A Clean, Green Future For Indian Cities

Context: An urban development agenda driven by environmental consciousness, technology and inclusion is the best way to counter climate change.

Need for sustainable urban development:

• This year, the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is being launched, building towards the goals of this decade.
• The delicate balance between sustainable development and environmental protection is one of the core targets of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

How are the SDG’s aligned with India’s indigenous sustainable development?

• The motto of the 2030 agenda — “Leave no one behind” — very much embodies the essence of Gandhiji’s philosophy of Sarvodaya through antyodaya, reaching the most marginalised first.
• Sanitation: The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) focuses on achieving an open-defecation-free India, building solid waste management capacity and bringing about behavioural change.
  • Through the annual Swachh Survekshan, cooperative and competitive federalism have become the driving force behind this citizen-led Jan Andolan.
  • Various initiatives under SBM-U can mitigate 17.42 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2022.
• Smart Cities Mission: To improve governance, sustainability and disaster risk resilience.
  • The Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework has been adopted, which aims to help cities adapt, collaborate and exchange best practices.
  • So far, the infrastructure for 417.5 km of smart roads, solar panels generating 30 MW of energy and 253.5 MLD of wastewater treatment capacity has been completed.
  • Can mitigate 4.93 million tonnes of CO2 by 2022.
• Under AMRUT: Water supply and management, energy efficiency and increased green spaces have been part of the goal in 500 target cities. Can mitigate 48.52 million tonnes of CO2 by 2022.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban): Has focused on new construction technologies that are innovative, environmentally friendly and disaster-resilient.
  • The Global Housing Technology Challenge was launched, and 54 new technologies identified.
  • Additionally, about 43.3 lakh houses are being constructed where fly ash bricks/blocks and concrete blocks are being used.
  • Potential to mitigate around 12 million tonnes CO2 equivalent of GHG emissions by 2022.
• Efficient mass rapid transit system: The metro rail, an energy-efficient mass rapid transit system, is operational in 18 cities with over 720 km of line constructed.
  • This network is expected to mitigate around 21.58 million tonnes of CO2 eq GHG from 2015-2022.

Way Forward:

• A progressive track of urban development while keeping sustainability, disaster risk resilience and community building at its core should be the guiding principle.
• Transitions should be brought by technological democratisation, sustainable infrastructure building, and behavioural change