E L I H P O T O H P E H T N A H R A F © Working Paper 1.5°C ALIGNMENT FOR INDIAN CITIES A CASE STUDY OF NAGPUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT © WWF-India 2020 Published by WWF-India Any reproduction of this publication in full or part must mention the title and credit the above-mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. Acknowledgements WWF-India is grateful to all experts and specialists for providing insights during the preparation of this working paper. We would like to acknowledge the support from Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur and associated government partners; who were instrumental in providing useful insights for the report. We would also like to thank Mr. Anit Kolhe, OPCC Nodal Officer, Nagpur Municipal Corporation, for his inputs and contribution. The support from Mr. Tabaré A. Currás, Technical Lead, WWF Cities and our colleagues in WWF-India is appreciated. Team Climate Change and Energy Programme: Saurav Chowdhury, Senior Programme Officer | [email protected] Suchismita Mukhopadhyay, Associate Director | [email protected] Sakshi Gaur, Assistant Manager- Communications | [email protected] This report has been prepared by WWF-India with inputs based on conversations, publicly available information and information gathered from different organizations. WWF-India disclaim any and all liability for the use that may be made of the information contained in this report. While the key organizations and experts listed in the Acknowledgements and Appendix have provided significant inputs for the development of this report, their participation does not necessarily imply endorsement of the report’s contents or conclusions. WORKING PAPER PAGE | 01 1.INTRODUCTION 1.1 CITIES- A 'CAUSE OF' AND 'SOLUTION TO' CLIMATE CHANGE Over 54 percent of the global population lives in cities, which is projected to be 60 percent by 2030. Cities currently account for more than half of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and about two thirds of global energy use.[1] Rapid urbanization has posed challenges such as higher energy demand, pollution, unmanaged waste, unsustainable use of natural resources, leading to adverse impacts on the quality of life and sustainability of cities. On the other hand, millions of people residing in cities and urban areas are heavily vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. India has witnessed rapid urbanization in recent years and the trend will continue in the future. The country has an urban population of more than 30 per cent currently, which is expected to be 40 per cent in 2030. As Indian cities cater to growing populations, they would also be faced with the challenges related to the provision of basic necessities such as housing and transport, which would further lead to increased demand for energy and water, higher emissions and waste generation, deteriorating air quality and, associated health impacts. Nearly 44 percent of India’s rapidly growing carbon emissions have urban origins, emanating from transport, industry, buildings, and waste contributing towards climate change.[2] It is therefore imperative for cities to play a larger role in countering the challenges of climate change by integrating low carbon actions and sustainable energy use into local development goals, and simultaneously strive towards climate resilient growth and planning. Climate smart planning in cities will determine the extent and impact of climate change, and the ability to achieve emission reductions, as well as the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances. Several cities are driving change by integrating low carbon actions into local development goals, and simultaneously mainstreaming climate resilient growth. Indian cities are also a part of this transition and have exemplified their role in addressing climate change. Globally, the significance of integrating sustainability in cities' actions and plans has been recognized. The need to strengthen the response to climate change in cities is discussed across major global agendas such as Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda. WNon-pharty estakrehoelder s w(citiese, bu sinaessres, esub-national regions, investors, and civil society) came together to lend momentum to the Paris agreement in 2015 with commitments to act on climate change. T[1] UnitedO Nations (201D6), The WorldA's Cities in Y2016 [2] TERI (2015); Draft Report on the “Study on quantification of the Greenhouse Gas mitigation potential of the various development initiatives undertaken by Government of India” PAGE | 02 WORKING PAPER At the UN Climate Conferences in Marrakesh in 2016 In 2019, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Bonn in 2017, countries restated their (MoHUA), Government of India initiated the understanding that success on climate change will “ClimateSMART Cities Assessment Framework” (CSCAF) require greater ambition on the part of non-state actors. for the 100 Smart Cities which is a first-of-its-kind cities The UN's 2015 Sustainable Development Goals included assessment framework on climate relevant parameters an explicit urban goal for the first time - Goal 11 such as energy and green buildings, urban planning, (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Similarly, Goal 7 green cover & biodiversity, mobility and air quality, (Energy) and Goal 13 (Climate Action) are also relevant water resource management, and waste management. to cities. Over two-thirds of the submitted Nationally The objective was to provide a clear roadmap for the Determined Contributions (NDCs) show clear urban cities and in effect, urban India as a whole, towards references and content, establishing the relationship combating climate change while planning and between sustainable urbanization and climate action. implementing their actions including investments. The New Urban Agenda, adopted at Habitat III, resolves CSCAF serves as a tool for cities to assess their present to enable national, sub-national and local governments situation and facilitate cities to adopt, implement and along with other stakeholders to achieve sustainable disseminate the best practices and further to set urban development. standards in comparison to the international efforts towards the green, sustainable and urban resilient India is focussing on the transformation and habitats. Further, in July 2020, a first of its kind Climate rejuvenation of cities through various schemes and Centre for Cities (C-Cube) was launched at the National programmes which have a thrust on promoting smart Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) with a vision to build solutions that can make cities climate resilient. The climate action in cities. Instituted by the MoHUA, under ambitious Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for its Smart Cities Mission, C-Cube will serve as a one-stop Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) were shop for climate informed actions to ensure a launched to address the issue of infrastructure gap in sustainable urban future for India. urban areas, besides enhancing the business and investment climate for the benefit of the poor. The aim In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate was to develop 100 smart cities that are ahead of the Change (IPCC) published the Special Report on Global curve in decision making, problem solving, as well as Warming of 1.5°C (SR1.5) to explain the pathways to and ease of living of citizens, and improve infrastructure in impacts of limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared another 500 cities, under the AMRUT scheme. with 2°C on ecosystems, human health and well-being. It shows that to retain global warming within 1.5°C, global The “Solar Cities” mission was designed to support emissions must peak by 2020 and reduce to net zero by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to prepare a road map to 2050. The report emphasized that strengthening the guide cities in becoming 'renewable energy cities' or capacities for climate action of national and sub-national 'solar cities'. There have been various other initiatives authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous where cities have a central role such as the target of people and local communities can support the installing 40 GW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV implementation of ambitious actions implied by limiting capacity by 2022, and the National Electric Mobility global warming to 1.5°C.[3] It also identifies cities and Mission 2020 which aims at promoting electric mobility urban areas as one of four critical global systems that in cities. The Mission on Sustainable Habitat under the can accelerate and upscale climate action, but also National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) aims recognizes that this will require major transitions in how at encouraging sustainable urban planning in India with both mitigation and adaptation/resilience are the help of policy, infrastructural and research undertaken.[4] interventions in sectors such as buildings, waste management, water resources and transportation. [3] IPCC, 2018: Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. [4] Global Covenant of Mayors - Summary for Urban Policymakers – What the IPCC Special Report on 1.5C Means for Cities. PAGE | 03