South Asian Cities use the summer to consolidate their views on a post-2012 global climate agreement - a series of national and sub-national workshops

While nations are still negotiating over a 200-page long text, Indian municipalities used the summer for a series of national and sub-national workshop to consolidate their viewpoints on a post-2012 global climate agreement.

Mr. Raghav Chandra, Principal Secretary in the Urban Administration & Development Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, India, stated that he is "pleased to know that ICLEI South Asia is getting the cities together on one platform to discuss the energy and climate related problems".

National and sub-national workshops were convened in:

The main goal of the workshop was raising awareness on international negotiations and environmental treaties, providing a forum for cities to discuss their viewpoints on a post-2012 global climate agreement. Furthermore, they provided a forum for South Asian cities to share the Energy Status Summaries and Carbon Emissions Inventories generated under the Roadmap of South Asian Cities and Local Governments for the post-2012 global climate agreement; and to discuss the experiences on the renewable energy/ energy efficiency activities being implemented by their respective city corporations. From the deliberations and presentations, it was evident that cities are working towards reducing carbon emissions and are playing their parts in solving the global problem of Climate Change.

At the Mysore workshop, Mr. K.S. Raykar, Commissioner of Mysore City Corporation, indicated "Mysore city´s interest in working for energy reduction and bringing in efficiency in the provision of utilities. The main issue facing the cities in India was lack of awareness, a proper environment management system at local level and technical guidance".

The general agreement of cities participating in the workshops was that the local governments should have a say in the formulation of national policy and their involvement in international treaties and programmes related to climate change and associated activities. Along with discussion on the energy status and action plans, the viewpoints and suggestions on post 2012 climate agreements were consolidated in several calls that were signed by the participants. This consolidation is also reflected in a statement by Mr. Umesh Prasad Mainali (picture), Secretary at the Ministry of Environment Science & Technology, Government of Nepal:

"I appreciate Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) and ICLEI South Asia for their proactive initiation in climate change issues. I emphasize on the effective efforts for environmental protection from government, local authorities and private sector because, only one agency is not sufficient. I also recommend that environmental management initiatives need to be launched by the joint efforts of all stakeholders, rather than solely by the national governments".

The Roadmap of South Asian Cities and Local Governments is facilitated by ICLEI - South Asia in conjunction with its partners. It is supported by the British High Commission.