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ICLEI South Asia at COP29: Towards a Climate-Resilient Future
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At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and Executive Director of ICLEI South Asia, led sessions on how cities can enhance climate resilience. On 12 November, he spoke at the Multilevel Action and Urbanization Pavilion, encouraging global conversations to include urban regions. He also led a discussion about Malaysia's Green City Action Plans. Throughout the occasion, Kumar stressed teamwork and the importance of financing to support sustainable municipal efforts. A notable effect of the event was developed countries' commitment to provide $300 billion per year by 2035 to fund climate action in developing countries.
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ICLEI South Asia Leads Conversations on Urban Resilience at World Urban Forum 12
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ICLEI South Asia led crucial discussions on urban resilience at the 12th World Urban Forum from 5-7 November 2024. On 5 November, we co-hosted a session titled "Building Resilient Cities: Bridging the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Gap" with major worldwide partners to emphasize cities' transformative role in addressing climate change. Experts discussed optimal methods for linking local actions with national and global climate goals. On 6 November, ICLEI's Deputy Secretary General, Emani Kumar, took part in a podcast at the Faith Pavilion, emphasizing the role of faith actors in climate resilience. On 7 November, ICLEI co-hosted a workshop at the India Pavilion about climate-smart development and locally led adaptation for urban resilience.
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Kakinada, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam Lead the Charge Towards Net Zero
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On 20 November 2024, city officials gathered in Visakhapatnam for a workshop on equipping city officials with the tools and knowledge for developing and implementing city-level climate-resilient plans. The session focused on climate adaptation and exchanged best practices from other cities. ICLEI and C40 will continue to help these cities with technical assessment studies to attain their visionary goal of net-zero targets by 2047, and for reporting their progress on global platforms. These plans will focus on climate risk assessments, emissions inventories, and emission reduction strategies.
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IUEPM Workshop Strengthens ASEAN’s Path Towards Sustainable Urban-Energy Planning
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The IUEPM Workshop, conducted in Jakarta on 20-21 November 2024, brought together professionals to discuss integrating energy into urban planning. The ACE-organized event, which was supported by USAID SPP, focused on smart cities, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
ICLEI South Asia spoke about urban-energy planning tools and incorporating solar energy into cities. The event also covered the USAID SPP's Competitive Procurement Center (CPC), which promotes sustainable energy in ASEAN. The seminar culminated with a tour to Jakarta Smart City, which demonstrated real-time data management for urban planning.
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Asia LEDS Partnership Forum 2024: Report Now Available!
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The Asia LEDS Partnership (ALP) has issued the report from the Asia LEDS Partnership Forum 2024, which was held in Bangkok from 20-22 August 2024. The forum, which attracted over 160 participants from 32 nations, focused on "Decarbonization in the Asia Pacific through 2025 NDCs." Key conclusions include the need for improved inter-ministerial cooperation, local context consideration, and NDC alignment with LT-LEDS. The paper also underlines the necessity of technology transfer and regional cooperation in meeting climate targets.
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Narayanganj City Takes Major Step Towards Climate Resilience with Development of First Heat Action Plan in Bangladesh
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Narayanganj City has initiated work on Bangladesh's first Heat Action Plan (HAP) with the help of ICLEI South Asia. The initiative focuses on heat stress, a major climate concern listed in the city's 2021 Climate Resilient City Action initiative (CRCAP). Work on the HAP began in November 2024 and intends to protect disadvantaged groups while also improving the city's resilience to excessive heat. ICLEI South Asia is conducting a baseline evaluation to help shape the plan's development. This program will improve public health and help Narayanganj achieve its climate adaptation goals, serving as a model for other cities in Bangladesh.
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Stakeholder Consultation Workshop Advances Climate-Induced Disaster Risk Reduction Planning in Lalmonirhat Municipality
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As part of the CDKN Phase 3 project, a workshop on Climate-Induced Disaster Risk Reduction was conducted in Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat Municipality on 13 November 2024. In order to evaluate the city's climate risks and vulnerabilities, 21 stakeholders—including community leaders and municipal officials—came together for the event. Waterlogging, environmental damage, and an increase in thunderstorms were the main topics of debate. The workshop's insights can help shape a comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan, enhancing Lalmonirhat’s resilience to climate-related disasters.
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CDKN Asia presents a session on Gender and Social Inclusion at a Workshop on Building Climate Resilient Cities in Visakhapatnam, India
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At the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation workshop in Visakhapatnam on 20 November 2024, CDKN gave a presentation on "Mainstreaming Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Climate Action." In order to guarantee that the benefits of climate action reach all vulnerable groups, Anuradha Adhikari, CDKN Asia's Country Engagement Lead for India, underlined the significance of incorporating gender issues. She emphasized the importance of traditional knowledge and the inclusion of underrepresented groups in climate planning as agents of change. Sixty people attended the seminar, which covered the necessity of inclusive solutions and the significance of keeping an eye on the effects on vulnerable groups.
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Workshop in Manali Promotes EV Charging Infrastructure to Promote E-Mobility and Sustainable Tourism
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Supported by ICLEI South Asia and local authorities, a workshop in Manali on 12 November 2024, concentrated on creating EV charging infrastructure in hotels to encourage environmentally conscious travel. The Himachal Pradesh EV Policy and governmental programs to promote sustainable energy were the focus of the discussion. In addition to discussing cooperation strategies and financial obstacles, experts talked about the economic and environmental advantages of EV infrastructure for tourism. Hotel owner and Vice-President of Manali Hoteliers Association, Roshan Thakur praised the initiative, acknowledging its potential to establish Manali as a sustainable vacation destination. Participants underlined how crucial stakeholder collaboration is to the effective deployment of e-mobility solutions.
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National Conference on Urban Biodiversity: Fostering Sustainable Cities Through Collaboration And Conservation
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ICLEI South Asia, in partnership with the National Biodiversity Authority, held a two-day national conference on urban biodiversity in Hyderabad on 29-30 November 2024. Over 200 delegates, including mayors, legislators, and urban experts from 35 cities, debated critical methods for biodiversity conservation in urban areas. The event featured notable speakers, including Smt. Vijayalaxmi Gadwal, Hon'ble Mayor of Hyderabad, who emphasized the city's global renown for biodiversity efforts. Through technical seminars and site visits, the conference stressed the importance of local government partnership in creating environmentally sustainable communities.
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Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF24): Advancing Malaysia's Green City Action Plans
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The Green Cities Investment Forum (GCIF24), held in Kuala Lumpur on 26–27 November 2024, focused on important investment prospects for Green City Action Plans (GCAPs) in Penang Island, Langkawi, Kota Bharu, and Kuching (Padawan) of Malaysia. The forum, co-hosted by ADB and the Centre for IMT-GT, drew 363 participants from government, financial institutions, and the business sector. GCIF24, which focused on climate action, encouraged collaboration, reviewed green investment strategies, and delved into issues such as the blue economy and ESG funding. The summit closed with a vow to advance GCAP projects, paving the way for a larger Green City Investment Summit in 2025.
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Amazon and ICLEI South Asia Join Forces to Launch Urban Food Gardens, Boost School Nutrition and Foster Biodiversity in Indian Megacities
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Amazon and ICLEI South Asia—launched a ground-breaking urban food garden project in India on 14 November 2024. Over the next three years, the project intends to establish 75 urban food gardens in Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, providing 15 million wholesome meals to students attending municipal schools. The program, which is funded by Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund, encourages biodiversity, local food production, and practical learning opportunities in rainwater recycling and composting. This project would aim to tackle food insecurity, help pollinators, and enable communities to create healthier, greener futures for India's kids by promoting a sustainable future.
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Addressing Water Scarcity in the Darjeeling Himalayas: A Community-Led Approach
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Water supply is a crucial concern in many remote hamlets in the Darjeeling Himalayas, where water sources rely heavily on spring-fed systems that are sensitive to irregular rainfall patterns exacerbated by climate change. ICLEI South Asia is tackling these issues through its Community-Led Climate Resilient Water Security initiative in the Kurseong and Jorebunglow-Sukiapokhari blocks. The initiative, which focuses on four tea plantations, intends to increase water security by combining traditional knowledge with scientific assessments, implementing localized water management systems, and encouraging climate-resistant infrastructure.
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जलवायु परिवर्तन और छोटे बच्चों पर प्रभाव
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जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण शहरी क्षेत्रों में मौसम में असामान्य बदलाव आ रहे हैं, जैसे अत्यधिक गर्मी, अचानक बारिश और बाढ़। ये बदलाव खासकर गरीब और कमजोर वर्गों, विशेष रूप से छोटे बच्चों और गर्भवती महिलाओं पर गंभीर प्रभाव डाल रहे हैं। इन वर्गों को जलजनित बीमारियाँ, गर्मी से संबंधित समस्याएँ और कुपोषण का सामना करना पड़ता है, जो उनके स्वास्थ्य को गंभीर रूप से प्रभावित करते हैं।
इसके अतिरिक्त, बाढ़ और चरम मौसम के दौरान बच्चों की शिक्षा और विकास पर भी नकारात्मक असर पड़ता है। आंगनवाड़ी केंद्रों और अन्य संस्थाओं की बंदी से बच्चों को महत्वपूर्ण सीखने और सामाजिक अवसरों से वंचित होना पड़ता है, जिससे उनके समग्र विकास में देरी हो सकती है।
इस स्थिति में, शहरों में जलवायु लचीलापन बढ़ाने के लिए तत्काल नीतिगत हस्तक्षेप की आवश्यकता है, ताकि बच्चों और गर्भवती महिलाओं को बेहतर स्वास्थ्य सेवाएँ, शिक्षा और सुरक्षा मिल सके।
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