Impact of Urban Development on the Climate Change! A study of the Awareness, Suggestions, and Concerns of Pakistan Architectural Community about the Impact of C.B.D Punjab on the Climate of Lahore

Abstract

Due to the urbanization, our cities are expanding. According to a study, the projection of the urban area by 2030 is 1.2 million km2 which is almost double that of an urban area in 2000 (Hassan et al., 2014). These expansions make our cities the most vulnerable part of this planet in terms of climate change. Besides all these issues urban expansion is still on its way and our city is becoming larger and larger. New urban planning models are practicing in our cities and one of them is the concept of CBD Central Business Districts which was introduced by ERNEST BURGESS in 1229 (Shell, 2016). Pakistan also followed this model and introduced its first CBD in the centre of Lahore. Central Business District of Punjab or CBD Punjab is Pakistan's first business district launched in Gulberg Lahore by the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA). With the permissible height of 750 ft, it’s a mixed used high Rise development over an area of 118 acres.(Brier & lia dwi jayanti, 2020). This study aims to highlight the level of awareness, concerns, and suggestions of Pakistan's architectural community about the climatic impact of C.B.D Punjab on the Climate of Lahore. This research work was done by using a quantitative research method in which I conducted a physical questionnaire based survey in Pakistan's Architectural Community with closed questions. The number of questionnaires was 21 calculated by using MINI TAB software and data analysis was done on SPSS software by using a descriptive stat test. According to the results, 70 % of Architects from the sample size have an idea about the Project of C.B.D Punjab. 60% of them got information about C.B.D Punjab from Friends and Seminars and 30% from social media. 60% of architects are concerned that the construction of C.B.D Punjab will contribute to an increase in the winter smoke of Lahore. 55% of architects are concerned that C.B.D Punjab cannot achieve its Sustainable Development Goals and 55% of architects are concerned that C.B.D Punjab authority will not be able to provide the road map for sustainable construction. 60% of architects are dissatisfied with security measures taken by C.B.D Punjab authority in the construction of C.B.D Punjab and 60% of architects are dissatisfied with the project's current progress. 85% of architects suggest that the government take the following measures to minimize the environmental impact of C.B.D Punjab like Add open green spaces, Develop bylaws for the use of sustainable materials, And Make policies to encourage the use of solar energy.