Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Ranu Gadi
Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, India
Keynote: Sources of organic Compounds in urban aerosols over National Capital Region (NCR), India
Biography:
Dr Ranu Gadi has her expertise in the areas of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Change, Biomass emissions, Characterization of atmospheric aerosols (elemental, organics, carbonaceous, metals), Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Speciation and Bioremediation of priority pollutants in water/wastewater. She is presently working as Associate Professor in Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities. She is also holding the charge of Deputy Dean (Industrial Research &Development) along with being the Chief Warden of IGDTUW Hostels. She has twenty five years of research experience and more than seventeen years of teaching experience She has authored/co-authored more than ninety research papers in International refereed journals and National/International conferences.
Abstract:
The National Capital Region (NCR) of India is experiencing high atmospheric pollution with increasing population and intensive human activities, including economic and social activities. The impact of anthropogenic emissions on the air quality revealed the high particulate levels in the atmosphere. Atmospheric particulate matter includes organic aerosols as significant and variable fraction. Estimation of organic matter in the ambient atmosphere is important due to their carcinogenic and/or mutagenic properties and association with indirect climate forcing. Organic aerosols contain numerous compounds including molecular markers (n-alkanes, hopanes and steranes, PAHs, levoglucosan, phthalates) which are defined as chemically inert and source-specific compounds. Hence, they can be used as tracers to determine the source contribution to particulate matter levels in the ambient atmosphere. This study emphasizes the effort made to characterize organic matter in fine ambient aerosols (PM2.5) over the NCR of India. Aerosols samples for PM2.5 (24 hour average) were collected at three (Delhi, Modinagar, Harayana) sites in the NCR during December 2016-December 2017. The average PM2.5 concentration were 124.9 ± 81, 120.1 ± 84.2 and 93.5 ± 59.5 µg m-3 at IG, MN and HR site respectively. The samples were analyzed for the different classes of organic compounds. The source contribution for organic compounds was assessed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). PCA and PMF has extracted five major emission sources: vehicular emissions, biomass burning, cooking emissions, plastic and waste burning and secondary organic carbon for PM2.5 over NCR. Source apportionment inferences signifies the immediate implementation of emissions reduction strategies with special target on transport sector and biomass burning over the NCR of India. Health risk associated with human exposure to PAHs and Phthalates was assessed via inhalation pathway. 3-day backward trajectory analysis explained the local, regional and long range transport routes of PM2.5 for all sites. These results provide important information for future assessment of health risk to the local population, levels of exposure and implementation of pollution control strategies.
- Climate Change and Climatology | Global Warming and Consequences | Causes and Effects of Climate Change | Earth Science and Climate Change Policies | Manifestation of Climatic Change | Climate Change & Biodiversity | Food Insecurity & Climate Change | Environmental Toxicology | Carbon Cycle
Session Introduction
Puspita Barik
AcSIR (CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) Ph.D. Scholar, India
Title: Coal fired thermal power plant emitted pollutants, Central Indian Population residing in the vicinity of thermal power plant and their respiratory health impact/risk assessment
Biography:
Puspita Barik has her Master degree in Environmental science from Utkal University Bhubaneswar and currently working as a AcSIR PhD scholar at CSIR-NEERI. Her research interest is in Environment, Energy and Sustainability, pollution control, human health, risk assessment, air pollution, and environment impact assessment, environmental management, policies and regulations etc. She has communicated both research and review articles in the same areas and is willing to exchange knowledge with other researchers
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: For developing nation like India Coal fired thermal power plant considered one of the major sources of pollution and it one of the largest threats to the environment Thermal power plant (TPP) contribute a significant burden of diseases due to air pollution. TPP emissions contain toxic particulate matter (PM), hazardous heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mg, etc.), SOx, NOX, CO2, etc.
Therefore, in the present study, the case control epidemiological study design applied to assess respiratory health risk assessment of the Central Indian population residing nearby TPP was carried out using different statistical tools. Multivariate analysis was used to understand the impact of confounding factors on the prevalence of respiratory illness. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed the strong association of BMI, occupational exposure, smoking and family history with the occurrence of respiratory diseases. This study shows a weak association of PM intake dose with the occurrence of respiratory disease in the human subjects residing nearby TPPs.
Findings: In the present study it revealed that different confounders like body mass index (BMI), smoking status of family, occupational exposure, with the prevalence of respiratory disorders. The statistical analysis both the univariate and multivariate analysis revealed a marginal increase in odds ratios in the subjects with intake dose level of particulate matter >35 μg/kg-day compared to the cut off value of ≤35μg/kg-day. Since the dispersion modeling considers only point sources of emission, the obtained results may further need to be revalidated using real-time on-site air quality monitoring. Future health risk assessment studies should be designed to quantitatively estimate the contribution of each variable (hazard index) to the development of respiratory disorders.
Wisdom Osabutey
Neuss, Germany
Title: Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Ghana.
Biography:
Wisdom Osabutey is Ghanaian born researcher. He has published a lot of climate change related articles in top class journals like INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH (IJSR). He has been nominated to be a speaker at the 5th Global Food Security, Food Safety and Sustainability at Vancouver, Canada.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Globally, various climatic studies have estimated a reduction of crop yields due to changes in surface temperature and precipitation especially for the developing countries which is heavily dependent on agriculture and lacks resources to counter the negative effects of climate change (A.KikoyoJoelNobert, 2016). Agriculture is the most climate-dependent area of human life in most of sub-Saharan Africa as well as many developing countries in the world(Hanaan Dinko, 2017). It is expected that by 2050, the world’s population will have increased by one-third, with the highest increase occurring in developing countries(IAEA, 2020), the population increase would surely drives higher demand for food. According to (IAEA, 2020), Climate change is a serious threat to global food security, sustainable development and poverty eradication. The blend of a warming Earth and growing human population would likely strain the world’s food systems.
In Ghana agriculture plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the district and the region at large, it contributes 10 percent to the national revenue. Food availability decline is an attribute of environmental and climatic tribulation like rainfall, atmospheric temperature, population and fluctuation in food price (Weldearegay & Tedla, 2018).
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation:
Historical yearly weather data, including total rainfall, average atmospheric temperatures for seventeen years period (2000-2017) were acquired from the Ghana Meteorological authorities in the three catchments districts were selected. To observer interaction between temperature and crop yields per hector, the catchment temperature data were based on average daily temperature recoding from the weather stations positioned at the catchment districts.
Crop cultivation statistics (harvested area, production and yield) of maize and cassava were acquired from the Ghana Statistical Office of the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agricultural (MoFA).
Statistical significance was defined on the 0.001, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 level of significance (Nasher & Uddin, 2015). This type of test are mostly done in field of environmental science because of its simplicity and it has a cope for missing values and values below a detection limit (Libiseller, 2004). To investigate the correlations between climate variables and crop yields on a yearly basis, daily values temperatures and rainfall were converted to yearly values. Annual or yearly values from the crop’s yields were also calculated. According to the investigated correlation between crop yield variables and climatic (rainfall and temperature) variables, influences of non-climatic factors such as improvements in crop genetics and technical factors are omitted. Furthermore, climatic influences are better detected.
Findings:
For all the three (3) catchment areas of the study; they is an indication that, rainfall has a significant impact on crop yield.
Cassava shows very strong adoptability to change in temperature and rainfall.
Conclusion & Significance:
The study concludes that, in Kwahu South district average temperature has a statistically significant relationship on crop yield (maize yield). Also, in Offinso North district, there is an indication that average temperature, average rainfall and area per hectare has a statistically significant relationship on crop yield (cassava yield). We also found that in Twifo Praso district area per hectare has a statistically significant relationship on crop yield (cassava yield).
Dan Cudjoe
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, China
Title: Economic feasibility and environmental impact analysis of landfill gas to energy technology of municipal solid waste from African urban areas
Biography:
Dan Cudjoe has completed his PhD in Management Science and Engineering from Beijing University of Technology, China. He is currently a postdoctoral research scientist at the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology. His research areas are waste-to-energy, energy comsumption behavior, municipal solid waste management, and environmental policy.He has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Despite the tireless efforts of authorities to reduce, recycle, and reuse municipal solid waste in Africa, more and more waste still needs to be disposed of in landfills. There are many waste treatment options available, but local conditions should be taken into consideration when making a choice. Waste management options such us incineration may be a better option for waste treatment, but in developing countries, especially in Africa, technical and economic issues are obstacles to large-scale implementation of waste-to-energy projects. Landfill gas to energy could be a potential source of energy in areas like Africa, where there is low energy accessibility. Therefore, the current study analyzes the economic feasibility and environmental impact of electricity recovery from landfill methane in urban areas of Africa. The study used the best data available in literature, namely methane and electricity generation potential from municipal waste disposed of in landfill in 53 urban areas of Africa in 2012. Economic feasibility analysis using net present value and levelized cost of energy methods was carried out. Besides, the environmental impact of landfill gas to energy was analyzed based on global warming and acidification potential. Key findings showed that landfill gas to energy project has positive net present value in all the countries except Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Guinea, Malawi, andEthiopia. It was also realized that levelized cost of energy of the project in urban areas of Africa in 2012 was from $0.076 kWh to $0.870 kWh. The environmental impact analysis showed that on
Isham Alzoubi
University of Tehran, Iran
Title: Predict the environmental indicators for land leveling.
Biography:
Iesham alzoubi has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years fromDoctor of Philosophy Degree in Agricultural Mechanization Engineering (University of Tehran – Iran) University and Postdoctoral Studies from School of Surveying Geospatial Engineering-Department of Surveying and Geomatics Engineering, University of Tehran . Current Job: General commission for scientific Agricultural Research – Damascus – Syria (Mechanical Engineer) He has published more than 16 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute
Abstract:
Land leveling is one of the most important steps in soil preparation for agricultural and other purposes. . New techniques based on artificial intelligence, such as Artificial Neural Network, integrating Artificial Neural Network and Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA-ANN), or Genetic Algorithms (GA-ANN), or Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO-ANN) have been employed for developing predictive models to estimate the energy related parameters and the results were compared to SPSS and Sensitivity Analysis results. In this study, several soil properties such as cut/fill volume, compressibility factor, specific gravity, moisture content, slope of the area, sand percent, and swelling index were measured and their effects on energy consumption were investigated. Totally 90 samples were collected from 3 land areas by grid size of 20m×20m. The aim of this work was to develop predictive models based on artificial intelligence techniques to predict the environmental indicators of land leveling . Results of sensitivity analysis illustrated that only three parameters consist of soil density, soil compressibility, and soil cut/fill volume had meaningful effects on energy consumption. Among the proposed methods, the GA-ANN had the most capability in prediction of the environmental energy parameters. However, for prediction of LE and FE the ANN and ICA-ANN algorithms had better performance
. On the other hand, SPSS software had higher R 2 value than Minitab software and sensitivity analysis and in fact close to the ANN values. Keywords: Energy; Imperialist competitive algorithm; Sensitivity analysis; ANN; Land levelling; Environmental indicators.
Md Kamal Uddin
University of Chittagong, Bangladesh
Title: Environmental Degradation, Vulnerability and Human Rights in Bangladesh
Biography:
Bibliography: Md. Kamal Uddin, Ph.D. is serving as a Professor of International Relations at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. He holds an Advanced Masters in International Organizations from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and Ph.D. from the Department of Asian and International Studies, City University of Hong Kong. His research interests include: human rights, justice, environmental politics, southern perspectives of human rights and development.
Abstract:
This paper focuses on the links between environmental degradation due to climate change, vulnerability and human rights violations in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the world. Due to the existence of both environmental degradation and vulnerability in Bangladesh, human rights abuses in extreme weather evens are severe. This paper argues that climate change makes people more vulnerable regarding human rights. Thus, climate change and vulnerability combine to contribute to human rights violations in Bangladesh. The empirical parts of this research employ qualitative techniques of data analysis in order to process the body of evidence collected during the fieldwork. This paper also outlines some policy implications designed to assist efforts by policy-makers and other stakeholders seeking to reform the environmental policy and adaptation approach to climate change in Bangladesh.
Yubaraj Satyal
Youth Network for Social and Environmental Development (YONSED), Kathmandu Nepal
Title: Restoration of Rapa Lake Watershed & Community Based Adaptation Practices: A Case Study from Rupa Lake, Kaski Nepal
Biography:
Mr. Yuabraj Satyal has completed his masters in Environmental Science from Tribhuvan University, Nepal in 2007. Mr. Satyal in executive member of Youth Network for Social and Environmental Development(YONSED) and part time faculty of Golden Gate International College. Mr. Satyal has published his paper in groundwater resilience in British Geological Survey and several other papers in climate change adaptation and resilience. Mr. Satyal is also providing input to the journal of Environmental Science regularly.
Abstract:
The research was focused on the conversion and restoration mechanism of Rupa Lake Watershed. The whole watershed conserved for the better protection and conservation of lake. Rupa Lake area was shrinking due to siltation in the inlet. Nearby villages completely isolated from the lake and its natural services as irrigation from lake and fishing. The degrading watershed environment, pitiful condition of Rupa Lake and the low economic condition of the local community has now improved with the intervention of Rupa Lake Conservation and Fishery Development Cooperative and thus recuperated positive changes in their livelihood. The establishment of cooperative has helped lake to gain its natural beauty too. The concept of climate resilience was applied to promote the catchment protection from changing climate and its vulnerability. The cooperative developed a reciprocal benefit sharing mechanism between upstream and downstream members of the co-operatives. Downstream communities used funds raised through the cultivation, fish and other farming products to compensate upstream communities. These includes reforestation of degraded and eroded lands, which helped to reduce the amount of soil erosion and increased soil content for planting; Construction of gabions and loose stone check dams helped to prevent sediment from entering the lake, thereby improving water quality; which helped to retain moisture and organic content in the soil. Similarly, organic farming initiated in watershed farm land to discourage the use of harmful pesticides that has ultimately improved Lake and maintained its floral and faunal biodiversity.
Saiyedatun Nesa
Department of Coopertives, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Banglasesh
Title: Assessing climate change adaptation in the coastal region of Bangladesh: Challenges and solutions
Time : 12:40-1:00
Biography:
Saiyedatun Nesa has completed her graduation and post graduation from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and MS from Teesside University, United Kingdom. She is working as a deputy director in the Department of Cooperatives, Government of Bangladesh. She has publication on international journal. She is a frelance researcher and journal reviewer. Her area of interest lies in the field of sociology and environment.
Abstract:
Bangladesh declared to be the sixth hardest hit by climate calamities among 180 nations. Being one of the largest deltas in the world, the coastal region of Bangladesh is frequently affected by extreme weather, but yet to be addressed with proper intervention. The study focuses on a coastal livelihood of Bangladesh to understand local farmers’ vulnerability, adaptation,the key challenges they are facing in adverse climate condition, alternative coping mechanism and the role of cooperative society formation to reduce climate vulnerability.
By purposive sampling, 45 respondents (30 male n 15 female with age range of 20 -60) were selected from Diarakachua char, Baufal Upazilla, Patuakhali district in Bangladesh. Data were collected through FGDs and -depth interview method. Qualitative analysis technique were used to analyze the primary data.
The study shows most of the respondents(63.7%) take the alternative growth of agricultural products as a coping mechanism whereas the rest temporarily switches profession (24.2%) and migrate to urban areas (12.1%). The majority do not feel comfortable to try for bank loans due to the complicated process. The challenges they face adapting to changing climate situation mainly include lack of accessibility to bank loans, uncertainty and risks to invest in alternative measures, high interest of loan from moneylender and lack of technical and financial support from local government.
The study suggests that the current adaptation mechanisms lack sustainability and prosperity, hence sustainable adaptation strategies are necessary. As the challenges they face mostly are due to cash crunch; formation of the cooperative society can play an effective role to reduce vulnerability. Negociation/MoU with the local banks for easy access to the bank loan, mobile loan-banking etc can be a successful solution to the current crisis. Also appropriate technical and financial support from the local government can reduce the burden as well. more initiatives should be taken by the policy makers to reduce the vulnerability of the coastal livelihood in Bangladesh.
Jinha Lee
Chonnam National University, South Korea
Title: Robert Hass’s Ecological Imagination in Time and Materials.
Biography:
Jinha Lee will graduate in February of this year at Chonnam National University. She just finished Master’s degree with this thesis about Ecological Literature. She will continue her research related ecological and literature because she has her passion in provoking self-consciousness by finding and comparing biological connection with other literature writers who concern ecological problems.
Abstract:
This thesis analyzes Robert Hass’s fourth book of poetry, Time and Materials by focusing on the “self-conscious Anthropocene” (Lynn Keller). For this thesis of Hass’s Time and Materials, I develop Keller’s idea of “the Self-Conscious-Anthropocene” (26) for Hass’s call to action to ameliorate destructive ecological conditions, which I call the “well-intended self-conscious-Anthropocene” which he suggested that with humans’ wills, we have to perceive present ecological problems and set our ecological interest with environmental justice. I add Hass’s idea as “Well-Intended-Consciousness-Anthropocene” can be reminded with ecological sustainability and resilience. That ecological sustainability implies that we must do for human’s health to a level the natural environment and humanity can handle as Luretius says in the book De Rerum Natura.
As an ecological poet with epicurean thought, Hass focuses on the earth’s dream and human’s dream as well as all organisms and systems based on their physical connections. Hass writes about physical or biological or geographical connections with nature and humans through death and rebirth. His subjects are written about connection on human being’s work with the environment. l analyze hypersea and hyperobjects related to atoms in atomic age.
Political issues and his confessional family story are related to “Self-righteous Leadership,” although it can’t be judged as right or wrong. Given Hass’s imaginary thought to find original state which has pure light, or what the first thing is, Hass concerns human ‘who is a species who has wonder or curiosity’ affects nature too much, especially as human beings trigger wars to take more resources. Hass describes our borderless resources such as water, light, birds, winds and insects and nature’s things. Those are related to our environmental surviving as our physiological needs. Hass wrote Time and Materials to evoke us to have consciousness for the earth and love itself for our own happiness.