Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
Recently, an event titled Scaling Urban Climate Resilience: The CapaCITIES Legacy and Way Forward was held in New Delhi.
CapaCITIES (Capacity Building Project on Low Carbon and Climate Resilient City Development)
- It is a bilateral climate initiative designed to help urban local bodies integrate low-carbon and climate-resilient strategies into their governance.
- Launched in – 2016
- Funded by – Embassy of Switzerland to India and Bhutan
- Objective – Strengthen local capabilities to align urban climate action with India’s 2070 Net‑Zero target.
- Implemented by – A collaborative partnership involving International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) South Asia, South Pole and econcept, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
Programme Highlights
- Mainstreaming Climate Action – Integrating climate considerations directly into urban planning systems.
- Mobilizing Capital – Utilizing innovative financing models to fund modern, sustainable infrastructure.
Launch of 3 CapaCITIES Knowledge Products
- Net‑Zero Climate Resilient Cities Methodology Toolkit – It guides cities step‑by‑step to create and implement Climate Resilient Net‑Zero Action Plans (CRCAPs).
- Energy Transition Guidebook for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) – Practical guide for city officials to speed up adoption of clean energy, efficiency, and low‑carbon technologies in operations.
- White Paper on Financing Low‑Carbon Urban Pathways – Focuses on mobilizing innovative capital and unlocking investments to modernize urban infrastructure and fund city‑led climate projects.
Impact Over the Decade
- Net‑Zero Planning – Developed Climate Resilient City Action Plans (CRCAPs) in 8 cities across 4 states.
- Institutional Governance – Permanent Net‑Zero and Climate Action Cells established in 6 project cities.
- On‑Ground Solutions –solar e‑bus charging station, 154 kWp floating solar plant, Green Mobility Zone with 100 subsidized e‑autos, lake restoration, early flood warning system, Miyawaki urban forestry in Vadodara.
- Regional Scale‑Up – Extended frameworks to Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia.
Reference
PIB | CAPAcities
