To save flooded cities, recast urban planning
1 year, 5 months ago

To save flooded cities, recast urban planning

Hindustan Times  

Excessive rain and severe waterlogging in the Delhi national capital region over the weekend put the focus back on infrastructure failures in Indian metropolises. Urban planning has become the focus of persistent public lament in recent years; in unpacking the nature of planning, can we find the seeds of a new planning imagination to address the crises cities face? Furthermore, technocratic planning often relies on infrastructure fixes, as can be seen by the endless construction of concrete box drains, but sponge cities require a different approach that respects water flows and waterscapes in cities. Away from the imagination of urban elites who stridently criticise planning, city officials, resident welfare associations, frontline workers and private contractors perform the real work of urban governance and crisis management. India’s National Mission on Sustainable Habitat already articulates the need to mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in urban planning and policy frameworks.

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Addressing climate change can prevent mass migration to cities: Narayana Murthy
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Addressing climate change can prevent mass migration to cities: Narayana Murthy

New Indian Express  

BENGALURU: Infosys co-founder N Narayana Murthy recently warned that failure to address climate change could lead to “mass migration” to cities like Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad. Harish Bijoor, brand guru and founder of Harish Bijoor Consults Inclusive, said that addressing the impact of climate change requires a two-fold approach, with efforts ensuring that people can continue to live comfortably in …

Urban populace exploding, should Indian cities run like multinational corporations?
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Urban populace exploding, should Indian cities run like multinational corporations?

India Today  

How should our cities develop over the next five decades and beyond? Well-managed urbanisation is not a choice but imperative for the future of our country.” The high-level committee last month submitted its second report of recommendations for urban planning reforms, titled ‘Pathways to Amrit Kaal: Envisioning and realising a new future for Indian cities’. The options for enabling financing …

Under pressure: How climate change is impacting Indian cities
1 month ago

Under pressure: How climate change is impacting Indian cities

Live Mint  

New Delhi and the National Capital Region is beset by problems, with the unbearable amounts of atmospheric pollution being the most acute. Urban Heat: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru This places additional pressures on cities, especially since India is one of the fastest urbanizing countries in the world. Sea level rise and extreme storms: Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai Although our understanding of …

Kochi Water Metro featured in UN Habitat’s ‘World Cities Report’
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Kochi Water Metro featured in UN Habitat’s ‘World Cities Report’

New Indian Express  

KOCHI: Kochi Water Metro has added yet another laurel to its impressive list of achievements, as the country’s first water metro system is featured in UN Habitat’s ‘World Cities Report 2024: Cities and Climate Action’ for its role in “revitalising water transport and elevating it to include climate change considerations and principles of sustainable urban development.” The World Cities Report …

Reviving shallow aquifers: Part of the solution to India's urban water crisis
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Reviving shallow aquifers: Part of the solution to India's urban water crisis

Hindustan Times  

In India, groundwater plays a critical role in meeting urban water demands. The dug wells and step wells, still standing today, are reminders of a time when water scarcity was addressed by harnessing rainwater to recharge shallow aquifers. This initiative aimed to raise awareness among city officials and communities about the importance of shallow aquifers and demonstrate effective recharge structures …

‘International Cooperation is Required to Fight Heatwaves’: Climate Scientist Indu. K. Murthy
5 months, 2 weeks ago

‘International Cooperation is Required to Fight Heatwaves’: Climate Scientist Indu. K. Murthy

The Hindu  

Published : Jul 23, 2024 17:21 IST - 7 MINS READ State governments and the Centre were caught on the back foot as they scrambled to implement heat action plans this summer as parts of India reeled under heatwaves, which killed 58 people in New Delhi alone. Governments must support research and innovation in heat resilience technologies and strategies, given …

Service plan, not master plan to solve Bengaluru’s issues, say experts
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Service plan, not master plan to solve Bengaluru’s issues, say experts

New Indian Express  

BENGALURU: A five-element seminar on sustainable urban ecology - ‘Bengaluru 2050’ was conducted by Rotary International districts 3191 and 3192 in association with Sycom Global, a services marketplace and Indian Green Building Council, known for developing green buildings at the Indian Institute of Science on Sunday. During the discussion “The missing master plan,” experts highlighted urban planning and development challenges, …

Understanding and tackling urban floods in India
10 months ago

Understanding and tackling urban floods in India

Hindustan Times  

Given their frequent recurrence in Indian cities, the problem of urban flooding is gaining focus in policy discussions. Indeed, urban floods can cause massive loss of infrastructure, property, and lives, and have a substantial economic impact. To ensure they remain functional and secure, Indian cities must tackle the issue of floods by examining the urban over-densification problem and adopting innovative …

Water resource inadequacy is a challenge India must take head on
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Water resource inadequacy is a challenge India must take head on

Live Mint  

The notion of a ‘triple planetary’ crisis encompassing climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss has become outdated in the face of complexities captured by the relatively new term ‘polycrisis.’ This modern challenge involves the intertwining of climate change, environmental disruptions, widening social inequalities, pandemic effects and geopolitical polarization. India can tap the climate-development nexus by conserving and using its water …

Chennai floods a call for integrating climate action in masterplans
1 year ago

Chennai floods a call for integrating climate action in masterplans

Hindustan Times  

Cyclone Michaung struck Chennai on December 4, killing many people and marooning tens of thousands of residents. The city is now planning to integrate the climate action plan into its third masterplan, which will come into force by 2026 and guide the development of the Chennai Metropolitan Area for the next 20 years. In Chennai for example, the Chennai Metropolitan …

‘Cities at centre of climate discussion for first time’
1 year ago

‘Cities at centre of climate discussion for first time’

Hindustan Times  

From record-breaking heat to intense rain, from cyclones and floods to long dry spells, 2023 had its share of worst weather extremes. To understand how these outcomes will play out for cities, HT spoke with Shruti Narayan, regional director, South and West Asia, at C40 Cities, a network of 100 international cities that assists six Indian metros in framing their …

When disaster strikes, does urban planning help?
1 year, 1 month ago

When disaster strikes, does urban planning help?

The Hindu  

The accelerating pace of urbanisation worldwide has led to the proliferation of sprawling cities and megacities. Lack of disaster-resilient housing Housing is a fundamental aspect of urban development, and the type of housing stock prevalent in a city can determine its resilience to disasters. In urban development, a reasonable approach mandates the preservation of natural lakes and water bodies, integrating …

On the road to urban planning
1 year, 1 month ago

On the road to urban planning

The Hindu  

An exponentially growing urban population has led to a tremendous strain on available land and amenities in most metropolitan cities. However, urban infrastructure development, such as affordable housing and water supply, has not paced in line with the current urbanisation trend, resulting in delayed service of deliverables and poor living conditions. The expansion of cities that urban population growth entails …

India’s cities are expanding – often into flood-prone areas | Explained
1 year, 2 months ago

India’s cities are expanding – often into flood-prone areas | Explained

The Hindu  

Earlier this year, as the summer monsoons struck the country, Bengaluru, Gurugram, and Mumbai were quickly under several feet of stagnating water. However, Raj Bhagat Palanichamy, a geoanalyst at WRI India, said the data in the study – from a database called EM-DAT – may not have the “granularity required for studying flood-prone areas in our urban areas and peri …

Can we cool our cities down?
1 year, 2 months ago

Can we cool our cities down?

The Hindu  

Given the country’s hot weather conditions almost all the year, besides increasing urbanisation, and the worsening effects of climate change, managing ambient heat in Indian cities is a challenge. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the ‘urban heat island’ effect, where cities experience higher temperatures because of large areas without plantation and shade, and the ‘urban canyon effect’ due to …

Rainwater Harvesting Should Be Seamlessly Integrated Into Delhi’s Climate Resilience Planning, Authorities Must Explore Innovative Strategies: High Court
1 year, 4 months ago

Rainwater Harvesting Should Be Seamlessly Integrated Into Delhi’s Climate Resilience Planning, Authorities Must Explore Innovative Strategies: High Court

Live Law  

Taking note of the “unprecedented weather events” witnessed by the national capital this year, the Delhi High Court has observed that rainwater harvesting should be seamlessly integrated into the city's climate resilience planning for which the authorities must continually explore innovative strategies. “A persistent focus on educating the public and resident welfare associations about the advantages of rainwater harvesting, coupled …

Cost of Climate Change Is Rising In India, And We Need To Act Now
1 year, 5 months ago

Cost of Climate Change Is Rising In India, And We Need To Act Now

ABP News  

With torrential rains hitting north India, the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and the UTs of Delhi and Chandigarh received record-breaking precipitation. Many even labelled, albeit incorrectly, this extraordinary precipitation as ‘heavy monsoon rains’, whereas, this was an extreme weather event triggered by climate change, with almost a monsoon month’s rainfall falling in 1-3 days. Increase In Numbers …

Explained | What will it take for an Indian city to become low carbon?
1 year, 7 months ago

Explained | What will it take for an Indian city to become low carbon?

The Hindu  

By 2050, seven billion people will be living in cities. Transitioning to low-carbon or even net-zero cities requires us to integrate mitigation and adaptation options in multiple sectors, including energy, buildings, transportation, industry, and urban land-use. Mitigation options on the supply side include phasing out fossil fuels and increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix, and using carbon …

Book review | The Indian Metropolis: An account of India’s challenged sprawling urban spaces
1 year, 7 months ago

Book review | The Indian Metropolis: An account of India’s challenged sprawling urban spaces

Firstpost  

Feroze Varun Gandhi, a third-term Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha should be admired for his unwavering focus on India across rural and urban spaces alike. To his credit is now a new remarkable “The Indian Metropolis” that systematically deconstructs India’s urban spaces and reflects on the serious challenges confronting their aspirations for empowerment. Written with an aim to begin …

A look at nature-based climate solution
1 year, 7 months ago

A look at nature-based climate solution

Hindustan Times  

Most nations in global south are experiencing higher rates of climate warming exposing vast swathes of human population to the attendant risks and hazards. Despite promises and proclamations at China’s 20th Party Congress in October 2022, and submission before the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November 2021 ahead of COP26 reassuring the world to achieve carbon neutrality …

Mumbai infrastructure projects in overdrive, where is the upside for city residents?
1 year, 9 months ago

Mumbai infrastructure projects in overdrive, where is the upside for city residents?

The Hindu  

Published : Apr 06, 2023 11:00 IST - 9 MINS READ For close to five years, Mumbai has resembled a gigantic construction site. A new coastal road, a metro rail, and a trans-harbour link are among the many ongoing infrastructure projects that are meant to transform India’s commercial capital into a modern and efficient city. “Major infrastructure projects in a …

Maharashtra to face water scarcity, flooding and higher temperatures, says IPCC report
1 year, 9 months ago

Maharashtra to face water scarcity, flooding and higher temperatures, says IPCC report

The Hindu  

Over the next few years, Maharashtra is expected to face the twin challenges of both water scarcity and flooding, apart from higher temperatures, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report. The IPCC’s Synthesis Report, released earlier this week, outlines a comprehensive assessment of the current state of scientific knowledge related to climate change and predicts that temperatures …

Hill or city, urban planning cannot be an afterthought
1 year, 10 months ago

Hill or city, urban planning cannot be an afterthought

The Hindu  

On December 24, 2009, a tunnel boring machine in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, hit an aquifer about three kilometres from Selang village. The problem in hilly urban India Land subsidence incidents in hilly urban India are becoming increasingly common —an estimated 12.6% of India’s land area is prone to landslides, especially in Sikkim, West Bengal and Uttarakhand. The combination of poor urban …

Climate-proofing India’s socio-economic trajectory
1 year, 11 months ago

Climate-proofing India’s socio-economic trajectory

Live Mint  

With existing socio-economic challenges, India needs a people-first development paradigm to move towards a climate-secure future, and become a leading voice on climate action for the Global South. With programmes around green fuel, climate-friendly farming, green buildings, low-carbon mobility, and policies for efficient energy use across various economic sectors, the 2023-24 Budget lays a strong foundation for green growth – …

Environment Impact Assessment must be done before allowing urban development projects: Supreme Court
1 year, 11 months ago

Environment Impact Assessment must be done before allowing urban development projects: Supreme Court

The Hindu  

January 14, 2023 10:45 pm | Updated 11:33 pm IST - NEW DELHI The Supreme Court has urged legislators and policy experts to ensure that Environment Impact Assessment studies are done before giving the green signal for urban development projects in India’s cities. Gavai and B.V. Nagarathna referred to media reports of how haphazard urban development has ruined the ‘Garden …

Building climate resilience collectively
2 years ago

Building climate resilience collectively

The Hindu  

India unveiled its long-term climate action plan at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November. Have a data-driven approach There are several flagship missions championed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs as well, which target specific objectives towards creating a smart, sustainable and …

Centre views urban floods as national problem, allocates ₹3,000 crore to 7 cities
2 years, 3 months ago

Centre views urban floods as national problem, allocates ₹3,000 crore to 7 cities

Hindustan Times  

With urban flooding increasingly disrupting life in big cities, the central government is looking at it as a national problem and framing short- and long- term policies for the same. With urban flooding increasingly disrupting life in big cities, the central government is looking at it as a national problem and framing short- and long- term policies for the same …

Science-Wise: Pakistan Floods Brutal Reminder of How Indian Subcontinent Has Become a 'Climate Crisis Hotspot'
2 years, 4 months ago

Science-Wise: Pakistan Floods Brutal Reminder of How Indian Subcontinent Has Become a 'Climate Crisis Hotspot'

News 18  

Over 1,300 dead, millions displaced and a vast swathe of croplands submerged; Pakistan is facing one of its most devastating floods — the worst since 2010 — that have affected over 33 million people. It was quite unusual the way back-to-back depressions formed in Bay of Bengal this August, and all charted the same course across Central India up to …

India needs a new urban deal
2 years, 4 months ago

India needs a new urban deal

Hindustan Times  

The future of Indian cities has played out in horrifying detail over the past 48 hours. The toxic combination of poor urban planning, rampant flouting of rules, lax governance hindered further by red tape, and intensifying effects of the climate crisis has brought our cities to their knees. But repeated flooding and increasing vagaries in climate patterns mean that the …

India’s climate imperative
2 years, 5 months ago

India’s climate imperative

The Hindu  

In the absence of COVID-19, climate change-induced disasters would have been India’s biggest red alert in recent years. The heatwave that scorched Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and New Delhi this year; torrential downpours in south India in 2021; and the super cyclone Amphan that battered West Bengal and Odisha in 2020 are symbols of man-made climate change. Labour losses from …

Policies and People | Urban farming improves climate resilience
2 years, 6 months ago

Policies and People | Urban farming improves climate resilience

Hindustan Times  

In a climate-sensitive move, the Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved the "Smart Urban Farming" initiative to popularise rooftop farming in the city. A robust urban farming structure can reduce the vulnerability of poor people and also reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by producing fresh food close to the city. A World Bank report says urban agriculture can also …

DC Edit | Save cities from eco disasters
2 years, 7 months ago

DC Edit | Save cities from eco disasters

Deccan Chronicle  

Most cities across the world have long ceased to be environmentally sustainable. They may bear the bulk of economic burden of a country or region, allowing for millions of people to eke out a livelihood, or even make a good life for themselves, crucially paying the lion’s share of the taxes that financially sustain the spending of nations and states, …

Going green: Mumbai's promising Climate Action Plan restrained by prevailing development policies
2 years, 8 months ago

Going green: Mumbai's promising Climate Action Plan restrained by prevailing development policies

The Hindu  

March 13, Aaditya Thackeray, Maharashtra’s Minister for Tourism and Environment, tweeted, “One step closer to safeguarding our future, and that of the planet.” The momentous statement marked the release of the Mumbai Climate Action Plan, a document meant to safeguard the city’s future from climate-related changes. On With the release of the Climate Action Plan, Mumbai established itself as the …

Mumbai net zero: What the pledge means for city-dwellers threatened by impending sea level rise
2 years, 9 months ago

Mumbai net zero: What the pledge means for city-dwellers threatened by impending sea level rise

The Independent  

Ranjana Kumari, 51, says her tin roof in the crowded Oshiwara area of suburban Mumbai has been trapping heat inside her shack since the mercury soared to 40C in the middle of March – unseasonably early in the year – making her feel like she is “living in a chimney”. “There is a vicious cycle of extreme weather events and …

In her new book Watershed, climate expert Mridula Ramesh stresses on urgent need of water management in India
3 years ago

In her new book Watershed, climate expert Mridula Ramesh stresses on urgent need of water management in India

Firstpost  

“While conscience is good for spurring a change, it is less effective in sustaining a change. and Founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute, is out with a new book titled Watershed: How We Destroyed India’s Water and How We Can Save It. As water becomes more precious going forward, water management births new sectors – sewage treatment, waste water markets, …

Urban 2.0: How to build future-ready Indian cities with a ‘whole of society’ approach
3 years, 2 months ago

Urban 2.0: How to build future-ready Indian cities with a ‘whole of society’ approach

Firstpost  

Indian model of urban planning is heavily borrowed from the American models. The result of consultations with relevant ministeries, think tanks, academia, urban practitioners etc resulted in a milestone report on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’ that was recently released in the public domain. As of today, there are three pillars of capacities of urban planning in India—the …

Urban 2.0: How to Build Future-ready Indian Cities with a ‘Whole of Society’ Approach
3 years, 2 months ago

Urban 2.0: How to Build Future-ready Indian Cities with a ‘Whole of Society’ Approach

News 18  

Urbanisation is not a mere consequence of faster growth but also an instrument for promoting socio-economic development. resulted in a milestone report on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’ that was recently released in the public domain. As of today, there are three pillars of capacities of urban planning in India—the public sector, the private sector and the academia. …

A climate dividend: The Hindu Editorial on India, net zero and energy transition
3 years, 2 months ago

A climate dividend: The Hindu Editorial on India, net zero and energy transition

The Hindu  

As it prepares to face pressure at the COP26 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, India is adopting the stand that a national deadline for net zero carbon dioxide emissions is uncalled for, given its moral claim to a far greater share of the remaining global carbon budget. Since China, the U.S. and the EU collective, …

Finding the Missing Pieces of Urban Planning Puzzle in India
3 years, 2 months ago

Finding the Missing Pieces of Urban Planning Puzzle in India

News 18  

Planned urban development in a nation depends on its capacities and systems. NITI Aayog constituted a high-level inter-ministerial advisory committee chaired by Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog, on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’ in October 2020. In fact, the committee focused on mechanisms to create capacities that could propel India to become ‘Aatma Nirbhar’ in the …

We The Change: Climate change is accelerating floods and India needs enhanced forecasting to adapt
3 years, 2 months ago

We The Change: Climate change is accelerating floods and India needs enhanced forecasting to adapt

Firstpost  

Despite decades of modernisation efforts, the Central Water Commission does not have ‘real-time data’ on floods and depends on manual data for its policymaking. After 43 years since the first and the last commission on floods was constituted, India is yet to have a national-level flood control authority. Every state and the Center must coordinate closely and put consolidated efforts …

Climate crisis: Why India must focus on adaptation
3 years, 2 months ago

Climate crisis: Why India must focus on adaptation

Hindustan Times  

Two recent publications point out pathways for India to meet the challenges posed by the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ’s Sixth Assessment Report, released in August, acknowledged India’s efforts towards pledges on emission, but advocated a net-zero deadline. The message for India, therefore, is not so much mitigation, but to go for a quicker, broader, and …

World Habitat Day 2021: Why inclusive low-carbon cities is critical for India to mitigate climate crisis
3 years, 3 months ago

World Habitat Day 2021: Why inclusive low-carbon cities is critical for India to mitigate climate crisis

Firstpost  

Policymakers have to take stock of the material politics of the implementation of the low carbon strategies emerging in an Indian context This year’s theme for World Habitat Day is ‘accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world,’ and Indian cities are making quick progress in launching climate action projects and programmes. The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, one of the …

Bengaluru-based NGO comes up with a climate action plan for the city
3 years, 3 months ago

Bengaluru-based NGO comes up with a climate action plan for the city

The Hindu  

Environment Support Group, a Bengaluru-based non-governmental organisation, has come up with a climate action plan for the city titled “Make Bengaluru Climate Friendly: A Blueprint for Integrated, Participatory and Inclusive Urban Governance”. The action plan recommends ways in which Bengaluru could “take steps necessary to achieve the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement ” and comes in the wake of …

Mumbai’s Climate Adaptation Plan: Designing the city for water
3 years, 3 months ago

Mumbai’s Climate Adaptation Plan: Designing the city for water

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai’s climate has changed. Amidst this emergency, the city has begun drafting Mumbai’s Climate Adaptation Plan. They call for the city to move from urban planning projects that exacerbate the city’s adversarial relationship with its rains and sea, towards practices that recognise and accommodate water. As such, the Mumbai adaptation plan needs to recognise and support multiply-used urban commons that …

IPCC Climate Change Report: What Should Be India's Immediate Plan Of Action?
3 years, 5 months ago

IPCC Climate Change Report: What Should Be India's Immediate Plan Of Action?

The Quint  

"For example, we saw how cities like Mumbai and Kolkata were flooded just a few days back. The immediate step for something like this would be to re-design our drainage systems to adapt to climate change projections. An important policy aspect for India to look at is also how it extends "climate services" to those most vulnerable to the impact …

IPCC Climate Change Report: What Should Be India's Immediate Plan Of Action?
3 years, 5 months ago

IPCC Climate Change Report: What Should Be India's Immediate Plan Of Action?

The Quint  

"For example, we saw how cities like Mumbai and Kolkata were flooded just a few days back. The immediate step for something like this would be to re-design our drainage systems to adapt to climate change projections. An important policy aspect for India to look at is also how it extends "climate services" to those most vulnerable to the impact …

UN's New Climate Change Report: Why It's Important & What It Means for India
3 years, 5 months ago

UN's New Climate Change Report: Why It's Important & What It Means for India

The Quint  

"For India, the predictions in this report mean people labouring in longer and more frequent heat waves, warmer nights for our winter crops, erratic monsoon rains for our summer crops, destructive floods and storms that disrupt power supply for drinking water or medical oxygen production," said Ulka Kelkar, director, climate program, World Resources Institute India. Other climate experts spoke about …

To survive, cities must transform
3 years, 5 months ago

To survive, cities must transform

Hindustan Times  

The devastating floods in Germany, extreme heat waves in British Colombia, rainfall in London, flood-triggered landslides in Maharashtra and forest fires in Greece. For one, we don’t predict these events because we don’t imagine intense heat, or incessant rain or floods in specific geographies. Making citizens a part of this is vital, for, as India’s second wave showed, community action …

Lessons for urban governance futures from the pandemic
3 years, 5 months ago

Lessons for urban governance futures from the pandemic

Hindustan Times  

The outbreak of Covid-19 and the associated lockdowns have exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities of marginalised groups living in Indian cities/towns, including workers engaged in the informal sector as well urban poor living in congested and overcrowded informal settlements with inadequate housing and limited access to water, sanitation and health facilities – all of which are essential to reduce chances of getting …

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