Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam with Srijan Pal Singh
"Dreams transform into thoughts, Thoughts result into action"
What should the city of the future be? However varied the items on this wish list, you can be certain that no one wants it to be like our present cities. What alchemy of infrastructure and emotion creates the perfect place in which to live, work and play? Is such an ideal even possible given the demands, pressures and constraints? In a 360-degree discussion, India's leading minds lay out their own astute blueprint.
I have visited hundreds of cities across the world, but not one of them comes close to my ideal. So, what is the profile of my dream city? It should have a population of not more than five million, generate its own power through green sources, be a vibrant economy where everyone has access to clean energy and clean water, use bio-fuel and insist on rainwater harvesting, and is full of parks and trees. In short, it should be the flag-bearer of eco-friendly habitats, which aim at complete carbon neutrality.
Increasing Population and Growing Cities
Between 1 AD and the start of the industrial revolution in the early 1800s, human population had grown from approximately 230 million to 1 billion, i.e. 0.8 per cent every decade. However, in the next 180 years, it has multiplied to the current 6.5 billion-plus, which represents a decadal growth of over 11 per cent. In the past century alone, the population quadrupled.
Population growth has been closely accompanied by a simultaneous rise in both wealth creation and extreme poverty. However, there has also been healthcare improvements due to the advancement of life sciences. With the network of global trade routes, fossil fuel-based technologies, industrialisation and mechanisation, the world income per capita has also grown rapidly nine times in just the past 150 years.
There is a specific aspect to population growth - it is largely concentrated in a few geographical locations. This has led to the emergence of large, very densely-populated cities. For example, in the year 1800, London was the largest city in the world with a population of around 1 million. By 1960, our planet had 111 cities with over a million people. This number stands at 300 today, and still counting.
This concentration of population adds to the pressure on resources at the local level and leads to severe resource scarcities. With increasing wealth and hence increasing per capita energy consumption, the threat of climate change looms large on humanity. So, modern cities have to address the two-pronged challenge of better living standard with reduced emissions. The 21st Century city has to progressively move towards achieving carbon neutrality.
Organising Cities as a Cluster of Micro-cities
Today, our challenge is to achieve better city organisation. Improper planning leads to intra-city ‘micro-migration’ every day. In the optimal scenario, each city, even one with a population of 5 million, should be reorganised so that it comprises a city centre with a population of 1-2 million and containing administrative, government and large corporate offices surrounded by satellite micro-cities with less than a million people each.
Each of these micro-cities has to be developed independently and equally, furnishing them with good schools and colleges, leisure and cultural opportunities, quality hospitals, planned housing for all classes and, above all, a capacity for employment generation. Each micro-city must be well networked within itself with a ring road and high-speed bus services. The micro-cities, in all directions, should then be connected to the city centre through a multi-mode, high-speed mass transit system. This would spell goodbye to today’s harrowing and wasteful commutes.
Green Fuels and Eco-friendly Transport system
Transport is to blame for about 13 per cent of the total emissions worldwide. Moreover, the fossil fuel being used for running our cars is largely imported. In fact, in times of soaring oil prices, the import bill for petroleum went up to $ 80 billion. Every litre of petrol or diesel burnt in vehicles contributes about 2.7 kg of C02 equivalent emissions Thus, in a year; an average car would emit about 10 tonnes of CO2.
The 21st century city will have to base its transport on a network of high speed, reliable mass transit systems. Bicycling is a healthy option for both individuals and the cities they live in. Apart from the creation of safe and speedy cycling lanes, bike rentals even on an hourly basis should be institutionalised. Hybrid cars, which use solar and bio-fuel, also need to be encouraged through civic policies, financial incentives and public awareness drives.
Smart Building
Buildings use 50 per cent of global energy and account for comparable heat-trapping emissions. Integrated design with multiple energy efficiency measures can reduce energy use by at least half; indeed a cut of 80 per cent has been achieved. The emerging trends of intelligent buildings and green buildings entail the use of modern technology, smart materials and eco-friendly designs. For example, hollow building material made out of fly ash is not only more environment friendly, but also a better insulator of heat and cold and so a greater energy saver. The comfort conditions of intelligent buildings could be monitored and tailored using new processing tools like neural networks and fuzzy logic.
The future holds a lot of promise as new concepts in nano-technology, smart materials and design software will unleash an era of efficient and sustainable buildings. Edgy green enterprises will give birth to the cadre of green corridor jobs - those centered on businesses, which either supply green power or green power-generating equipment.
Clean Energy and Energy from Waste
One of the widest paths to achieving carbon neutrality is to transform the way energy is generated and supplied Today's systems account for more than 26 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions. Our best option is one we haven't tapped at all: the technologies now available, which use municipal waste. Studies indicate that as much as 5800 MW of power can be generated via garbage-fuelled electric power plants spread across the country. Medium and small enterprises can set these up with assistance from banks.
One recently came across a 'plasma- enhanced melter system’ in which a high-temperature DC plasma arc is used to gasify the waste in a steam reforming atmosphere to convert organic material into a synthesis gas. This is a mixture of mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is kinder to the environment. Similarly, wind and solar micro plants can be used to supplement conventional fossil power sources. Through law and incentives, every building should be installed with solar plants and small-scale horizontal axis wind plants which can supply at least 25 per cent of the energy needed.
Eco Zones
Our future cities will have to integrate mini-forest zones wherever possible. These forests can be planted with high-growth varieties and can also act as economically feasible eco-parks attracting a diversity of flora and fauna. School children and youth need to be mobilised to populate these eco zones and their own neighbourhood with trees. Every tree is capable of absorbing 20 kg of CO2 every year directly from the atmosphere, besides the indirect positive impact on the environment via cooling and shade effects.
A combined, integrated and participative approach would make the dream of a carbon neutral city into a reality. And it will be a wonderful world again.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th President, humanised Rashtrapati Bhavan like no other. Earlier, he had earned the label of "The Missile Man" for developing and operationalising the Agni and Prithvi missiles. He was also project director for the country's first indigenous satellite launch vehicle - SLV-III. Now, at 79, he devotes his still prodigious energy to igniting young minds, doing this with passion and a child-like infectious charm. The Bharat Ratna was bestowed on him in 1997.
Srijan Pal Singh is an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and an expert in Environment and Development working with the Former President.
I have visited hundreds of cities across the world, but not one of them comes close to my ideal. So, what is the profile of my dream city? It should have a population of not more than five million, generate its own power through green sources, be a vibrant economy where everyone has access to clean energy and clean water, use bio-fuel and insist on rainwater harvesting, and is full of parks and trees. In short, it should be the flag-bearer of eco-friendly habitats, which aim at complete carbon neutrality.
Increasing Population and Growing Cities
Between 1 AD and the start of the industrial revolution in the early 1800s, human population had grown from approximately 230 million to 1 billion, i.e. 0.8 per cent every decade. However, in the next 180 years, it has multiplied to the current 6.5 billion-plus, which represents a decadal growth of over 11 per cent. In the past century alone, the population quadrupled.
Population growth has been closely accompanied by a simultaneous rise in both wealth creation and extreme poverty. However, there has also been healthcare improvements due to the advancement of life sciences. With the network of global trade routes, fossil fuel-based technologies, industrialisation and mechanisation, the world income per capita has also grown rapidly nine times in just the past 150 years.
There is a specific aspect to population growth - it is largely concentrated in a few geographical locations. This has led to the emergence of large, very densely-populated cities. For example, in the year 1800, London was the largest city in the world with a population of around 1 million. By 1960, our planet had 111 cities with over a million people. This number stands at 300 today, and still counting.
This concentration of population adds to the pressure on resources at the local level and leads to severe resource scarcities. With increasing wealth and hence increasing per capita energy consumption, the threat of climate change looms large on humanity. So, modern cities have to address the two-pronged challenge of better living standard with reduced emissions. The 21st Century city has to progressively move towards achieving carbon neutrality.
Organising Cities as a Cluster of Micro-cities
Today, our challenge is to achieve better city organisation. Improper planning leads to intra-city ‘micro-migration’ every day. In the optimal scenario, each city, even one with a population of 5 million, should be reorganised so that it comprises a city centre with a population of 1-2 million and containing administrative, government and large corporate offices surrounded by satellite micro-cities with less than a million people each.
Each of these micro-cities has to be developed independently and equally, furnishing them with good schools and colleges, leisure and cultural opportunities, quality hospitals, planned housing for all classes and, above all, a capacity for employment generation. Each micro-city must be well networked within itself with a ring road and high-speed bus services. The micro-cities, in all directions, should then be connected to the city centre through a multi-mode, high-speed mass transit system. This would spell goodbye to today’s harrowing and wasteful commutes.
Green Fuels and Eco-friendly Transport system
Transport is to blame for about 13 per cent of the total emissions worldwide. Moreover, the fossil fuel being used for running our cars is largely imported. In fact, in times of soaring oil prices, the import bill for petroleum went up to $ 80 billion. Every litre of petrol or diesel burnt in vehicles contributes about 2.7 kg of C02 equivalent emissions Thus, in a year; an average car would emit about 10 tonnes of CO2.
The 21st century city will have to base its transport on a network of high speed, reliable mass transit systems. Bicycling is a healthy option for both individuals and the cities they live in. Apart from the creation of safe and speedy cycling lanes, bike rentals even on an hourly basis should be institutionalised. Hybrid cars, which use solar and bio-fuel, also need to be encouraged through civic policies, financial incentives and public awareness drives.
Smart Building
Buildings use 50 per cent of global energy and account for comparable heat-trapping emissions. Integrated design with multiple energy efficiency measures can reduce energy use by at least half; indeed a cut of 80 per cent has been achieved. The emerging trends of intelligent buildings and green buildings entail the use of modern technology, smart materials and eco-friendly designs. For example, hollow building material made out of fly ash is not only more environment friendly, but also a better insulator of heat and cold and so a greater energy saver. The comfort conditions of intelligent buildings could be monitored and tailored using new processing tools like neural networks and fuzzy logic.
The future holds a lot of promise as new concepts in nano-technology, smart materials and design software will unleash an era of efficient and sustainable buildings. Edgy green enterprises will give birth to the cadre of green corridor jobs - those centered on businesses, which either supply green power or green power-generating equipment.
Clean Energy and Energy from Waste
One of the widest paths to achieving carbon neutrality is to transform the way energy is generated and supplied Today's systems account for more than 26 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions. Our best option is one we haven't tapped at all: the technologies now available, which use municipal waste. Studies indicate that as much as 5800 MW of power can be generated via garbage-fuelled electric power plants spread across the country. Medium and small enterprises can set these up with assistance from banks.
One recently came across a 'plasma- enhanced melter system’ in which a high-temperature DC plasma arc is used to gasify the waste in a steam reforming atmosphere to convert organic material into a synthesis gas. This is a mixture of mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is kinder to the environment. Similarly, wind and solar micro plants can be used to supplement conventional fossil power sources. Through law and incentives, every building should be installed with solar plants and small-scale horizontal axis wind plants which can supply at least 25 per cent of the energy needed.
Eco Zones
Our future cities will have to integrate mini-forest zones wherever possible. These forests can be planted with high-growth varieties and can also act as economically feasible eco-parks attracting a diversity of flora and fauna. School children and youth need to be mobilised to populate these eco zones and their own neighbourhood with trees. Every tree is capable of absorbing 20 kg of CO2 every year directly from the atmosphere, besides the indirect positive impact on the environment via cooling and shade effects.
A combined, integrated and participative approach would make the dream of a carbon neutral city into a reality. And it will be a wonderful world again.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th President, humanised Rashtrapati Bhavan like no other. Earlier, he had earned the label of "The Missile Man" for developing and operationalising the Agni and Prithvi missiles. He was also project director for the country's first indigenous satellite launch vehicle - SLV-III. Now, at 79, he devotes his still prodigious energy to igniting young minds, doing this with passion and a child-like infectious charm. The Bharat Ratna was bestowed on him in 1997.
Srijan Pal Singh is an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and an expert in Environment and Development working with the Former President.
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