% to pave the way for the regularization of various illegal settlements and constructions in …
At a time when most Indian cities and towns show pollutants in the air due to emissions from different sources, two towns in Kerala - Malappuram and Pathanamthitta - have met the clean air benchmark of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The finding is part of a book -- …
The level of development of a state is likely to be the consequence of a complex set of historical, cultural, and sociological factors. An explicit government objective was to have a more egalitarian society, coupled with balanced development of different regions. Despite taking a number of steps to reduce the …
Government after careful consideration have been pleased to modify certain provisions of the `Scheme for Affordable Urban Housing in Odisha, 2012’ in order to make it more effective in delivering its objectives. Accordingly, the revised version entitled “Revised scheme for affordable urban housing in Odisha 2013” is hereby notified, which …
A comprehensive law is on the anvil in Tamil Nadu to regulate groundwater resources. This follows an ordinance promulgated last Saturday by the Jayalalithaa government to repeal the Tamil Nadu Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2003 which was enacted by the earlier AIADMK regime. The ordinance comes in the wake …
In a bid to boost infrastructure in North Eastern region, the government on Friday approved three important highway projects in Assam entailing Rs 2,130 crore expenditure under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP). "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for four-laning of Numaligarh to Jorhat, Jorhat …
The State Government has set a target to improve 2,158 km of State Highways to two-lane standards during the 12th Plan period. The double-laning of the roads will be taken under the State Highway Development Project (SHDP) with an estimated cost of around Rs 3,000 crore. A project management cell …
China must plan its massive urbanization better to limit environmental damage and to ensure that millions of migrants benefit more from the process, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said on Wednesday. In the past 30 years, China's urban population has jumped to more than 700 million from less …
An Act further to amend the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977 (Act No.12 of 1977). This Act may be called the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Despite tall claims by the local health authorities, there has been an alarming 75% rise in dengue cases in the city in the past five days. The number of reported cases which was 69 till the last Saturday, jumped to 121 by Thursday. As compared to the previous year, the …
Rapid urbanization and a spurt in population are among the major reasons behind the acute water shortage in Jamshedpur, where the gap between demand and supply is 70% as stated in the urban development ministry report that was tabled in the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament. The crisis - …
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today sought responses of the Centre and Delhi government on a plea for demolition of alleged illegal constructions in the Central Ridge area by the trust managing the Birla Temple. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Ministry of …
