The Conference on 'Cities and Climate Change' organized by the Department of Environment, Government of the NCT of Delhi with the assistance of ICLEI South Asia and the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, showcased Speakers from 11 International cities and more than 25 Indian cities, who shared their rich experiences. Over 400 Delegates across India and world actively participated in the occasion.  

Eminent speakers from across the globe in the field of city administration, politics, policy making and experts on the subject made presentations and deliberating the issues. The Conference broadly had been divided into seven technical sessions besides the Inaugural and Valedictory session - They are Energy Efficiency & Conservation, City Transportation Management System, Waste Management, Water Conservation & Management, Bio-diversity & Adaptation, Renewable Energy & Green Neighbourhoods and City Climate Policy & Registry.

Day 1
The conference began on 21^st February, 2011 with a very inspiring key note address by Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission who very successfully brought out the economic and financial aspects of climate change and its impact on poor and rich.  The issue of environmental cost in pricing of energy and other natural resources was very eloquently brought out with suggestion to the cities and all other stakeholders that time has come when environmental cost has to be a part of the pricing mechanism for energy and other natural resources.  He also called for immediate attention for focusing on energy efficiency so as to reduce the carbon footprint and produce electricity from the Municipal Solid Waste.  The need for correct fuel prices was emphasized as low prices increases the consumption and also informed to have constituted an expert group under Mr.  Nandan Nelkani to look into the pricing in respect of kerosene and fertilizer.  Water being a finite resource therefore, suggested that the charges must be applied on water consumption and also suggested a strong case for cross subsidizing renewable sources of energy from the cess levied on the non renewable/fossil fuels.

Dr. Ahluwalia also emphasised for efficient need for having urban transport system comprising of public transport and MRTS given very little room for personalized transportation. The Hon’ble CM while thanking the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission delivered an inspiring address emphasizing need for following the principles of 3 R’s i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to all cities so as to reduce their carbon footprints and deal effectively the Solid Waste and energy and water issues.

The First session of the conference was on a very relevant and burning topic of urban cities i.e. energy efficient and conservation.  The session was chaired by Shri P. Uma Shankar, Secretary (Power), Govt. of India who emphasized the need for energy efficiency and conservation in particular reference to climate change as cities consumed over 40% energy in India.  The per capita emission from this sector is expected go upto 3 MT by 2035 and stressed upon the need to bring out the changes in the legislations/Regulatory mechanizing and use of modern technology as envisaged in National Policy. 

Dr. Ajay Mathur, DG BEE delivered the key note address of this session and presentations were made by Municipal Commissioner Bhubeneswar, Mayor of Hyderabad, Board of Supervisor, Sonama County, USA, and Director, Office of Environmental Protection Trade Supervision and Energy, Heidlberg, Germany highlighting the initiatives in the area of energy efficiency and conservation.  The session ended with recommendations to use of state of art technology available in India and outside and also to bring out the institutional changes to make energy efficiency mandatory in all spheres of city functioning. The following recommendations are made in this session:
·         Make full use of renewable energy.
·         Putting in place the building code and standards of energy conservation and incentivizing the state and municipalities for achieving the standards.
·         Enlisting the support of all stakeholders in energy conservation measures/programmes to reduce the carbon footprints.

The Second session on City Transportation Management System evolved a lot of interest among the participants and the cities after the presentations made by Delhi and Ahmadabad on the BRT corridors.  This session was chaired by Ms. Sunita Narain, Director, CSE and presentations were made by MD, DIMTS, Municipal Commissioner, Ahmadabad, Makati City Philippines and on bio-fuels by Ministry of Petroleum and National Gas, Govt. of India.  After an animated discussion the panel unanimously agreed that the transport sector contribute over 50% of GHG emissions and also to the climate change and therefore recommended the following:
·         To promote BRT system being a most affordable, reliable and convenient system for mass public transport system based on the interesting comparison was brought out between the BRT of Delhi and Ahmadabad.  In Ahmadabad the space is not utilized by a car movement under BRT corridor whereas in Delhi the scenario was opposite and the space was taken away for BRT corridor which was used for the car movement. 
·         Re-alignment of incentive structure for private vehicles and incentivizing/subsidizing the public transport. 
·         Strong case was made out rational pricing of the motor fuels categorically bringing out the case of unwarranted subsidy on diesel sold in cities.
·         For successful implementation of transit systems pre-land use integrated planning should be done.
·         Restriction on the growth of vehicles with model shift to public transport utilization and reduction in private vehicle use.
·         Promotion of non-motorized vehicles and providing for dedicated lanes for cyclists.
·         Adoption of clean fuel such as bio-fuel in place of fossil fuel and its blending with fossil fuel.

The Third session on management chaired by Chairman, CPCB with speakers from MCD, Mayor, San Fernando City, Director Republic of Ireland, CEO, Waste to Energy Plant Okhla, CEO, C&D Waste Management Plant at Burari.  The session made strong pitch for adoption of 4 (R) strategy for dealing with waste management i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover.  Referring  to the waste to energy plant being constructed at Okhla, the doubts regarding the technology and issues related to pollution were categorically addressed by CEO and it was explained that the plant which is being constructed is a state of art modern plant and there is no scope for any pollution being created and such plants numbering over 40 were functioning in China and in fact it came out as recommendation of the session to cities for setting up of waste to energy plants of a appropriate size, design so as to deal with the MSW without causing environmental damage by doing sanitary landfills.  The construction and demolition waste plant set up in Delhi was also explained and widely appreciated as it greatly promoted reuse of C&D Wastes in construction of roads and buildings and it is unique in the country.  The deliberation in the session so intense the session continued beyond the time limit and ended quite late in the evening.

Day 2

The Fourth session of the conference began on water conservation and management and cities of Delhi, Rajkot, Kumamoto and Hubli.  The session was chaired by Regional Head Water & Sanitation Programme, World Bank and discussed the issues of water security with ever increasing water demand and limitation of sources of raw water.  The session highlighted the need for elaborate planning and management of water resources and their efficient management.  The session after discussion suggested that:
·         Water security is a must for cities to grow.
·         Water allocation and growth of population is not static and is important challenge to be met with limited resources hence, there is a need of a technical solution for water management alongwith change in the social behavior.
·         Need for a regulatory framework and its effective enforcement for ensuring water security. 
·         Making mandatory provisions for ground water recharge, waste water treatment and its reuse in the Building Bye-laws. 
·         Finally need was expressed for a integrated approach for workable solution towards water management and conservation with local government to work in hand in hand with all stakeholders.

The Fifth session: A very important aspect of cities and climate change is restoration and conservation of biodiversity.  The session on biodiversity and adaptation was chaired by DG, Ministry of Environment &Forests, Govt. of India with participation of VC, DDA, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Environment Department Boston, ICELI, USA and Delhi University.  The session extensively discussed the biodiversity conservation and efforts made in Delhi and creation of biodiversity parks in Delhi.  Besides, the work done in Boston which gave stress on adaptation strategy over mitigation by assessing vulnerable, developing flexibility , climate change and essential tool of planning and periodical monitoring and reviewing the impact.  The ICELI climate resilient communities programme which includes communities preparedness for impacts, cost of climate change and prediction short term, medium and long term impacts.  The session recommended:
·         Need for earmarking and developing specified green spaces in urban areas for preservation and conservation of biodiversity and greening. 
·         Developing and providing institutional support to smaller cities across the nation to support in their efforts on greening. 
·         Periodic assessment and putting in place the requisite and contingency plan for protection of biodiversity. Encouraging the participation and active involvement of local communities like schools, colleges, RWAs and developing and protecting more green spaces in cities.

The Sixth session on renewable energy and green neighborhood was chaired by Dr. Griffin M. Thompson, Manager, Energy and Climate Progammes US Department of State Govt. of US, the keynote was given by Dr. Leena Srivastava, Executive Director, TERI and other presentation are from Atlanta Georgia (USA), City of Coimbatore and Jaipur and from ICELI, USA.  The chair stressed on adoption of renewable energy and promote green neighborhood use of technical hardware and software by involving all stakeholders.  The keynote speaker stressed the need to maximize use of renewable energy in all sectors such as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, etc.  She also stressed on making right choice of infrastructural change to cater to first energy demand.  The city of Atlanta has adopted achieving the sustainability by targeting sustainability goals in all city activities.  The city of Coimbatore has presented on integrating clean and green technology such as wind, solar, PV hybrid system, borewell energy audit and energy saving options in other JNNURM projects.  The ICELI, USA presented on urban climate change and Solar America Communities.  The session recommended:
·         Need to opt for package product on renewable energy alongwith  energy efficiency
·         Need for massive public awareness on energy efficiency and renewable energy
·         Need for integrated energy solution  including wind solar project within Indian States

The Seventh session on “City climate Policy and Registry” was chaired by Sh Rakesh Mehta, Chief Secretary, Delhi.  The keynote was given by  Sh R. R. Rashmi, Joint Secreary, Ministry of Envirnment and Forests govt of India and other speakers  ere Ms Etsuko EBII, Vice Governor, FuKuko Preffecture, Japan, Mr Ki Soo Song, Manager, Environment Portection Division, Suncheon city, Republic of Korea, Mr David Cadman, Deputy Mayor, Vancouver, Canada and President ICLEI and Mr. Matthew  Naud, Environmental Coordinator, Ann Arbor, MI USA.   The session stated that all the cities are doing a lot towards climate change mitigation and adaption in implementing the development projects. It was stressed that cities gained prominence in recent international negotiations as major population lives in cities due to better living conditions, higher income, better health and educational facilities etc. 
It was emphasized that the slogan - Yes We Can on a positive note and emphasized the need for drawing up  mitigation and adaptation policy globally  and pointed out that there should not be any gap between the commitment periods for the green houses gases reduction.  The need for international and global financing mechanism directly to the local government was also stressed.
The steps to control the cities from water pollution and industrial waste could reduce their GHG emission by adopting energy efficient measures and by setting up of goals for different sectors and involvement of citizens.
1.      That cities need to create a specific frame work upon which mitigation and adaption actions could be carried out.
2.      No specific effort be needed since most the activity could be part of the normal development activity of the city.
3.      Cities need to concentrate more on energy efficiency, water conservation and harnessing renewable energy.
4.      Legal and institutional framework wherever required shall be put in place for appropriate policy.
5.      Short, medium and long term assessment and appropriate mitigation and adaptation planning to be done.

In the concluding remark, the Hon”ble Chief Minister, Delhi desired that an Environmental Auditing to be done for individual Delhi Govt. Departments so as to make them aware to the fact that GHG emission contributions by them and to bring about a competition among themselves to reduce their carbon footprints.  In order to encourage the spirit of GHG reduction, awards to be instituted at all sectors namely schools, colleges, RWAs etc.  Finally, a magazine need to be brought out  so as to share all the ICLEI member cities regarding the GHG reduction initiatives taken by different cities and to keep and to take forward all the efforts.

This international conference on cities and climate change organized by Deptt of Environment, Govt. of Delhi, in association with ICELI, South Asia and Centre for Occupational, Environment and Health (COEH) is a first step towards mainstreaming climate change in to cities activities.  It has also shown the path to begin with that cities can take to combat the issues of climate and dovetail their policies and initiatives in the direction so as to strive towards carbon neutral cities.

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