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MEDIA ALERT: Launch of New Report on Auto-Rickshaws in India

Lauren Zelin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:05:08 -0500

Sustainable Urban Transport in India: Role of the Auto-Rickshaw Sector

Background

Across India, auto-rickshaws make more than 229 million passenger trips per day. That number is expected to more than double to 482 million by 2031. The range runs from 15,000 to 30,000 vehicles in medium-sized cities (population between 1 and 4 million) to more than 50,000 in large cities (population greater than 4 million).

Now, the World Resources Institute and EMBARQ are releasing the most comprehensive report ever on auto-rickshaws, which are such an important part of urban transport in Indian cities.

The report, “Sustainable Urban Transport in India: Role of the Auto-rickshaw Sector,” by Akshay Mani, Madhav Pai and Rishi Aggarwal, examines the role auto-rickshaws play in promoting public transport usage and reducing private motor vehicle trips in cities. The report also provides a policy vision for the auto-rickshaw sector that improves sustainable urban transport in India.

The publication highlights the need for regulatory reforms to promote dispatch services and vehicle-related reforms to address emissions and road safety. Adopting these reforms is key to ensuring that auto-rickshaws contribute to a more efficient, clean and safe transport system.

Statement by Akshay Mani, Project Manager – Urban Transport, EMBARQ India

“Given the current urban transport trends and challenges, such as rising emissions and road fatalities, there is a critical need to promote more sustainable transport options in India. Implementing the recommended reforms – such as the promotion of fleet-based dispatch services and vehicle improvements – will be key to ensure that auto-rickshaws can serve as an effective alternative to private motor vehicles. These reforms are essential to mitigate the environmental and road safety challenges that currently exist in this sector.”

Key Facts

Market size of auto-rickshaws varies from around 15,000 to 30,000 vehicles in Tier II cities (population between 1 and 4 million) to more than 50,000 in Tier I cities (population greater than 4 million). Mumbai has the largest market with around 150,000 auto-rickshaws.
Auto-rickshaws serve between 10-20 percent of daily motorized road transport trips for people in Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune and Rajkot.
Production of auto-rickshaws in India has doubled between 2003 and 2010.
High concentration of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) in Indian cities is a key public health issue. Auto-rickshaws running on two-stroke engines are a major contributor to PM10 emissions.
Contrary to popular belief, auto-rickshaws are the second safest motorized mode of travel (after buses) for pedestrians, in terms of contribution to fatalities, in both Mumbai and Bangalore.
However, safety of auto-rickshaw occupants is a key issue of concern, due to mixed-flow traffic conditions in Indian cities as well as current vehicle design aspects, which needs to be addressed urgently.
Meanwhile, the population of Indian cities will grow from an estimated 340 million in 2008 to 590 million by 2030.

Resources

The publication is available online at: http://www.embarq.org/en/sustainable-urban-transport-india-role-auto-rickshaw-sector

Read blog posts by Akshay Mani at: http://thecityfix.com/blog/author/akshay142

Watch and link to videos at: www.embarq.org/multimedia

Mumbai Rickshaws: http://www.embarq.org/en/video/cities-focus-mumbai-rickshaws
Vikram: http://www.embarq.org/en/video/snapshot-vikram
Vatsala: http://www.embarq.org/en/video/snapshot-vatsala

The report will be launched Friday, February 10, at Rickshaw Rising – An Auto-rickshaw Entrepreneurship Summit, in Mumbai, India: http://www.embarq.org/en/events/12/02/rickshaw-rising

For more information about the launch or to set up interviews, contact:
Erica Schlaikjer, EMBARQ, Media Relations Coordinator, (202) 729-7722, eschlaikjer@wri.org; or
Lauren Zelin, WRI, Senior Press Officer, (202) 729-7736; lzelin@wri.org

2012: A Breakthrough for Renewable Energy?

Manish Bapna — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:58:39 -0500

In his annual State of the Union address, President Obama declared: “I will not walk away from clean energy.”

His words were a sharp rebuttal to critics harping on the Solyndra bankruptcy and others making dire predictions about the…

RELEASE: Johan Schaar and Heather McGray to lead new WRI's Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative

Michael Oko — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:47:38 -0500

Two internationally recognized experts will co-direct the World Resources Institute’s new climate change Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative. Dr. Johan Schaar joins WRI from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), where he has served in many leadership roles, including most recently as director of the Department for Policy Support. Heather McGray, who will serve as co-director, has led WRI’s adaptation work since 2007.

“We are thrilled to have Johan and Heather leading this increasingly important line of work,” said Jennifer Morgan, director of WRI’s Climate and Energy Program. “Johan is a widely recognized leader on international development and environmental issues, and brings hands-on experience from many of the world’s most vulnerable countries.”

The Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative will encourage climate-resilient policies in developing countries to assist poor and marginalized communities facing the impacts of climate change. The program will focus initially on Kenya and India, with the aim of scaling up activities in more countries in Africa and Asia.

“WRI has an excellent and well-deserved reputation as a leader in international climate policy,” said Schaar. “I’m excited to begin collaborating with my new colleagues and expanding our work on climate adaptation, which is an increasingly important response to climate change.”

Prior to his most recent role at Sida, Schaar served as the director for the International Commission on Climate Change and Development. Schaar also had operational responsibility for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ recovery operations following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He holds a doctorate from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and has over 25 years of experience in international development, humanitarian and environmental work.

“We are also very excited that Heather will continue to direct WRI’s adaptation work,” Morgan said. “Heather brings a proven track record for developing innovative solutions based on research and analysis, and we look forward to her ongoing leadership in this arena.”

McGray has worked with WRI since 2005, conducting research on climate adaptation policies in developing nations, and promoting transparency, participation and accountability in environmental decision-making. McGray’s professional experience has included research on environmental management in China; research and negotiations on ISO 14000 environmental standards; coordination of an urban education and development network; and management of educational exchange programs for the Yale-China Association. McGray holds a Masters degree in Environmental Management from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Oberlin College.

“Climate change is already having noticeable impacts in many parts of the developing world. Adapting to a changing climate is necessary if development and poverty reduction are to succeed,” said McGray. “I’m looking forward to working with Johan and the rest of our team to deepen our analysis and design new strategies around this crucial issue.”

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For more information about WRI’s Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative, visit: http://www.wri.org/project/vulnerability-and-adaptation

See the latest World Resources Report, Decision Making in a Changing Climate: www.worldresourcesreport.org

Weird Winter Weather and the Climate Connection

Kelly Levin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:56:39 -0500

Punxsutawney Phil may have forecast six more weeks of winter, but for much of the country winter has not yet arrived. Once again, weird weather is dominating the headlines. Temperatures have recently hit highs of 63F in New York City and 72F in…

Re-introducing the Corporate Ecosystem Services Review, Version 2.0

Suzanne Ozment — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:38:07 -0500

The World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) are pleased to announce the release of the Corporate Ecosystem Services…

RELEASE: New Assessment Finds Management Efforts are Insufficient to Protect Mesoamerican Reef

Michael Oko — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:40:11 -0500

First-ever Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef Countries

Editor’s note: Online resources, including verification documentation, a description of the Eco-Audit indicators, summary results and more, are available at: www.wri.org/reefs and www.healthyreefs.org

The first-ever Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) countries finds that despite some positive management efforts, more needs to be done to protect the region’s coral reefs. The evaluation, entitled “2011 Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef Countries,” was carried out by the Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI), in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI), and nearly 40 local organizations, government agencies and companies. The results are being launched simultaneously in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

The evaluation scored overall reef management as Fair (2.7 out of 5) across the region and for all thematic areas. This score indicates that, in general, the MAR ecosystem is not being adequately managed. The scores by country are: Belize 3.3, Honduras 2.7, Mexico 2.7 and Guatemala 2.2.

“Our evaluation has documented some positive steps in protecting reefs throughout the Mesoamerican region. However, there are many actions needed to protect the reefs that have been under discussion for decades. It’s time to complete and implement these actions,” said Dr. Melanie McField, director of the Healthy Reefs Initiative. “Reefs are a vital part of this region, providing both economic and cultural value to people in this area. We hope that this information will help to ensure that reefs can thrive for generations to come.”

The Mesoamerica Reef extends over 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles), from Mexico to Honduras, and includes the Western Hemisphere’s longest barrier reef, located in Belize. Economies in the region are highly dependent on marine resources, especially from tourism and fishing industries. In Belize alone, the reef is estimated to contribute approximately $395 to $559 million (U.S.) in goods and services each year.

The Eco-Audit was developed and implemented using twenty-two standardized management indicators across seven thematic areas. This includes: Research, Education and Awareness, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Global Issues, Coastal Zone Management, Sustainability in the Private Sector, Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management, and Sanitation and Sewage Treatment. Over 300 supporting documents were provided as verification of the results.

“Through this highly collaborative process, involving diverse stakeholders, we have developed a collective understanding of reef management efforts supported by robust data,” said Benjamin Kushner, research analyst, World Resources Institute. “We hope that our transparently verified and publicly available results help coastal and fisheries managers, tourism operators, and others make smart decisions to create a healthy environment for reefs.”

“Stakeholders are now demanding unprecedented levels of transparency from organizations and governments, since our current economic and social conditions have been affected by unethical practices and a lack of transparency,” said Antonio Grijalba of PricewaterhouseCoopers Costa Rica. “This initiative has been a challenging process for HRI, but is a very important step to improve the transparency and accountability of the MAR region, align efforts to address the most critical issues, and share best practices to improve performance.”

To ensure the quality of the results, the financial and management auditing firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers Costa Rica reviewed the methodology and provided feedback on the processes and indicators, and the quality of the verification documentation.

The analysis revealed several key successes, including:

The extent of territorial sea included in MPAs is relatively high across the region;
Harmonization of regulations for the lobster fishery was a major regional success; and
There have been long-standing efforts to monitor reef health across the region, complemented by good availability of information on reef condition and threats.

However, it also showed key shortcomings, including:

A number of MPAs have been created, but their management is mostly inadequate;
Wastewater is not being treated at standards necessary to protect coral reefs; and
There is a lack of comprehensive coastal zone planning that has resulted in poorly planned and sited coastal developments.

This first Eco-Audit provides the foundation for subsequent Eco-Audits, which will be implemented every two years, assuring a routine accounting of efforts to improve the health of the MAR.

Read the analysis and find out more at: www.healthyreefs.org and www.wri.org/reefs

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Contact:

Melanie McField, Director, Healthy Reefs Initiative (Belize City, Belize); email: mcfield@healthyreefs.org; tel: (501) 223-4898; or

Michael Oko, Director, Media Relations, World Resources Institute (Washington, D.C.); email: moko@wri.org; tel. (202) 729-7684

Carbon Canopy Initiative Aims to Sustain Appalachian Forests for Climate and Certified Timber

Logan Yonavjak — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:46:05 -0500

While much has been written from a theoretical perspective about markets for ecosystem services, few on-the-ground projects currently exist. Yet the projects that do exist provide one of the best windows onto what actually works in…

What Does the State of the Union Mean for the Energy Agenda?

Jennifer Morgan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:08:54 -0500

This post originally appeared in the National Journal Energy &; Environment Expert Blog. The question was, Obama’s State of the…

Aqueduct News Roundup: India, Trading on Water, Shareholder Challenges

Robert Kimball — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:50:10 -0500

If you are a regular reader of news related to water risk, you may have seen data and observations from Aqueduct in several venues during the month of January. This is the first of a series of updates on news related to Aqueduct and the subject…

RELEASE: Prof. Zou Ji to Join the National Climate Research Center; Transition from WRI

Michael Oko — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:54:22 -0500

Dr. Xiaomei Tan Appointed as Deputy Director for WRI’s China Office

The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced that Prof. Zou Ji will resign as its China Country Director, a position he held for more than two years. He will become the Deputy Director of the National Center for Climate Strategy and International Cooperation of China (NCSC), a new think tank on climate research under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

“We have been honored to have Prof. Zou’s extraordinary vision and leadership to guide our work in China,” said Manish Bapna, Acting President, WRI. “As the founding director of WRI’s first overseas office, Prof. Zou’s inspired leadership has created a highly credible presence for WRI in China, expanding our programs and forging new initiatives to advance our mission. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Prof. Zou in his new position, and we wish him great success in his future endeavors.”

Under Prof. Zou’s guidance, WRI has advanced solutions for China’s sustainable and low-carbon urbanization, and Prof. Zou has become a key voice on the future of China’s cities. Using the concept of Environmentally Smart Urbanization, developed by Prof. Zou and his colleagues, WRI helped the city of Qingdao become a key demonstration project for low-carbon development. WRI also recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the NDRC to encourage further collaboration between WRI and the Chinese government.

“I am honored to have established WRI’s office in China and to have developed some far-reaching projects on low-carbon development for the country. WRI is increasingly recognized as an independent and valuable think tank, with both local and international expertise,” Prof. Zou said. “As I turn to the future, I am looking forward to new opportunities with the National Climate Research Center to further contribute to sustainable development in China.”

WRI also announced that Dr. Tan Xiaomei will become Deputy Country Director for the China office. Dr. Tan has been working with WRI for the past four years, as a Senior Associate in both the Climate and Energy program and the Institutions and Governance program.

“We are very excited Dr. Tan has agreed to take on this responsibility and expand our programmatic activities in China,” said Bapna. “Dr. Tan has expertise across a broad range of issues, and she has experience in both the United States and China, which should enable her to be highly successful in this position.”

Dr. Tan has worked for 10 years on national and international energy policies with a focus on energy technology, clean technology development, and power sector climate policy.

Dr. Tan will also serve as the Acting Country Director for the China office, as WRI launches a search for a new full-time China Country Director.

“I am delighted by this opportunity to expand WRI’s work in China and to return to my home country,” said Dr. Tan. “Under Prof Zou’s leadership, WRI has become more active on key issues related to climate, energy, water, and transportation. I am looking forward to continuing this work and collaborating with my colleagues in China to build on this foundation.”

During Prof. Zou’s tenure, WRI’s China office has:

Positioned WRI as a leading, independent research institute on sustainability in China;
Established an MOU between WRI and NDRC;
Expanded WRI’s China-based staff from three to 13 people;
Developed the concept of Environmentally Smart Urbanization;
Secured a major grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Qingdao Low-Carbon Development Plan; and
Helped secure a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to promote sustainable and livable cities in China, India and Brazil.