Challenges of localizing sustainable development goals in small cities: Research to action

The national governments have committed to various sustainable development goals (SDGs); however, actions have to be taken by the local administrations at the city level. In this paper, the city administrations' understanding and preparedness for implementing specific activities related to SDG targets 3.6, 3.9, and 11.2 are discussed. The results of how local communities can participate in prioritizing the implementation of SDG targets at the city level are also presented. Three small cities in India, namely Bulandshahr, Patiala, and Nainital, were monitored for three years. The research team worked closely with the local administrations and local citizens. This paper presents an analysis of the various activities undertaken by the research team and concludes that SDGs can be used as tools for providing ready targets to the authorities, bringing them to a common working ground. The SDG implementation in India follows the top–down approach; however, to achieve the SDG targets, the bottom–up approach should be followed. SDGs are not a priority for several city governments. Cities need encouragement and national support to adopt and implement these SDGs. We have to think of how SDGs can be used to influence day-to-day decisions. SDGs can also be a part of the outcome-based budget of municipalities to prioritize the implementation of SDG-oriented urban infrastructure and plans.     

The trade-off between trips and distance traveled in analyzing the emissions impacts of center-based telecommuting

Several travel indicators were compared between telecommuting (TC) days and non-telecommuting days for a sample of 72 center-based telecommuters in California. Distance traveled decreased significantly on TC days, with average reductions of 51 person-miles (58%) and 35 vehicle-miles (53%). When weighted by telecommuting frequency, average reductions of 11.9% in PMT and 11.5% in VMT were found over a five-day work week. Person-trips and vehicle-trips increased slightly (but not significantly) on TC days. This was due to statistically significant increases in commute trips by telecommuters (who more often went home for lunch on their TC days), partly counteracted by decreases in non-commute travel. The drive-alone mode share increased on TC days, both for all trips, and for commute trips in particular. Walking and biking shares also increased modestly on TC days, whereas shares of transit and ridesharing declined. Despite the increase in trip rates, TC-day reductions were found for all pollutants analyzed: 15% for total organic gas emissions, 21% for carbon monoxide, 35% for oxides of nitrogen, and 51% for particulate matter. The reduction in VMT more than compensated for the marginal increase in number of trips (and consequently, cold starts) on telecommuting days.     

小儿HBVM与肾脏疾病

对２５５例肾脏病及５０例非肾脏病患儿分别进行ＨＢＶＭ的检测。结果显示２５５例肾脏病患儿有７１例ＨＢＶＭ阳性，阳性率为２７．８％，与对照组比较差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＨＢＶＭ阳性率在肾炎性肾病中最高，其次是肾病综合征和原发性血尿。     

Reimagining safer school streets with children using the crosswalk program

Children account for about 34% of the urban population in India. However, they continue to be forced daily consumers of adult-designed built environments. A total of 45 children die daily from road accidents. This paper discusses the findings of a case study of an interactive curriculum spanning nine modules, which aided grade IV students of a school in New Delhi to re-imagine and co-create a safer school street. The curriculum is part of the Crosswalk Program by HumanQind. The program is focused on and aligned with the frameworks of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on road safety, human rights, and human-centric urban development.     

Environmental considerations of land transport in developing countries (part 2)

Developing countries have unique problems and needs which must be considered when attempting to identify and evaluate the environmental impacts of land transport. This paper presents a review of the relevant literature that can be used to identify, evaluate and mitigate environmental impacts of land transport facilities (development and operation) in developing countries. After examining the relevant characteristics of land transport development in such countries, the paper discusses the environmental effects. Controls and countermeasures associated with each category of impacts are also reviewed under the broad categories of air, noise and water pollution as well as land use changes and social and ecological impacts. Issues concerning environmental impact assessment/analysis process and transport of hazardous materials are then addressed. The procedures established by the World Bank for the environmental assessment of Bank‐financed projects are mentioned. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the responsibilities of the developing countries in meeting the growing challenge of environmental degradation.     

Transportation impacts of center-based telecommuting: Interim findings from the Neighborhood Telecenters Project

The transportation impacts of center-based telecommuting for 24 participants (representing 69 person-days of travel and 295 trips) in the California Neighborhood Telecenters Project are analyzed. Comparing non-telecommuting (NTC) day to telecommuting (TC) day travel shows that person-trips did not change significantly, whereas vehicle-trips increased significantly (by about one trip) on TC days. Both PMT and VMT decline significantly on TC days: by an average of 68 miles (74%) and 38 miles (65%), respectively. When these savings are weighted by the frequency of telecommuting, overall reductions in PMT and VMT come to 19% and 17%, respectively, of total weekday travel. Commute trips increase slightly (by 0.5 trips) but significantly, mainly due to lunch-time trips made home from the telecenter. Total non-commute travel does not increase, but there is a significant shift from other modes to driving alone on TC days. Commute mode split on NTC days is not affected by telecommuting. Travel on TC days tends to be compressed into fewer hours. Higher numbers of return home, eat meal, shopping, and social/recreational trips are made on TC days, in exchange for a reduction (to zero) in the number of change mode trips.