Urbanization and climate change are two of the most pressing global challenges faced today. They demand immediate attention and strategic interventions. The partnering of the World Economic Forum and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in India is one such forward-thinking intervention. In recent weeks, they have come together to collaborate on a ‘Sustainable Cities India program’. This initiative is designed to systematically decrease carbon emissions in cities, delivering resilient and equitable urban ecosystems.
Sustainable Cities India Program: Objective and Approach
The ‘Sustainable Cities India’ program is aimed at enabling cities to adopt sustainable practices that can reduce their carbon footprints. More specifically, the program aims to generate decarbonization solutions across the energy, transport, and built environment sectors.
The program will be implemented using the World Economic Forum’s City Sprint process and Toolbox of Solutions. These tools will be adapted to fit the context of five to seven Indian cities over a two-year period.
The City Sprint process is essentially a series of workshops involving representatives from various sectors. These include businesses, government entities, and civil society leaders. The goal of this process is to enable decarbonization through clean electrification and circularity.
The Toolbox of Solutions is a digital platform containing over 200 examples of best practices and case studies in the area of clean electrification and smart infrastructure. It includes strategies from more than 110 cities around the world.
The Critical Need for Decarbonisation
The need for decarbonization is urgent. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2022, densely populated agrarian countries like India are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Decarbonization can keep global warming below the critical 2°C increase and cities in India can make a significant contribution towards this objective.
The Net Zero Carbon Cities mission of the World Economic Forum seeks to foster a conducive environment for clean electrification and circularity. This leads to urban decarbonization and resilience.
What is the NIUA?
The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), established in 1976, is India’s premier think tank on urban planning and development. It focuses on generating innovative solutions to tackle the challenges of urbanization in India and promote inclusive, sustainable cities for the future.
Government of India’s Urban Development Initiatives
The Government of India has initiated several programs to foster urban development. The Smart Cities Mission and Atal Mission for Urban Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) are two of these key initiatives. Other notable projects include the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs), Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2.0, and TULIP-The Urban Learning Internship Program.
The collaboration between the World Economic Forum and the NIUA is a significant step towards sustainable urban development in India. The Sustainable Cities India program is poised to make a substantial contribution towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting resilience in Indian cities.
