Cost effective adaptation to flood : sanitation interventions in the Gandak river basin, India

Given the acute deficits in sanitation in the region, the study looks at technology options that demonstrate how climate risk management can be integrated with development targets for poor and marginalized households. The cost-effectiveness of technology options is altered substantially when the costs of current and future flood events are incorporated into the equation. The study reveals that engineering or construction cost-based norms can under-estimate the benefits of integrating climate risks into infrastructure design, and the importance of capturing non-marketed benefits in such assessments. Findings indicate that policy interventions need to be sensitive to interaction effects between technology and climate change

Managing Used Lead Acid Batteries in India: Evaluation of EPR-DRS Approaches

Background. India has a well-defined deposit refund system (DRS) based on the principles of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for recycling used lead acid batteries (ULABs). However, the presence of an informal sector and lack of monitoring have resulted in an ineffective system of recycling mainly driven by the interests of the informal sector. Objectives. The present study attempts to understand the existing recycling mechanism and comparatively analyses a base case and three alternative scenarios developed taking into consideration the existence of a very active informal recycling sector. Materials and Methods. A base case and three alternative scenarios which were developed for this study were evaluated. Scenario I is the base case scenario representing the existing system. Scenarios II and III integrate informal recycling with the mainstream recycling system through a separate collection agency. Scenario IV proposes a strong upstream-defined deposit refund where the manufacturer pays a ‘green tax’ and receives a refund on green recycling of ULABs. The major gains and losses both upstream and downstream in the recycling chain are analysed for all of the scenarios. Results. Scenario II was determined to be the most effective, as it takes care of the interests of both the formal and informal stakeholders. By using the services of the itinerant collectors and eliminating informal smelters, Scenario II strengthens formal recycling. The introduction of a separate collection agency in Scenarios II and III benefits almost all of the major stakeholders in the system. Scenario IV gives the manufacturer more responsibility for used batteries. In all four scenarios, the downstream stakeholders of the EPR-DRS were the major beneficiaries. Conclusions. A successful EPR-DRS for ULABs in India can be achieved by integrating informal recycling through the introduction of a separate collection agency, strengthening the upstream DRS, completely eliminating informal recycling, and effective compliance monitoring. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests

Cost effective adaptation to flood: sanitation interventions in the Gandak river basin, India

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region comprises of areas which are highly vulnerable to flood risks. The region faces challenges from multiple non-climate stressors such as poverty, environmental and climate shocks, and inadequate infrastructure. Addressing these deprivations in ways that reduce vulnerability associated with a changing climate are critical for the communities that live here. This paper combines data on flood risks derived from a climate–hydrology model under two future scenarios of RCP 4.5 and 8.5, with socio-economic data from communities in the Gandak basin, to demonstrate how mainstreaming climate change impacts into decision-making for sanitation interventions can reduce socio-economic vulnerability to flooding. A Cost-effectiveness analysis of the alternative interventions for sanitation reveals that gains are substantially higher under an intervention that takes note of climatic events, both for the present and in the future. Substantial health costs and inconvenience losses that are particularly acute for women during floods can be averted by investing in climate-friendly options. Climate adaptation (SDG goal 13 on climate action) can be synergistic with the achievement of other SDGs (Goal 6 on sanitation, goal 3 on health and well-being, goal 5 on gender)

Current indicators and metrics hinder effective urban climate adaptation

Assessing the effectiveness of climate adaptation action is the focus of intense debate across scientific and policy arenas. Measurement is essential for effective adaptation management and operation, and indicators and metrics (I&M) have a pivotal role. Surprisingly, there are very few systematic efforts to understand the advances in the provisioning of adaptation I&M. Here we analyse 137 publications and 901 I&M sourced in the scientific literature to measure adaptation to climate change, particularly, in urban areas where governments are increasingly placing efforts to prepare populations and infrastructures. A lack of common terminology, standardisation, and reference guidelines has resulted in a field that is complex to track and understand. Furthermore, such complexity has led to diverse, context-specific and sometimes competing approaches to developing I&M. We argue that current I&M proposals are highly technical, not sufficiently grounded on real needs, and have little potential to collectively support effective urban climate change adaptation