ICLEI Pledges to Support APUF’s Penang Platform for Sustainable Urbanisation

The seventh session of the Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-7) was held in Penang, Malaysia, to discuss the future of Asia and Pacific Cities: Transformative Pathways to Achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As one of the steering committee members of the APUF-7, ICLEI was involved in several events, besides becoming a founding member of the Penang Platform for Sustainable Urbanisation (PPSU), a new partnership of cities and urban development organisations that was set up at the forum.

ICLEI and Commonwealth Local Government Forum Partner to Strengthen Support of Local Governments

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), which works to promote and strengthen democratic local government across the Commonwealth and encourage the exchange of best practices, formalised their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the APUF-7. The MoU represents an ambition to build on a long-standing collaborative partnership between ICLEI and CLGF to scale up and accelerate sustainable urban development by strengthening local level ambitions and actions.

Swiss Minister Inaugurates Biomethanation Plant in Coimbatore

The Vice President of the Federal Council and Minister for Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication, Switzerland, Ms. Simonetta Sommaruga visited Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, as part of her India visit, focusing on areas concerning clean technology and the railways. During her visit along with the Ambassador of Switzerland to India and Bhutan, Dr. Andreas Baum, Ms. Sommaruga inaugurated a biomethanation facility in the city, built under the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supported CapaCITIES project. She discussed various project initiatives being implemented during site visits and in her interactions with city officials and residents.

Read more

Kota Kinabalu Launches Green City Action Plan

ICLEI South Asia attended the Borneo Green City International Convention to participate in the launch of Kota Kinabalu’s Green City Action Plan (GCAP). ICLEI South and Southeast Asia offices, along with a local consultant, prepared the GCAP in partnership with Kota Kinabalu City Hall, with the support of the Asian Development Bank. ICLEI South Asia presented the process of preparing the KK GCAP and its key findings at the convention. It said that the nine priority projects of KK GCAP offered significant climate mitigation and resilience benefits to the city.

Biomethanation Plant to Reduce GHG Emissions in Udaipur

Udaipur’s first biomethanation facility, inaugurated last month, will process biodegradable waste generated in the city. The 2-TPD bi-phasic biomethanation facility, located within the premises of a fire station, was built under the CapaCITIES project. The electricity being produced at the plant is currently being used by the fire station for its daily operations, such as for pumping water, lighting and in the residential quarters. With only 50 units of power being consumed at present, the plan is to feed surplus electricity into the grid.

Design Tricks Make Roads Safer for Children in Urban95 Tactical Intervention in Udaipur

ICLEI South Asia implemented a tactical intervention designed to slow down traffic for the safety of schoolchildren under the Urban95 programme in Udaipur. The intervention was implemented at the entrance of Vidhya Bhavan Pre- Primary School in Ward 3, after a survey by the project technical team identified primary schools and day care units that open directly onto municipal roads in the area. The tactical intervention in Udaipur was done with colour-coordinated schemes that created interactive and visually compelling streetscape.

Kochi's Illustrated Natural Asset Map Show Blue-Green Infrastructure

Natural asset maps have been developed for project cities under the INTERACT-Bio project, supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety. These maps show the blue-green infrastructure of the cities on the geographic information systems (GIS) platform. In order to communicate the significance of the ecosystems in the city to the citizens, illustrated natural asset maps are being developed. Kochi’s illustrated natural asset map, which has already been prepared, has been highly appreciated.

Asia LEDS Partnership Presents Draft Framework on Electric Mobility in Sri Lanka

The Asia LEDS Partnership (ALP) Secretariat, co-hosted by ICLEI South Asia, worked with the Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Government of Sri Lanka, and provided technical assistance to prepare a Framework for Electric Mobility Policy in the country. The ALP presented the draft framework at the second consultation workshop, held in partnership with the ministry, in Colombo. The framework is expected to help Sri Lanka define and design its future electric mobility programmes.

Workshop for Udaipur Anganwadi Workers Promotes ITC Practices

Udaipur city hosted a two-day training workshop in association with the Udaipur Municipal Corporation (UMC) and Integrated Child Development Services, to acknowledge the role of anganwadi (infant and toddler care centre) workers in the Urban95 programme. The workshop covered all 'urban' anganwadi workers in the city who play an important role in making the city Infant-Toddler-Child (ITC) friendly. ICLEI South Asia is the technical partner in the Urban95 programme, which is being implemented by UMC and Bernard Van Leer Foundation (BVLF).

ICLEI South Asia Launches Plastic Waste Management Pilot in GHMC Area

ICLEI South Asia, in partnership with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is developing a ‘Plastic waste management strategy and action plan for GHMC’, with support from the IGES Centre Collaborating with United Nations Environment Programme on Environmental Technologies (IGES-CCET). As part of a pilot launched on the 2^nd of October, the project team interacted with people in the Birla Mandir market area to showcase local action for avoiding the use of single-use plastics and finding alternatives.

Towards Sustainable Waste Management – Experience from Udaipur, India

Waste management is linked to climate change - poor solid waste management can drive up greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and poor waste disposal practices can clog waterways and lead to increased flooding during periods of intense rain (which now occur more often, in some places, due to climate change). These are just some of the reasons why ICLEI is helping Indian municipalities to manage waste better, together with creating cleaner, healthier and more liveable cities. Ritu Thakur reports.

European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns

Hosted by the City of Mannheim, and ICLEI Europe, the European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns will be held for the ninth time from the 30^th of September to the 2^nd of October 2020 in Mannheim, Germany. The conference will demonstrate the urgent need for local governments to assume responsibility for urban transformation and lead the way in guiding Europe towards a secure and sustainable future.