Climate Smart Cities

SAFE has a strong urban presence in megacities of India and other South Asian countries, wherein it is meticulously chasing the Green City targets through local participation and stakeholder partnerships. SAFE works on municipal solid wastes and hazardous chemical waste disposal protocols, hospital waste disposal regulations and overall waste management framework for reduction of landfill emissions and abatement of pollution. Further, urban forestry and vertical gardens for reducing the ‘Heat Island Effects’ in cities is another intervention of SAFE taken under the aegis of UNHABITAT. SAFE determinedly works on water and emission footprint regulation in the cities, conservation of wetlands, urban forestry, Renewable energy in WASH through various corporate social responsibility windows and in partnership with urban local bodies and municipalities.

Climate Smart Cities have globally developed a network aspiring to take action to combat climate change by developing and implementing policies and programs that generate measurable reductions in both greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. The work that these networks accomplish is critical for reducing carbon emissions worldwide, but there is far more to be done. Keeping a focus on this, cities in the south globe are gearing up to join the forum while some like Dhaka in Bangladesh and Thimphu in Bhutan, Kathmandu, Nepal, also major cities in India have already joined. An international symposium organized by SAFE, NCCSD, & Kennesaw University was attended by eminent experts who recommended that the identified megacities in India should be included in smart city movement. The symposium was supported by the US Consulate, Kolkata. Recommendations mostly included good governance for integrated solid waste management, delivery of essential services, disaster preparedness, drainage and water harvesting and also civil society leadership for citizens sensitization and participatory implementation of programs and interventions future sustainability.