Waste and industrial emissions: A Roundtable Discussion under GHG Platform – India

Experts from waste and industrial sectors gathered in Kolkata on February 3, 2017 to discuss the waste and industrial emission estimates in the country. The discussion was a part of the second phase of GHG Platform India – a collective civil society initiative that seeks to add value to the various ongoing GHG estimation efforts. The project is supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation. At the meet, the participants recommended going beyond the scope and approach for GHG inventorization at the global and national level and using the Platform to incorporate and collate activity-specific data.

Workshop held in Thailand to mark closure of ACCCRN Project

After more than four years of action in four Asian countries, the Rockefeller Foundation supported Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) initiative of translating and scaling up the ICLEI ACCCRN Process was wrapped up at a conference in Bangkok from 28 February - 1 March, 2017. The workshop, organised jointly by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and ICLEI Oceania in association with ICLEI South Asia and Southeast Asia secretariat saw various cities sharing their learnings and experiences.

PROMISE team meets in Warangal to identify sector of engagement and initiate next steps

ICLEI South Asia, with partner Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), recently conducted a two-day visit to Warangal, Telangana to meet city officials of Warangal Municipal Corporation and Collectorate and identify a priority sector of engagement PROMotion of Inclusive, Sustainable Growth and Diversity to Strengthen Local Governments (PROMISE) project in the city. Supported by European Commission, the project includes four cities, each of which will identify a priority sector of engagement. Warangal has decided to pursue work on “Green Spaces and Parks”.

CapaCITIES: Udaipur set to promote e-rickshaws through pilot project

Udaipur City Corporation plans to transform its Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) fleet by introducing e-rickshaws in the city to contain growth of diesel-based autorickshaws. The Swiss Development Agency supported CapaCITIES project is offering to assist the city develop and conduct a pilot to demonstrate the benefits of e-rickshaw, set to be launched on March 17, 2017. The project consortium comprises of South Pole Group (Switzerland), ICLEI South Asia, and econcept (Switzerland).

AdoptIUWM: European Union team visits project cities in Rajasthan

A team from European Union recently visited Jaisalmer and Kishangarh, the project cities of Adopting Integrated Urban Water Management (AdoptIUWM) project, being implemented by ICLEI South Asia, in partnership with ICLEI European Secretariat and Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG). The team visited a composting site and a pond that is being revived under the European Union supported project and met the stakeholders. The project also involves two cities of Maharashtra – Solapur and Ichalkaranji.

ICLEI kicks off IAdapt initiative for Integrated Water Resources Management in Solapur and Vijaywada

ICLEI South Asia has commenced its work on Integrated Rural Urban Water Management for Climate based Adaptations in Indian cities (IAdapt), with support from International Development Research Centre, Canada. The project is being implemented in partnership with International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Athena Infonomics India Pvt. Ltd. and IIT Madras in two cities: Solapur (Maharashtra) and Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh).

INTERACT-Bio: Integrated sub-national action for Biodiversity

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability has initiated a project on mainstreaming biodiversity across city-regions in India, Brazil and Tanzania. The “INTERACT-Bio: Integrated sub-national action for Biodiversity: Supporting implementation of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP) through the mainstreaming of biodiversity objectives across City-Regions” project is supported through the International Climate Initiative 2016 of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany. The India chapter of the project is being facilitated by ICLEI South Asia.

Meet Mrs. Sushila Abute, Former Mayor of Solapur

Mrs. Abute has been actively involved in city’s quest for better management of water resources. Her efforts have immensely contributed to the success of AdoptIUWM project in the Maharashtrian city. “For a city facing immense challenges like pollution, water conflicts and non-revenue water losses, it was crucial to stand together and overcome all the challenges that came in its way,” says the former Mayor.

Meet Ms. Sonali Malik, one of the youngest at ICLEI South Asia

A project officer at ICLEI South Asia, Ms. Malik believes that her work with cities in the area of sustainability has left a mark in her personal life too. “Working in the field of sustainability has made me more aware and conscious towards my lifestyle. Most of my actions and decisions now also consider the probable impacts on the environment, along with other factors such as convenience, feasibility and affordability,” she says.

Asia LEDS Partnership and SNI WG workshop on national and sub-national integration

The Asia LEDS Partnership (ALP) will organise a regional workshop in Asia, along with Sub National Integration (SNI) Working Group, in April 2017 where representatives from four Asian countries will present the status of multi-level governance in their respective countries.

Enabling Private Sector Clean Energy Investment in Southeast and South Asia

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Convening Private Sector Investment in Climate-Smart Commodity Production in Southeast Asia

In March 2017, USAID, the Asia Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS) Partnership and collaborating partners will host two workshops in Bangkok, Thailand on private sector climate investment and sustainable landscape in Southeast and South Asia. This event is the second workshop of the series and will focus on the land-use sector, climate-smart commodity production and clean energy investment from the private sector.