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U.S.-Supported Campaign Helps 16 Indian Cities
Check Carbon Emissions and Save Crores
September 20, 2005
NEW DELHI -- A U.S.-India collaborative campaign
“Cities for Climate Protection” (CCP) has helped 16
Indian cities drastically cut greenhouse gas
emissions and save crores in municipal costs, it was
announced today.
The United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the International Council
for Local Environmental Initiative (ICLEI) today
celebrated the success of this joint program at a
national workshop in New Delhi. Mayors, city
managers and state officials from all over India
attended the workshop, organized by USAID, ICLEI and
the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
The campaign has helped 16 cities in India,
including Hyderabad and Kolkata, avoid actual carbon
emissions of up to 13,000 tons equivalent carbon
dioxide and save Rs. 3.7 crores by implementing
energy efficiency measures in municipal services.
Additionally, the program helped leverage an
additional investment of $1 million (Rs. 4.37 crores)
in energy efficiency initiatives from other donors.
Attendees at today’s workshop discussed lessons
learned from the CCP program and the implementation
of energy efficiency measures in Indian cities. Best
practices on energy efficiency measures in street
lighting, water and sewerage pumping systems, and
traffic junction improvement were presented and
discussed at the workshop.
Addressing the workshop participants, USAID
Acting Mission Director Beth Hogan said: “Thinking
globally and acting locally requires city
governments to develop strategies for implementing
energy efficiency measures at the municipal level
that will have a positive impact on global climate
change.”
The contribution of cities to global warming is
becoming a matter of concern throughout the world.
The “Cities for Climate Protection” campaign,
covering 16 Indian cities in 13 states and a
population of two crores, has contributed positively
to the reduction of greenhouse gases, which
contribute to global warming. With USAID support,
ICLEI has developed software that cities can use to
estimate levels of environmental pollution.
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