An Assessment of Direct and Indirect Emission Reduction Potential of Natural Wetland Systems of Kolkata, India

摘要

City effluent management is a critical global issue in recent times as escalating population density across the world cities has amplified waste generation, pollution and green house gas emission. This has led to intensification of climate change and the effects like sea-level rise, increased frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, and tropical storms are being observed across the globe. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report of 2007, reduction of emissions in urban areas over the next two to three decades will be significant in providing long term opportunities to balance levels of atmospheric CO_2 and mitigate impacts of climate change. Wastewater aquaculture and using treated effluent in agriculture as sustainable environment management strategy in urban areas has been tried in several instances by which the waste is transformed to usable resource. Due to the natural process of waste water treatment and carbon sequestration potential of sewage fed fisheries the green house gas emission is reduced. This paper, with the case study of East Kolkata Wetlands, India, analyses its role as "urban kidneys" and also attempts to assess the direct and indirect green house gas emission reduction potential of natural wetland systems of Kolkata by comparing it with the Sewage treatment Plants of the city.