"Cities have to be made more liveable, smart, clean and green," Dr. Lohani stressed as he outlined the technological challenges being faced in urban areas. He stated that 80 per cent of the GDP is generated in cities, and 600 cities collectively contribute 60 per cent of the global GDP. Quoting from an ADB study, he added that 23 megacities (cities with a population of over 10 million people) are currently contributing 14 per cent of GDP, though this is expected to reduce to about 10 per cent by 2025.
We need cities that are livable, economically vibrant and progressive, environmental clean, and smart, Dr. Lohani remarked. He spoke of major challenges including that of urban poverty and the burgeoning investment requirements. The urban poor number 200 million, and 30-50 per cent of them earn below a dollar a day, he said. Massive investments to the tune of $ 2 trillion are required, and public resources account for only half of the investments, Dr. Lohani added.
The former ADB Vice President identified energy efficiency, renewable energy, conversion of waste into energy, and carbon capture, sequestration and storage as major opportunities. Similarly, huge investments are required to climate proof our infrastructure, paving the way for retrofitting as well as designing competitive and smart cities.
Quoting from the example of MIT's SENSEable City Laboratory, he suggested that AIT could take a lead in designing a twenty-first century Asian City Laboratory.
Earlier, Dr. Lohani was welcomed by AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, who elaborated on the idea of DAF seminars. Fifty-five years of operations has meant that AIT has a vast pool of talent, and DAF Seminars are a way of engaging them, Prof. Worsak said. AIT provides them with academic affiliation and they act as our academic ambassadors, he added. Dr. Lohani, who has served as Chairman and Associate Professor of Division of Environmental Engineering at AIT, thanked Prof. Worsak for the opportunity and congratulated him for providing excellent leadership to AIT.
Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees, quoted from his experience in the field of power generation, stating that fuel consumption patterns are changing all over the world. Mentioning AIT's partnership with the Colorado State University (CSU), Dr. Subin added that alternate energy and changes in fuel consumption provide AIT with an opportunity to emerge as a leader in research activities in this field in Asia.
The Seminar can also be watched at this link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YMe8tWAGrRI
Photo caption: Dr. Bindu Lohani (left) with Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.