SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS: 1. INTRODUCTION TO SERIES

This is a series to highlight successful local experiments, pilots, papers and programs which solve or provide solutions global problems sustainably. 

According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report released in Nairobi during the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA)

"in 2012, an estimated 12.6 million deaths were caused by deteriorating environment conditions, or 23 per cent of the total. The highest proportion of deaths attributed to environmental causes occurs in South-East Asia and in the Western Pacific (28 per cent and 27 per cent of the total respectively)."

 
Problems

1. Water Management

As climate changes we live through flood and drought like situations thus access to safe drinking water and water for farming and essential economic activities becomes indicators of a nation's development.

2. Waste Management/Managing Plastic Waste

Chennai alone generates 5,000 tonnes of garbage everyday. Cities in developed countries are worse offenders. Recycling and source segregation need to be scaled up as must be other solutions.

3. Clean Energy/Access to Electricity/Energy Security

4. Unemployment

5. Air Pollution

This month (May 2016) the UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner while releasing a report at the UNEA in Nairobi, Kenya claimed : Inaction on indoor air pollution and ecological ruin homicidal.

Odd/Even - The Capital Experiment

Smog closes schools in Mumbai - burning of garbage (Friday, 29/1/2016); ORR/Tambaram/Burning garbage affects quality of life.
Forest fires of Uttharakhand and Himachal and the annual Southeast Asian smog due to Indonesian forest fires which even brings the vital ship traffic in Malacca Strait to a halt

Issues and possible solutions will be discussed. 

6. Traffic

The bane of the metro cities!

7. Farm Woes

Battling debt and drought!

8. Cleaning the Sea

9. Climate Change 

According to the UNEP report Climate change is exacerbating environment-related health risks and WHO estimates indicate that 250,000 additional deaths could occur each year between 2030 and 2050, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress, as a result of climate change.

10. Food Security

As farmers our main food producers battle debt and drought food security becomes a major concern in a planet with exponential population growth. Even at the Paris Climate Summit (COP21) it was emphasized that food security must be central especially as it is at risk due to Climate Change - an issue that can give rise to more conflict as the growing population stresses the food supply. Food waste and the food footprint are other issues to be tackled in this category.