Annexure 4- Glossary and relevant links

REIMAGINING CHENNAI’S BUCKINGHAM CANAL How might we adopt a climate proof approach to make the Canal a liveable space?

An Open Ideas Competition ANNEXURE 4- Glossary of terms and links to relevant documents

EYES ON THE CANAL is an exercise in participatory planning to make the canal a livable place for the residents of Chennai. The initiative involves various activities such as awareness walks, community engagement meetings and an open-ideas competition to generate interest and ownership for the canal which has suffered from our collective abandonment.

EYES ON THE CANAL is part of the Cities Fit for Climate Change project.

Cities Fit for Climate Change is a global project implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and its International Climate Initiative (IKI). The project also cooperates with the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI).

This project is in coordination with the Greater Chennai Corporation.

Partnering Organizations

For more information, visit https://eyesonthecanal.wordpress.com/ Released: July 2018

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Adaptation Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.

(Source: http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ ClimateAdaptationGlossaryofTerms.pdf)

Chennai Floods (Dec 2015) The 2015 South Indian floods resulted from heavy rainfall generated by the annual northeast monsoon in November–December 2015. It affected the Coromandel Coast region of the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, with Tamil Nadu and the city of Chennai particularly hard-hit. More than 500 people were killed and over 18 lakh (1.8 million) people were displaced. With estimates of damages and losses ranging from nearly Rs.200 billion (US$3 billion) to over Rs.1 trillion (US$15 billion), the floods were the most financially destructive natural disaster to have occurred in 2015. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has been scathing in its criticism of the government’s handling of the Chennai floods of 2015, going so far as to categorize it as a “man-made disaster”. It has held the government of Tamil Nadu responsible for the scale of the catastrophe, which the latter had termed a natural disaster. The CAG report, which was tabled in Tamil Nadu assembly, said that there was indiscriminate discharge of water from the Chembarambakkam reservoir, in excess of inflows, which burdened the Adyar river, leading to floods in the city and its suburbs.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_South_Indian_floods)

Climate Change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. Note that the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in its Article 1, defines climate change as ‘a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods’.

The UNFCCC thus makes a distinction between climate change attributable to human activities altering the atmospheric composition, and climate variability attributable to natural causes.

(Source: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-annexes.pdf)

Climate Proofing Building on the analysis of the word ‘climate-proofing’ in international and national documents, Birkmann and Fleischhauer developed an initial definition (2009: 118) for climate-proofing in connection with spatial planning and spatial development as follows: ‘Climate proofing’ includes methods, instruments and procedure that ensure that plans, programmes and strategies, as well as the associated investments to-wards the current and future impacts of climate change will be made resilient and adaptable, and that they also aim for the corresponding plans, programmes and strategies to take into account the aim of climate change mitigation.

Cyclon Vardah (Dec 2016) Low pressure formed over South East Bay of Bengal on 6th December 2016, which intensified into a Deep Depression, Cyclonic Storm and further intensified in to very severe cyclonic storm on 10th December 2016. It crossed North Tamil Nadu near Chennai as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100-110 km/hour gusting to 140 km/hour during 1500 -1700 hrs IST of 12th December.

The Cyclonic storm “Vardah” made landfall in Chennai city on 12th December 2016 and barrelled inland packing wind speed more than 140 km/hour which created a sea of devastation and an average rainfall was recorded as 119.10 mm. This cyclonic storm was the most severe in two decades which uprooted lakhs of trees, devastated 1000s of lamp posts, spoiled several electrical installations such as transformers, brought several kutcha rooftops to the ground, disabled communication lines and brought the transport system to a grinding halt.

(Source: p.28-29 Chennai City disaster management plan Jan 2017)

Decarbonisation A process aimed at reduce the amount of gaseous carbon compounds released into the environment.

(Source: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/decarbonize)

Ecosystem An ecosystem is a dynamic complex system of plants, animals, microorganism communities and the nonliving environment, interacting with each other as a functional unit. Humans are an integral part of ecosystems.

(Source: https://millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.300.aspx.pdf)

Ecosystem services Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. These include provisioning services such as food and water; regulating services such as flood and disease control; cultural services such as spiritual, recreational, and cultural benefits; and supporting services, such as nutrient cycling, that maintain the conditions for life on Earth.

(Source: https://millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.300.aspx.pdf)

Inclusive City An Inclusive City is defined as “a place where everyone, regardless of wealth, gender, age, race, ethnicity or religion, is enabled to participate productively and positively in the opportunities the cities have to offer.”

(Source: UN-HABITAT, 2000)

Integrated Urban Development Approach In the following section three key instruments of the Leipzig Charter are discussed.

A spatial perspective and area based interventions: An area-based approach, or spatial perspective, is used to frame urban problems spatially, as well as to capture their characteristics.

When relying on a spatial perspective, economic, environmental and social aspects should be analysed as a whole, rather than separately, as their complex and inter- twined relationships should be considered.

Multi-level governance: The pursuit of feasible sustainable development schemes has to be carried out through dialogue, multi-disciplinary collaborations and partnerships between a wide range of actors from various fields and regulatory levels (EU, national, regional, local).

Strengthening cooperation and dispersing authority between all relevant actors can play a significant role in the success of a certain policy. The threat of climate change is one of the most significant challenges of our time, and serves to illustrate the need for multi-level governance.

Bottom-up approach and empowerment: A well-planned bottom-up approach with effective participation of the stakeholders and the local population concerned allows decision-makers to have a stronger base of understanding of a specific area. The active participation of local communities in planning the neighbourhood not only improves the area physically but also develops a sense of ownership with the residents.

(Source: http://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/EN/Publications/SpecialPublication/2017/10-yearsafter-leipzig-charta-dl.pdf;jsessionid=00D486C719174E80F03CD2AF348148EC.live11291?__ blob=publicationFile&v=2 p.11,12)

Leipzig Charter The “LEIPZIG CHARTER on Sustainable European Cities” is a document of the Member States , which has been drawn up with the broad and transparent participation of European Stakeholders.

In the knowledge of the challenges and opportunities as well as the different historical, economical, social and environmental backgrounds of European cities, the Member States’ Ministers responsible for Urban Development agree upon common principles and strategies for urban development policy.

(Source: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/archive/themes/urban/leipzig_charter.pdf)

Livelihood A livelihood is a means of making a living. It encompasses people’s capabilities, assets, income and activities required to secure the necessities of life. A livelihood is sustainable when it enables people to cope with and recover from shocks and stresses (such as natural disasters and economic or social upheavals) and enhance their well-being and that of future generations without undermining the natural environment or resource base.

(Source: http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/from-crisis-to-recovery/what-isa-livelihood/)

Mitigation An anthropogenic [=human] intervention to reduce the anthropogenic forcing of the climate system; it includes strategies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas sources and emissions and enhancing greenhouse gas sinks. Examples of mitigation measures are renewable energy technologies, waste minimization processes and public transport commuting practices, etc.

(Source: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/index_html/#linkMitigation)

Multilevel Governance Non-hierarchical forms of policymaking, involving public authorities as well as private actors, who operate at different territorial levels, and who acknowledge their interdependence.

(Source: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/index_html/#linkClimateChange)

Nationally Determined Contributions – NDCs Nationally determined contributions embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and it focuses on the achievement of these long-term goals.

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) identify the post-2020 voluntary national climate targets, including mitigation and adaptation, which countries committed to and which [became] a binding Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) when a country ratifie[d] the Paris Agreement.

(Source: http://spappssecext.worldbank.org/sites/indc/Pages/INDCHome.asp https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/nationally-determinedcontributions-ndcs#eq-5 )

Resilience A capability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to social well-being, the economy, and the environment.

(Source: http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ ClimateAdaptationGlossaryofTerms.pdf)

Sustainability It is the process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations. The organizing principle for sustainability is sustainable development, which includes the following interconnected domains: environment, economic and social. Sub-domains of sustainable development are: cultural, technological and political. Sustainable development, is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Brundtland Report for the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) introduced the term of sustainable development.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability)

Sustainable cities, urban sustainability, or eco-city It is a city designed with consideration for social, economic, environmental impact and resilient habitat for existing populations, without compromising the ability of future generations to experience the same. These cities are inhabited by people who are dedicated towards minimization of required inputs of energy, water, food, waste, output of heat, air pollution - CO2, methane, and water pollution.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_city)

UN Habitat’s New Urban Agenda The New Urban Agenda represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future – one in which all people have equal rights and access to the benefits and opportunities that cities can offer, and in which the international community reconsiders the urban systems and physical form of our urban spaces to achieve this.

In this unprecedented era of increasing urbanization, and in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and other global development agreements and frameworks, the New Urban Agenda presents a paradigm shift based on the science of cities and incorporates a new recognition of the correlation between good urbanization and development. The New Urban Agenda hence underlines the linkages between good urbanization and job creation, livelihood, opportunities, and improved quality of life, which should be included in every urban renewal policy and strategy.

(Source: http://habitat3.org/wp-content/uploads/NUA-English.pdf)

Urban Heat Islands An urban area characterized by temperatures higher than those of the surrounding non-urban area. As urban areas develop buildings, roads, and other infrastructure replace open land and vegetation. These surfaces absorb more solar energy, which can create higher temperatures in the cores of urban areas.

Source: http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ ClimateAdaptationGlossaryofTerms.pdf

Vulnerability It is the degree to which a system is susceptible to and unable to cope with adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate change and variation to which a system is exposed, as well as the system’s sensitivity and adaptive capacity.

(Source: http://www-esd.worldbank.org/citiesccadaptation/glossary.html)

LIST OF RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Type

Department/Body

Short

Coastal Zone Management Plan.

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 Parts of the Restricted Deve 500 m from the High Tide L Buckingham canal lie in the the Coastal Zone Managem shall also be subject to the Government of India under 1986 and the amendments

IT Development Park - ANNEXURE XIII CMDA

Area to a depth of about 50 Salai (Old Mamallapuram ro (described below) from Kot CMA limits. Wherein irrespe / Detailed Development Pla regulations as specified in A

MRTS Influence Area

CMDA - MRTS

MRTS Influence area, for al Multistoreyed residential de not exceeding 75 sq.metre Transit sensitive activities an around MRTS from Thiruma as MRTS influence area.

Aquifier Recharge Area

CMDA

Annexure 11 for Building B

Town & Country Planning Act

CMDA

Contains details about zoni

National Green Tribunal Act

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

The National Green Tribuna under the National Green T expeditious disposal of cas and conservation of forests is a specialized body equip handle environmental dispu

Link

elopment Zone area to a depth of Line of the sea and 100 m from the e Coastal Regulation Zone as per ment Plan. Developments there in Coastal Zone Regulation notified by r the Environment (Protection) Act, s made from time to time.

1. Regulation: http://envfor.nic.in/legis/env/env1.html 2. Buillding Bye-Laws: Annexure 10, http://www.cmdachennai. gov.in/Volume2_English_PDF/DR-English.pdf 3. Map: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume2_English_ PDF/CRZ.pdf

00 m on either side of the Rajiv Gandhi oad) has been declared as I.T Corridor ttivakkam and Perungudi village to ective of its zoning in the Master Plan an, I.T developments subject to the Annexure XIII are permissible

1, Regulations: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume2_English_PDF/DR-English.pdf 2. Map: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume2_English_ PDF/ITCorridor.pdf

llowing the maximum FSI of 2.00 nonevelopments with dwelling units each es in floor area. In order to encourage nd to allow densifications in areas ayilai to Velachery have been declared

1. Regulations: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume2_English_PDF/DR-English.pdf 2. Maps: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume2_English_ PDF/MRTS.pdf

Bye Laws

1. Regulations: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume2_English_PDF/DR-English.pdf 2. Map: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume2_English_ PDF/Aquifer.pdf

ing regulations

1. Document: http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/pdfs/tntcp_act. pdf

al has been established on 18.10.2010 1. Regulations: http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/public-inforTribunal Act 2010 for effective and mation/NGT-fin.pdf ses relating to environmental protection s and other natural resources . NGT pped with the necessary expertise to utes involving multi-disciplinary issues.