Hyderabad’s unplanned growth huge climate concern: Oz scientist

HYDERABAD: The major problem facing the city is its absolutely unplanned growth, said Australian environmentalist and public scientist Tim Flannery who was in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Flannery, who was in the city to spread awareness on climate change, said his first impressions of the city was of infrastructure that was not climate resilient.

“Construction here blocks water ways and there is immense haphazard growth,” he said speaking about what struck him first when he landed in Hyderabad.Flannery said states including Telangana would do well to appoint a climate commissioner who could speak to people about the issue, while hearing their problems as well. “It is frustrating that so little is being done about climate change,” said the Australian climate commissioner. The climate change expert was hosted at two events -- by Manthan as well as organisers of Fridays For Future Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Stating that the impact of climate change was all pervasive, he said it could be seen through the intensity of droughts, the effects of heatwaves on livestock and the current bushfires in Australia. “In India, the unnecessary destruction of tree cover is a matter of concern,” he said. While stressing the need for ‘revolution’, he said if even 3% of the population of a country got down on the streets, it would be a victory for sustainable practices. Citing the example of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion, he said peaceful protest was the only way forward. At the macro level, the climate change expert said that instead of being pessimistic, one had to look at the growth of alternative industries -- whether in the clean energy, recycling or electric transportation spaces -- that could both provide employment as well as protect the environment.
Citing an example of how innovation could help improve the situation, he said that the use of seaweed in prawn farms in Australia had served many purposes: it reduced dirty water being left into the great barrier reef; it improved water quality and it also could be converted into fertiliser. Flannery, a renowned mammalogist, has named more than 30 new species over his career, including tree kangaroos.