New Delhi- For the first time in South and Southeast Asia, seven Net-zero Climate Resilient City Action Plans (CRCAP) for Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Tiruneveli, Udaipur, and Siliguri were unveiled at the National Workshop on Multi-Level Action for Climate Resilient Cities.

This initiative aligns with India’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, as pledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 in Glasgow.

Ahmedabad had previously released its Net-zero CRCAP in July 2023 during the U20 Mayoral Summit, setting a precedent for other cities. Supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the CapaCITIES project has empowered these cities to develop low-carbon strategies and implement bankable projects.

The workshop, attended by over 150 participants, including government officials and international experts, emphasized various climate interventions, such as urban flood warning systems in Tirunelveli and solar charging stations in Ahmedabad. Key highlights from the plans include:

• An estimated climate finance requirement exceeding USD 85 billion by 2070 for diverse projects.

• Potential city emissions reductions of up to 91% compared to business-as-usual scenarios.

• Creation of approximately 800,000 green jobs through these initiatives.

Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change impacts, while Rahul Kapoor highlighted the need for resilience in urban planning. Philippe Sas from SDC noted the importance of sustainable practices, and Dr. Debolina Kundu stressed strategic integration across urban areas. Emani Kumar of ICLEI South Asia recognized India’s leadership in launching these plans as a significant step towards climate-resilient urban development.