Asian cities currently contribute 80 percent of Asia’s economic activity and account for
54 percent of the region's carbon emissions. By 2050, Asia’s urban population could grow by 1.1
billion and reach 3.4 billion, which is the equivalent size of today’s global urban population. In
the absence of significant climate adaptation measures, the most significant increase in energy
consumption and green house gas emissions is expected to take place in Asian mega-cities.
Existing infrastructure and urban development pathways could lock cities into unsustainable
growth and consumption models, with worsening impacts on climate change. Hence, smart and
effective urbanization is the order of the day and all measures need to be put in place to make the
Asian cities smart, robust, livable keeping in mind the global issues of climate change. The
future expansion of urban areas on agricultural lands and forests could also lead to the
destruction of natural carbon sinks and important climate adaptation systems. Limiting climate
change therefore means decarbonizing Asian cities. The good news is that there is a strong value
proposition for Asian cities to accelerate their decarbonisation. Physical climate risks and their
associated social and economic costs are already significant. Their impact, if unmitigated, could
increase substantially, and have a material effect on Asia’s 597 million urban poor. As the
majority of Asia’s economic activity takes place in cities and urbanization is still progressing
fast, there is a significant opportunity to increase resource efficiency and transform Asian urban
growth models to make them more circular, regenerative, and inclusive. It is seen that the Asian
cities contribute significantly to climate change, urban population growth creates opportunities to
decarbonize at scale, and that Asian cities are also exposed to climate risks.

The post Exploring the Possibilities of Smart Urbanization in the Asia Pacific to Achieve Climate Change and Net Zero in Cities of the region: Challenges and Opportunities appeared first on Boston Research Journals.

The literature of India’s North-east and her poetry in particular, is characterized by a strong
‘spirit of place’ and the vast ecological variety in the region strewn with rivers, hills, gorges and
ravines, with a mesmeric charm of the flora and fauna, has ever actuated creative imagination in
the poets and writers of the land. A confluence of various tribes and communities with their
respective belief-systems, rituals and folklores, North-east has ever retained her exotic charm not
only for mainland India but also for the rest of the world. After Independence, the region also
had to undergo some territorial re-alignment of some states due to socio-political necessities and
as a result of the emerging realities of urbanization, deforestation, industrialization and
mechanization for the cause of development and also of the flip side of these changes in the
forms of partition-violence and cross-border terrorism (with its bases operating mainly in
neighboring countries); a genuine concern for the ecological well being of the land has
developed over the years into a major vein of poetry in the North-east. To put it in simple terms,
the persona which had so long been used to singing the naivety of existence amidst the plenitude
of nature in a state of perfect bliss with the surroundings, now feels as it were perturbed by a
gnawing awareness of something ominous lurking in ambush round the corner. The present
article attempts for a synoptic overview of some representative works of the indigenous poets of
two major states so as to trace how an acute eco-conscience marks the poetic sensibility in
North-east where nature, as per the systems of faith and understanding enshrined by folk and
literate traditions, is a vital force equipped with human emotions and having the potency to help
poetic imagination.

The post The Fireflies Kindle Their Lights To Seek Darkness: Scripting Ecological Concern in Some Select Poets of North-East India appeared first on Boston Research Journals.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in India’s economy, providing employment to a significant
portion of the population and contributing to the country’s GDP. Public policy in India has
historically focused on addressing challenges faced by the agricultural sector, such as land
fragmentation, inadequate infrastructure, and low productivity. Over the years, agricultural
policies have aimed at improving food security, ensuring fair prices for farmers, and boosting
rural development. However, India’s agricultural sector continues to grapple with issues like
climate change, water scarcity, and the economic distress of farmers. This paper explores the
evolution of agricultural policy in India, analyzing key reforms, their impact on rural
livelihoods, and the ongoing policy debates surrounding subsidies, irrigation, and market
access. It further examines the role of government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), and minimum support
price (MSP) systems in enhancing productivity and reducing farmers' vulnerability to market
fluctuations. The paper also highlights the need for sustainable agricultural practices, the role
of technology in improving agricultural outputs, and the importance of aligning public policy
with environmental concerns to ensure long-term food security and economic stability.

The post Agriculture and Public Policy in India – Recent Trends and Future Directions appeared first on Boston Research Journals.

This reflection explores the rightful place and proper use of musical instruments in Catholic liturgical
worship. Anchored on Article 120 of Sacrosanctum Concilium and key ecclesiastical documents like
Musicam Sacram and Tra le Sollecitudini, it defines sacred instrumental music as that which is created
for worship and is characterized by holiness, artistic value, and universality. It critiques contemporary
liturgical practices in Nigeria, especially the frequent misuse of secular and banal instrumental styles
under the guise of inculturation. It emphasizes the organ as the preeminent instrument in the Latin
Church, extolling its capacity to sacralize worship space and elevate the minds of the faithful. Forms of
instrumental arrangements such as the organ, gospel bands, native instruments and orchestras are
discussed, with a call for all to conform to the sacred nature of liturgy. The essay concludes with
practical guidelines on the use of musical instruments during different liturgical seasons and
underscores the instrument’s supporting—not overwhelming—role in worship.

The post The Place And Proper Use Of Musical Instruments In The Liturgy appeared first on Boston Research Journals.