ICLEI South Asia News Letter 2006
ICLEI South Asia has released its 2006 Yearly Project review. This issue highlights some of the major initiative and achievements of ICLEI South Asia in 2006.
" South Asia News Letter- 2006"
" South Asia News Letter- 2006"
The ICLEI World Congress 2006
The ICLEI World Congress 2006 was recently held in Cape Town, South Africa from 27 February to 3 March 2006. For news and outcomes from the World Congress, please visit ICLEI Global Web Site
ICLEI Asian Membership Environmental Forum (18-20 September 2006. Suwon, Korea)
ICLEI Member Suwon City (Korea) recently hosted the ICLEI Environmental Forum last September 18-20 and has been well-attended by Members in Asia. The sessions and technical field visits focused on green purchasing, integrated water resources management and policies for climate change prevention.
Representatives from Matle (Sri Lanka) and Bhubaneswar (India) South Asian member cities participated in the Forum.
Ms Aparajita Sarangi, Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation presented Bhubaneswar city experience under ICLEI’s Cities for Climate protection Campaign. She presented a small initiative of Building Energy Efficiency during the Climate Change session. Ms Sarangi stressed on the success of such cost effective options and informed Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is planning to take up large scale Energy Efficiency activities in all public buildings. Ms Sarangi also informed about the new initiative on Local Renewables Model Communities Network. This project is funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and GTZ, focus on improving use of renewables energy and energy efficiency at local level and
Mr. Rifai Mohamed Zafarullah, Counciller Matle, presented the Tsunami reconstruction activities taken up by city of Matle. He expressed his sincere thanks to Jeju Province (Korea) for providing financial support through ICLEI South Asia Secretariat for Tsunami activities.
During the forum participants visited environmental initiatives taken up by City of Suwon. They visited state of the art Sewage Treatment Facility which is also used for Sports activities. Participants were also exposed to Korean Culture through Cultural evening and martial art show at Hysoweng Fortress (World Heritage Site) at Suwon.
This forum has been successful in initiating first ICLEI Asian members meeting which all participants agreed to continue on regular basis. On the final day a declaration was issued on behalf of all Asian member cities asking for more mutual cooperation and Local Actions.
Representatives from Matle (Sri Lanka) and Bhubaneswar (India) South Asian member cities participated in the Forum.
Ms Aparajita Sarangi, Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation presented Bhubaneswar city experience under ICLEI’s Cities for Climate protection Campaign. She presented a small initiative of Building Energy Efficiency during the Climate Change session. Ms Sarangi stressed on the success of such cost effective options and informed Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is planning to take up large scale Energy Efficiency activities in all public buildings. Ms Sarangi also informed about the new initiative on Local Renewables Model Communities Network. This project is funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and GTZ, focus on improving use of renewables energy and energy efficiency at local level and
Mr. Rifai Mohamed Zafarullah, Counciller Matle, presented the Tsunami reconstruction activities taken up by city of Matle. He expressed his sincere thanks to Jeju Province (Korea) for providing financial support through ICLEI South Asia Secretariat for Tsunami activities.
During the forum participants visited environmental initiatives taken up by City of Suwon. They visited state of the art Sewage Treatment Facility which is also used for Sports activities. Participants were also exposed to Korean Culture through Cultural evening and martial art show at Hysoweng Fortress (World Heritage Site) at Suwon.
This forum has been successful in initiating first ICLEI Asian members meeting which all participants agreed to continue on regular basis. On the final day a declaration was issued on behalf of all Asian member cities asking for more mutual cooperation and Local Actions.
ICLEI hosts side event at Global Environmental Facility General Assembly
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability was invited to organize a side event on ecoBUDGET’s contribution to implement the UN Millenium Development Goals at the 3rd General Assembly of the UN Global Environmental Facility (GEF), which took place 28 – 30 August 2006 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Assembly is the governing body of the GEF. Ministers and high-level government delegations of all GEF member countries as well as prominent environmentalists, parliamentarians, business leaders, scientists, and NGO leaders take part to discuss global environmental challenges within the context of sustainable development and the UN Millenium Development Goals.
Developed by ICLEI together with a number of local authorities, ecoBUDGET is an innovative management system for environmental resources, which includes planning, accounting, managing and reporting activities across all natural resources. Facilitated by Prof. Johan Nel, Executive Manager of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM), North-West University Potchefstroom, South Africa, the side event was to present the results of 15 ecoBUDGET pilot applications by local authorities in Europe and Asia and its wide applicability by local authorities in different natural, cultural and socio-political settings.
The presentation of the City of Bologna’s experiences held by Engineer Paolo Natali, President of the City Council Committee “Territory and Environment”, demonstrated that local authorities have used this comprehensive system to improve both local and global environmental conditions. Mr Natali elaborated on the process of implementing an ecoBUDGET and informed that the City of Bologna is already in the process of their second cycle.
Ms Joy Bailey, ecoBUDGET Advisor to the Philippine City of Tubigon, and Mr Anurag Mishra, ecoBUDGET Advisor to the Indian Guntur Municipal Corporation, focused on the contribution ecoBUDGET can make to localising the implementation of MEAs and MDGs in particular in developing countries. Ms Bailey explained the importance of ecoBUDGET in addressing the issue of poverty alleviation at the Municipality of Tubigon. Mr. Mishra presented adoptability within Indian local conditions.
For more information, please visit www.ecobudget.com
The Assembly is the governing body of the GEF. Ministers and high-level government delegations of all GEF member countries as well as prominent environmentalists, parliamentarians, business leaders, scientists, and NGO leaders take part to discuss global environmental challenges within the context of sustainable development and the UN Millenium Development Goals.
Developed by ICLEI together with a number of local authorities, ecoBUDGET is an innovative management system for environmental resources, which includes planning, accounting, managing and reporting activities across all natural resources. Facilitated by Prof. Johan Nel, Executive Manager of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM), North-West University Potchefstroom, South Africa, the side event was to present the results of 15 ecoBUDGET pilot applications by local authorities in Europe and Asia and its wide applicability by local authorities in different natural, cultural and socio-political settings.
The presentation of the City of Bologna’s experiences held by Engineer Paolo Natali, President of the City Council Committee “Territory and Environment”, demonstrated that local authorities have used this comprehensive system to improve both local and global environmental conditions. Mr Natali elaborated on the process of implementing an ecoBUDGET and informed that the City of Bologna is already in the process of their second cycle.
Ms Joy Bailey, ecoBUDGET Advisor to the Philippine City of Tubigon, and Mr Anurag Mishra, ecoBUDGET Advisor to the Indian Guntur Municipal Corporation, focused on the contribution ecoBUDGET can make to localising the implementation of MEAs and MDGs in particular in developing countries. Ms Bailey explained the importance of ecoBUDGET in addressing the issue of poverty alleviation at the Municipality of Tubigon. Mr. Mishra presented adoptability within Indian local conditions.
For more information, please visit www.ecobudget.com
National Renewable Energy Day in Nagpur – 20 August 2006
Various events are held annually since 2004 to observe the National “Akshay Urja Diwas” (Renewable Energy Day), which coincides with the birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi. This is the first time that the event was held outside New Delhi. Various activities are organized in Nagpur being host to National event for 2006.
The Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy National half marathon and the ''Run for Fun'' was held on August 20. The half-marathon for men and women would be run over 21 kilometres, with the distance of 10 km for the under-18 and 5 km for the under-14. About 20,000 citizens participated in the marathon flagged off by Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh at the historic Kasturchand Park ground here at 0730 hrs on Sunday. Run for Fun open for all, including senior citizens was run over three kilometers. Later, Mr Deshmukh gave away the prizes for the half marathon and the Run for Fun.
Union Minister Oscar Fernandes along with , Mr Vilas Muttemwar Union Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy inaugurated a three-day exhibition of new and renewable energy systems such as solar lights, solar cookers, windmills and bio-mass gasifiers at the venue.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation being host to the event made all the arrangement for Marathon, exhibition etc. Nagpur Municipal Corporation also organized a painting competition in its schools and best paintings were awarded prizes. The selected paintings are also displayed in the exhibition. Nagpur Municipal Corporation being partner to Local Renewables Project also displayed the project posters and Flyers at the exhibition. It provided a good opportunity to create awareness about project to its citizens. About 50,000 people visited the exhibition during 20-22 Aug.
The Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy National half marathon and the ''Run for Fun'' was held on August 20. The half-marathon for men and women would be run over 21 kilometres, with the distance of 10 km for the under-18 and 5 km for the under-14. About 20,000 citizens participated in the marathon flagged off by Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh at the historic Kasturchand Park ground here at 0730 hrs on Sunday. Run for Fun open for all, including senior citizens was run over three kilometers. Later, Mr Deshmukh gave away the prizes for the half marathon and the Run for Fun.
Union Minister Oscar Fernandes along with , Mr Vilas Muttemwar Union Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy inaugurated a three-day exhibition of new and renewable energy systems such as solar lights, solar cookers, windmills and bio-mass gasifiers at the venue.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation being host to the event made all the arrangement for Marathon, exhibition etc. Nagpur Municipal Corporation also organized a painting competition in its schools and best paintings were awarded prizes. The selected paintings are also displayed in the exhibition. Nagpur Municipal Corporation being partner to Local Renewables Project also displayed the project posters and Flyers at the exhibition. It provided a good opportunity to create awareness about project to its citizens. About 50,000 people visited the exhibition during 20-22 Aug.
Guntur becomes first South Asian city to ratify ecoBUDGET Master Budget!
Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC), one of the strongest supporters of ICLEI’s sustainability Management campaign, achieved another milestone on 4th March 2006 by ratifying ecoBUDGET Master budget. Guntur, an ICLEI member since 2002 is also implementing CCP campaign successfully for the last 4 years. GMC joined ecoBUDGET family as part of European Commissions’ Asia Urbs Project along with three more cities viz. Bologna from Italy, Växjö from Sweden and Bohol from Philippines.
For the last one year, GMC with the help of Bologna municipality (European partner chosen Guntur to help ecoBUDGET) and ICLEI working on its Master Budget. As part of ecoBUDGET GMC participated in the kick-off meeting in March 2005 in Bologna and established the local implementation team in March 2005. GMC organized the first field visit in June 20005 to learn the preparation of Master Budget. Though there was a change of leadership at GMC in October 2005, but the new Mayor, Deputy Mayor, the Commissioner and the entire GMC staff supported ecoBUDGET and participated in the second partners meeting in October 2005 at Bohol.
After year long consultations, GMC has finally chosen various targets for the following environmental resources/issues:
Water Quality: Monitoring of number of parameters and frequency of monitoring
Water Quantity: Monitoring of loss of water in the pipelines and supply of potable water including the 24X7
Health: Monitoring of waste collection (% of citizens served)
Green city: Surface of Green area (Sq. meter per 1000 inhabitants)
Air quality: Assignment of Hawkers ID and providing places to hawkers and monitoring of Suspended Particulate Mater.
GMC is going to implement the Master Budget in 2006 and review by next year.
For the last one year, GMC with the help of Bologna municipality (European partner chosen Guntur to help ecoBUDGET) and ICLEI working on its Master Budget. As part of ecoBUDGET GMC participated in the kick-off meeting in March 2005 in Bologna and established the local implementation team in March 2005. GMC organized the first field visit in June 20005 to learn the preparation of Master Budget. Though there was a change of leadership at GMC in October 2005, but the new Mayor, Deputy Mayor, the Commissioner and the entire GMC staff supported ecoBUDGET and participated in the second partners meeting in October 2005 at Bohol.
After year long consultations, GMC has finally chosen various targets for the following environmental resources/issues:
Water Quality: Monitoring of number of parameters and frequency of monitoring
Water Quantity: Monitoring of loss of water in the pipelines and supply of potable water including the 24X7
Health: Monitoring of waste collection (% of citizens served)
Green city: Surface of Green area (Sq. meter per 1000 inhabitants)
Air quality: Assignment of Hawkers ID and providing places to hawkers and monitoring of Suspended Particulate Mater.
GMC is going to implement the Master Budget in 2006 and review by next year.
Local Renewables Model Communities Network launched at ICLEI’s 2006 World Congress
- Cities recieving Awards at 1st LR Partners Meeting at Cape Town
Three Indian Cites: Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore and Nagpur selected for ICLEI’s International Local Renewables Model Communities Network.
The cities of Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore and Nagpur have been selected as model to participate in the new three-year initiative, the Local Renewables Model Communities Network. Supported by BMZ and the GTZ (Germany), and coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the project aims to motivate and enable these local governments in India to incorporate renewable energy services in their municipal development strategies and to initiate related activities.
Through the project, these three communities have committed to create local policies that will include the development and use of renewable energy in their growth strategies and policies. A long-term objective of this project is that these three model communities will then serve as examples and centres of excellence for other local governments around the world.
Along with Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore and Nagpur in India, the Network also includes Betim, Brazil, the European cities of Bonn (Germany), Freiburg (Germany), and Växjö (Sweden), and Cape Town (South Africa).
The project activities include:
The project impacts at the local level include:
The project impacts at the national and international level include the establishment of a benchmark for other local governments in the formulation and implementation of energy policies, and increased demand for renewable energy technologies.
The cities of Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore and Nagpur have been selected as model to participate in the new three-year initiative, the Local Renewables Model Communities Network. Supported by BMZ and the GTZ (Germany), and coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the project aims to motivate and enable these local governments in India to incorporate renewable energy services in their municipal development strategies and to initiate related activities.
Through the project, these three communities have committed to create local policies that will include the development and use of renewable energy in their growth strategies and policies. A long-term objective of this project is that these three model communities will then serve as examples and centres of excellence for other local governments around the world.
Along with Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore and Nagpur in India, the Network also includes Betim, Brazil, the European cities of Bonn (Germany), Freiburg (Germany), and Växjö (Sweden), and Cape Town (South Africa).
The project activities include:
- establishing capacity centres in the three Indian cities, creating stakeholders group, conduct awareness programs, building private partnerships etc to promote renewable and other energy efficiency technologies;
- developing local policies for energy efficiency and the promotion of renewable energy;
- linking the activities in India to the experiences of European cities as well as model communities in Brazil;
- expanding the activities to further Indian cities and building a international network of committed cities;
- international advocacy for local renewable energy sources and fundraising for model projects in further countries.
The project impacts at the local level include:
- improved access to lower cost energy services for the urban poor;
- reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants;
- a healthier, cheaper and more sustainable source of energy; and
- job creation.
The project impacts at the national and international level include the establishment of a benchmark for other local governments in the formulation and implementation of energy policies, and increased demand for renewable energy technologies.
Guntur, India, Participates in ecoBUDGET Asia
The ecoBUDGET Asia project was launched in a four-day workshop in Bologna, Italy, on March 9-12, 2005. During the workshop in Bologna, high-level delegates from Guntur and Bohol received initial training and guidance to appropriately introduce the system into their communities. European and Asian delegates had the opportunity to familiarize themselves and exchange information as well as meet politicians, senior managers, technicians and stakeholders of Bologna on different occasions. Lord-Mayor of the city of Bologna, Sergio Cofferati, took the opportunity to welcome the local government delegates and ICLEI staff in the official Sala Rossa of the Town Hall.
The goal of the project is to transfer the ecoBUDGET knowledge from two European cities that have already adopted ecoBUDGET to the two Asian local authorities and develop a model environmental management system for Asian cities. This project, funded by Europe Aid Asia Urbs programme, will last until 2007 and see the participation of four active ICLEI Members - the city of Bologna (Italy), the city of Växjo (Sweden), the Guntur Municipal Corporation (India) and the Province of Bohol (Philippines).
During the next three years Guntur, and the City of Tubigon (as test case for the province of Bohol) will prepare, implement, and evaluate a full cycle of ecoBUDGET with the goal of adopting it as their institutional management system. The partnership with Växjo and Bologna and assistance from ICLEI will help adapt the system to Asian conditions.
The goal of the project is to transfer the ecoBUDGET knowledge from two European cities that have already adopted ecoBUDGET to the two Asian local authorities and develop a model environmental management system for Asian cities. This project, funded by Europe Aid Asia Urbs programme, will last until 2007 and see the participation of four active ICLEI Members - the city of Bologna (Italy), the city of Växjo (Sweden), the Guntur Municipal Corporation (India) and the Province of Bohol (Philippines).
During the next three years Guntur, and the City of Tubigon (as test case for the province of Bohol) will prepare, implement, and evaluate a full cycle of ecoBUDGET with the goal of adopting it as their institutional management system. The partnership with Växjo and Bologna and assistance from ICLEI will help adapt the system to Asian conditions.
