By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 23, 2016: THE need for State Governments and Urban Local Bodies to be alive to the reality of adverse impacts of climate change and take necessary measures to address the same was emphasized at a Conference here today. Speaking on ‘New Climate Economy' at a conference organized by ICRIER, Mr Rajiv Gauba, Secretary (Urban Development) stressed on the need for urban planning to be adequately ‘climate sensitive' in the context of rapid urbanization taking place in the country.

Mr Gauba said that though urban areas account for only 2% of land, they account for 78% of total energy consumption and over 60% of carbon dioxide emissions which triggers climate change. Stating that India's urban population is set to be doubled by 2050, he stressed on the need for fundamentally different and transformative policies and urban planning to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change. He urged the States and Urban Local Bodies to rise to the occasion through necessary interventions.

Mr Gauba stated that the new urban missions launched by the Ministry of Urban Development seek to address climate change concerns. He further said that Smart Cities by definition are climate sensitive. Other initiatives like Model Building Bye-Laws, Transit Oriented Development Policy aiming at reducing travel through densification, Swachh Bharat Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) also address climate change issues.

“With urbanization becoming inevitable and even desirable and in the context of efforts to improve living standards, we will have to keep sustainability at the centre of our urban planning” said Mr Rajiv Gauba.