REGIONAL SLIDES

1
REGIONAL SLIDES
2
Asia and the Pacific

• Beijing, China
• Delhi, India
• Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Karachi, Pakistan
• Sydney, Australia
• Tehran, Iran
• Dust Storms over China
• Bam Earthquake, Iran
• Indian Ocean Tsunami, Indian Sub-continent
• Drought in Australia, Australia
• Gangotri Glacier, India
• Landslide in Tibet, Tibet

3
Asia and the Pacific

• Asia now holds 61 per cent of the global
  population and its share of the global urban
  population has risen from 9 in 1920 to 48 in
  2000 and is expected to rise to 53 by 2030

• By 2015 Asian developing countries will hold
  three of the worlds five largest urban
  agglomerations Mumbai, Dhaka and Delhi

• Of all the world regions, developed and
  developing, Asia ranks lowest in almost all types
  of crime

• Of the 10 countries most hit by natural
  disasters in 2005, 7 are in the Asian continent

• Australia is the driest continent, and has one
  of the most variable rainfall climates in the
  world

UNESCO 2006 UNISDR 2005
4
Explosive growth in Beijing, China
Beijing, the capital city of China, is
experiencing explosive growth since economic
reforms in 1979

• 1978 Beijing in 1978

• 2000 Extent of urban expansion is clearly
  visible

5
Tremendous growth in Delhi and its suburbsIndia
1977-1999 The population of Delhi was at 4.4
million in 1975 that grew to 12.4 million in 2000
6
Phenomenal growth in Dhaka Bangladesh
1977-2000 the capital of Bangladesh, has grown
from a city of 2.5 million to more than 10
million
7
Rapid urban growth in KarachiPakistan

• 1975 Karachi before the urban sprawl

• 2001 Note the change in aerial extent

8
A vibrant city yet vulnerable to bush fires
Sydney, Australia
1975-2002 Over the last several decades, Sydney
has been expanding westward toward the Blue
Mountain
9
Rapidly expanding Tehran, Iran

• 1975 The population of Tehran has grown
  three-folds since 1970

• 2000 Rapid expansion has had adverse impacts
  on the environment

10
Dust Storm over China

• 23 March 2002 a relatively clear day

• 8 April 2002 extremely dusty skies dust
  obscures most of the surface

11
Earthquakes and Tsunamis

• According to long-term records (since about
  1900), we can expect about 18 major earthquakes
  (7.0 - 7.9 on the Richter scale) and one great
  earthquake (8.0 or above) in any given year (NEIC
  2003)

• The number of earthquakes and tsunamis resulting
  in fatalities has increased approximately in
  proportion to global populations

• The growth of giant urban cities near regions of
  known seismic hazard is a new experiment for life
  on the Earth

• Tsunamis are a threat to life and property for
  all coastal residents

12
A city destroyed by earthquakeBam, Iran
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern
Iran on 26 December 2003, killing over 40 000
people, injuring 16 000, leaving 70 000 homeless
and destroying much of the city of Bam, the
earthquakes epicenter
13
Indian Ocean Tsunami and its aftermath
Dec 2004 Tsunami devastated the region of Banda
Aceh
14
Drought in Australia

• 2002 Increasing price of grain due to the
  relative shortage of pasture land made the
  farmers sell their livestock and convert their
  lands to cropland in 2003

• 2003 Image showing the expanded crop area

15
Receding Gangotri Glacier

• Receding glacier tracked since 1780

• In last 25 years, Gangotri Glacier has retreated
  more than 850 m (2 788 ft)

16
Landslide in Tibet creates lake

• Area before landslide creates a natural dam
  blocking the Pareechu River

• 2004 Water begins to accumulate behind the dam
  creating an artificial lake

By 13 August 2004, the lake spreads over 188
hectares reaching a depth of 35 meters
17
Asia and the Pacific
One Planet Many People Atlas of Our Changing
Environment
Thank You!
Free Downloads www.na.unep.net Purchase www.Ear
thprint.com