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India has the most toxic air: Study
28.01.2012, The Hindu
In a study by Yale and Columbia Universities, India holds the very last rank among 132 nations in terms of air quality with regard to its effect on human health.
India scored a miniscule 3.73 out of a possible 100 points in the analysis, lagging far behind the next worst performer, Bangladesh, which scored 13.66. In fact, the entire South Asian region fares badly, with Nepal, Pakistan and China taking up the remaining spots in the bottom five of the rankings.
These rankings are part of a wider study to index the nations of the world in terms of their overall environmental performance. The Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia's Center for International Earth Science Information Network have brought out the Environment Performance Index rankings every two years since 2006.
In the overall rankings — which takes 22 policy indicators into account — India fared minimally better, but still stuck in the last ten ranks along with environmental laggards such as Iraq, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. At the other end of the scale, the European nations of Switzerland, Latvia and Norway captured the top slots in the index. More>>
Coimbatore begins efforts to tap solar energy
V.S. Palaniappan
18.01.2012, The Hindu
The Coimbatore Corporation is moving towards the status of a “solar city”, which is aimed at reducing the conventional energy consumption by a minimum of 10 per cent at the end of five years, through a combination of enhancing supply from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures. The initiative will get funding from the Centre.
The project planning and implementation is being closely monitored by Mayor S.M. Velusamy and Corporation Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy. A total of 60 cities and towns are selected for “Solar City” initiative and Coimbatore is the only city from Tamil Nadu. Cities with up to 50 lakh population are chosen for this project. Relaxation on the population criterion has been done for the thinly populated North Eastern and hill States.
A master plan for Solar City initiative is in the final stages. It has as the baseline the energy consumption during 2008 and forecasts the energy demand in 2013 and 2018. The plan will have sector-wise action plan for implementation of renewable energy projects so as to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Areas of energy consumption, avenues for efficiency, tapping renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, small hydro and power from waste will be the top agenda of the solar city programme, says C. Sellakrishnan, Project coordinator for Solar City. More>>
REEEP-supported RE project launched in Coimbatore
28.12.2011
ICLEI South Asia and the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, with the support of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) launched the project ‘Local Renewables: South-South cooperation between cities in India, Indonesia and South Africa’, at a workshop organized in Coimbatore on 12th December, 2011. Project cities, ICLEI and REEEP representatives, Indian solar cities and local stakeholders from Coimbatore participated in the workshop. More>>
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New web-based HEAT+ Tool launched!
15.12.2011
For the first time ever, cities using HEAT+ tool (Harmonized Emissions Analysis Tool) can compare “apples to apples” and benchmark emissions levels against local, state, national, provincial, and international standards. HEAT+ was launched at the Rio Conventions Pavilion at the UNFCCC Cop 17 in Durban, South Africa. HEAT+ is the only web-based product of its kind, offering secure data storage, a global data bank, comprehensive technical support, and accessibility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A variety of software packages are available. More>>
Get Access to Portal: heat.iclei.org
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Local governments adopt 'Durban Adaptation Charter'
08.12.2011
The Durban Local Government Convention: adapting to a changing climate – towards COP17/ CMP7 and beyond, brought together 114 mayors and other elected local leaders representing over 950 local governments from around the world in the signing of the Durban Adaptation Charter, a political commitment to strengthen local resilience to climate change.
The Convention was organised by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, on behalf of the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), South African Cities Network (SACN) and eThekwini Municipality. Among those who attended the convention and signed the Charter were the mayor of Delhi, Prof. Rajni Abbi, the Mayor of Coimbatore, Velusamy Sengathurai, and the Mayor of Thimphu, Bhutan, Kinlay Dorjee. More>>
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Cities training programme on Climate Change and Adaptation
01.12.2011
ICLEI South Asia, with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) conducted a series of 3 Regional Training Workshops in three cities – Bhubaneswar, New Delhi and Mysore on ‘Climate Change and Adaptation for Indian Cities’. It was attended by representatives from over 30 cities from 15 states in the country. Apart from local governments, academicians, local NGOs, students, state government and parastatal organizations also part of the training workshops. The main aim of these workshops is to build the capacities of local governments and key stakeholders to assess climate change threats and opportunities. More>>
28.01.2012, The Hindu
In a study by Yale and Columbia Universities, India holds the very last rank among 132 nations in terms of air quality with regard to its effect on human health. India scored a miniscule 3.73 out of a possible 100 points in the analysis, lagging far behind the next worst performer, Bangladesh, which scored 13.66. In fact, the entire South Asian region fares badly, with Nepal, Pakistan and China taking up the remaining spots in the bottom five of the rankings.
These rankings are part of a wider study to index the nations of the world in terms of their overall environmental performance. The Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia's Center for International Earth Science Information Network have brought out the Environment Performance Index rankings every two years since 2006.
In the overall rankings — which takes 22 policy indicators into account — India fared minimally better, but still stuck in the last ten ranks along with environmental laggards such as Iraq, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. At the other end of the scale, the European nations of Switzerland, Latvia and Norway captured the top slots in the index. More>>
Coimbatore begins efforts to tap solar energy
V.S. Palaniappan
18.01.2012, The Hindu
The Coimbatore Corporation is moving towards the status of a “solar city”, which is aimed at reducing the conventional energy consumption by a minimum of 10 per cent at the end of five years, through a combination of enhancing supply from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures. The initiative will get funding from the Centre.The project planning and implementation is being closely monitored by Mayor S.M. Velusamy and Corporation Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy. A total of 60 cities and towns are selected for “Solar City” initiative and Coimbatore is the only city from Tamil Nadu. Cities with up to 50 lakh population are chosen for this project. Relaxation on the population criterion has been done for the thinly populated North Eastern and hill States.
A master plan for Solar City initiative is in the final stages. It has as the baseline the energy consumption during 2008 and forecasts the energy demand in 2013 and 2018. The plan will have sector-wise action plan for implementation of renewable energy projects so as to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Areas of energy consumption, avenues for efficiency, tapping renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, small hydro and power from waste will be the top agenda of the solar city programme, says C. Sellakrishnan, Project coordinator for Solar City. More>>
REEEP-supported RE project launched in Coimbatore
28.12.2011
ICLEI South Asia and the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, with the support of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) launched the project ‘Local Renewables: South-South cooperation between cities in India, Indonesia and South Africa’, at a workshop organized in Coimbatore on 12th December, 2011. Project cities, ICLEI and REEEP representatives, Indian solar cities and local stakeholders from Coimbatore participated in the workshop. More>>__________
New web-based HEAT+ Tool launched!
15.12.2011
For the first time ever, cities using HEAT+ tool (Harmonized Emissions Analysis Tool) can compare “apples to apples” and benchmark emissions levels against local, state, national, provincial, and international standards. HEAT+ was launched at the Rio Conventions Pavilion at the UNFCCC Cop 17 in Durban, South Africa. HEAT+ is the only web-based product of its kind, offering secure data storage, a global data bank, comprehensive technical support, and accessibility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A variety of software packages are available. More>>Get Access to Portal: heat.iclei.org
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Local governments adopt 'Durban Adaptation Charter'
08.12.2011
The Durban Local Government Convention: adapting to a changing climate – towards COP17/ CMP7 and beyond, brought together 114 mayors and other elected local leaders representing over 950 local governments from around the world in the signing of the Durban Adaptation Charter, a political commitment to strengthen local resilience to climate change. The Convention was organised by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, on behalf of the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), South African Cities Network (SACN) and eThekwini Municipality. Among those who attended the convention and signed the Charter were the mayor of Delhi, Prof. Rajni Abbi, the Mayor of Coimbatore, Velusamy Sengathurai, and the Mayor of Thimphu, Bhutan, Kinlay Dorjee. More>>
__________
Cities training programme on Climate Change and Adaptation
01.12.2011
ICLEI South Asia, with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) conducted a series of 3 Regional Training Workshops in three cities – Bhubaneswar, New Delhi and Mysore on ‘Climate Change and Adaptation for Indian Cities’. It was attended by representatives from over 30 cities from 15 states in the country. Apart from local governments, academicians, local NGOs, students, state government and parastatal organizations also part of the training workshops. The main aim of these workshops is to build the capacities of local governments and key stakeholders to assess climate change threats and opportunities. More>>Fellowships for climate change researchers in South Asia
Making an impact: Fellowships and writing workshops for South Asia’s climate change researchers
17.01.12
Applications are now open for a new programme to support South Asian scientists and social scientists who are working on climate change.Through fellowships and writing workshops during 2012, Support to Improve Climate Research and Information Services in South Asia (SICRISA) will train and support researchers to:
- Publish in peer reviewed journals
- Write for different types of publication aimed at a range of audiences
- Increase their influence on policy
- Raise the profile of their research through the media.
Applications are open to researchers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The deadline for applications is 21 February 2012 (5 p.m. IST). More >>
Solar Cities Programme
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India has launched a nationwide programme on the 'Development of Solar Cities' with the objective to support Urban Local Bodies in preparing a Road Map to guide their cities towards becoming “Renewable Energy Cities” or “Solar Cities”. Out of the targeted 60 cities, about 50 new small townships/campuses duly notified/permitted by the concerned Authorities are being developed for preparation of Master Plan/DPR. ICLEI South Asia is currently contracted by 11 cities - Agra, Nagpur, Kalyan-Dombivli, Imphal, Kohima, Thane, Gurgaon, Rajkot, Aizawl, Coimbatore and Chamoli Gopeshwar. More>>
Go here to learn more about the cities ICLEI South Asia is working with in this programme.
Good Practices: ICLEI South Asia invites information on initiatives from cities for improving urban environment
Latest: Delhi city launches green cover drive Member city Delhi has launched 'a million tree plantation' drive to increase the green cover in the city. Municipal Corporation of Delhi, along with Delhi Metro, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority, and non-governmental organizations will be involved in this one-and-half-month campaign. Free saplings would be distributed across Delhi during the period.Good Practices: ICLEI South Asia has begun an initiative to document good practices on sustainable management of urban environment by cities. While several local governments are taking steps towards promoting environment friendliness in their activities, there is a dearth of proper documentation regarding them. In this context, ICLEI South Asia invites information on good practices - case examples from interested cities. Policy initiatives or actions implemented that contribute to improving the urban environment ie. air, water, or living conditions in some way. We appreciate that some cities are doing a lot in their own ways to improve the environment and seek your inputs to document and share these initiatives with others.
Some of the selected good practices will be available for reference on the ICLEI South Asia website and also on the India Urban Portal of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). The "Peer Experience and Reflective Learning" (PEARL) is an initiative under JNNURM to support cities to actively pursue activities in implementation of projects and reforms by networking amongst themselves for cross learning and sharing experiences. The Indiaurbanportal is hosted by the NIUA under the same initiative.
Upload good practices: Cities may upload their practices in this "Format" . You may get in touch with Ashish Rao Ghorpade at ashish.rao-ghorpade@iclei.org in case there is a good practice you like to share but need support to document the same.
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Energy and Carbon Emissions Profiles of 54 South Asian Cities: The report contains a snapshot of the energy consumption and GHG emissions of the 54 cities in South Asia.To know more or to access the report, please contact Ravi Ranjan at 
