ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia

The project aims to enhance the capabilities of Indian cities in recognizing, strategizing, and executing initiatives that would lead to reduced growth in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it aims to bolster resilience against climate change through an integrated approach.

The project strives to aid in the decrease of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within urban areas of emerging economies (Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, and South Africa) and least developed countries (Bangladesh, Lao PDR, and Rwanda).

The primary goal of the project is to assist the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests (DoECCF) in establishing an inclusive Project Management Unit (PMU) during the initial year. This aims to support the Mission Director's office in formulating plans and executing climate-resilient, sustainable initiatives through proactive interdepartmental coordination strategies, innovative climate actions, and viable financing models.

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) and ICLEI South Asia have joined hands in a partnership aimed at highlighting opportunities to tackle existing gaps and requirements within urban local governments. The missions of both organizations align closely, focusing on identifying and facilitating the implementation of solutions that enable local governments to manage escalating plastic waste in a scientifically and sustainable manner.
Within this project, ICLEI South Asia and ICLEI Southeast Asia will extend technical assistance to chosen cities in formulating a comprehensive plastic waste management plan. This plan will serve as the basis for identifying a financially feasible and scientifically robust project.

As a part of the initiative, ICLEI South Asia implemented a pilot program in Delhi and Kochi to showcase the potential of E-rickshaws through organized operations. The proposed demonstration strategy aims to facilitate the seamless integration of E-rickshaws into the urban mobility framework. This approach intends to tackle the fundamental causes of key obstacles, including the unplanned growth of transportation modes, lack of information and awareness, policy and planning hurdles, limited institutional capacity, and concerns about charging infrastructure and range limitations. It will assist cities in adopting short-term measures, such as demonstrations, to achieve the desired transformation. The expected outcomes include various environmental benefits, such as decreased greenhouse gas emissions and minimized negative impacts associated with this mode of transportation.

The project's objective is to assist Rajkot city in managing extreme heat and increasing cooling needs by initiating the formulation of an Urban Cooling Action Plan. This includes capacity building, coordinating stakeholders, and facilitating matchmaking initiatives.

The UrbanShift project, funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) during GEF-7 period, is executed through a partnership between the UN Environment Program (UNEP) as the Lead Agency and city-based organizations (CBOs): World Resources Institute (WRI), C40 Cities (C40), and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) as the Program Executing Entity(s).
Its primary objective is to aid cities in adopting integrated urban planning and implementation strategies that result in impactful development outcomes with global environmental benefits (GEBs). This global program complements the National Child Projects in nine countries, also being developed during the GEF-7 period, specifically catering to local governments with a global support offer.

The TUMI E-bus mission plays a significant role in establishing sustainable urban transport systems by providing support to 20 deep dive cities as they transition towards deploying electric buses. The objectives of this initiative include identifying an initial group of mentee cities, enhancing their awareness, and building their capacities to effectively implement electric bus deployment. Through a mentorship program, these mentee cities will be connected to accelerate the learning process, overcoming institutional, financial, and technological barriers towards the widespread adoption of e-buses.

The project focused on conducting a feasibility study concerning the restoration of a canal in Kochi using a combination of nature-based and conventional solutions to manage flooding. Thorough field studies and analysis were conducted, resulting in the development of a feasibility report specifically addressing the restoration potential of the Pandarachirathodu canal in Fort Kochi.

ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia, has launched a project aimed at preparing the nomination dossier for Majuli Island in Assam to be considered as a World Heritage Site. In this initiative, ICLEI South Asia will be responsible for drafting the natural components section of the nomination dossier concerning the river island.

The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), with support from MoHUA, intends to organize Solid Waste Management Exposure Workshops for officials representing 1600 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Phase III (2018 – 2019). As a part of this initiative, ICLEI South Asia will be conducting Solid Waste Management Exposure Workshops for local government officials from 120 ULBs in Hyderabad, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Warangal.

Under the GIZ Indo-German Environment Partnership (IGEP), Nashik Municipal Corporation is actively crafting a city-tailored Sustainable Urban Habitat Action Plan (SUHAP) in alignment with the Government of India’s National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH). GIZ-IGEP, alongside ICLEI South Asia, is extending technical support to the Nashik Municipal Corporation and other pertinent departments in formulating the SUHAP, which will encompass measures addressing both mitigation and adaptation concerns.

The Urban 95 initiative by BVLeerF centres on shaping the city's urban landscape considering the viewpoint of children aged 1 to 5. Recognizing this age group as particularly vulnerable and the future of the city, the approach strives to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Urban95 is introducing this approach to the city and endeavours to generate interest and backing for it by initiating pilot demonstrations and tactical project interventions.

ICLEI SA, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhi Nagar, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), supported by the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF), is conducting a study titled 'Young Children and Climate.'
The study has several objectives, including:
1. Evaluating the current landscape of young children and climate action, exploring associated issues, challenges, and barriers.
2. Analysing the impact of climate change on various spaces like open areas, parks, streets, health facilities, neighbourhoods, and spaces linked to Early Childhood Development (ECD) services. This assessment particularly focuses on the access and built environment concerning young children and their caregivers.
3. Assessing the priorities outlined in climate action plans and examining the extent to which considerations for young children and their caregivers are integrated into these plan

The Smart City Mission aims to foster collaboration, enhancing the utilisation of opportunities available through national programs such as AMRUT, HRIDAY, Housing for all, Swachh Bharat Mission, and other initiatives associated with social infrastructure like Health, Education, and Culture. This project involves the formulation of the Panaji Smart City Proposal adhering to the mission's guidelines, which includes an extensive consultation process involving the citizens.

The National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme was launched by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India on January 21, 2015, with a primary objective to facilitate the comprehensive development of heritage cities. This initiative is designed to conserve and rejuvenate the essence and distinctiveness of heritage cities by promoting an attractive, accessible, informative, and secure environment.
The scheme focuses on enhancing the core infrastructure surrounding heritage assets, fostering improvements in areas like water supply, sanitation, drainage, waste management, approach roads, pedestrian pathways, street lighting, tourist amenities, electrical systems, landscaping, and other citizen-centric services.
ICLEI South Asia is actively engaged as a city anchor for the HRIDAY project, playing a pivotal role in planning, providing guidance, and extending support to the City Mission Directorate at the city level.

The primary aim is to establish and facilitate the Project Management Unit responsible for implementing the Circular Economy Solution, aimed at preventing marine litter in Tamil Nadu.

Over the past two decades, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability has cultivated significant in-house research expertise by assembling interdisciplinary teams comprising experts and practitioners across its global offices. Continuous collaboration and knowledge exchange with partners and relevant stakeholders have expanded connections and facilitated the exchange of insights on research and projects. The outcomes have contributed to the creation of guidelines, manuals, and policies, bolstered capabilities, fostered collaborations, and supported ICLEI's advocacy initiatives, particularly on a global scale. The primary areas of research and consultancy services encompass:
• Evaluating existing energy sources and exploring the potential for incorporating local renewable energy.
• Enhancing energy efficiency in municipal services and facilities.
• Improving energy efficiency within the built environment.
• Exploring renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

ICLEI South Asia provides various services tailored to local governments, focusing on training and capacity building in numerous areas. These encompass carbon emission inventorying, vulnerability assessment, resilience strategy development, integrated water management, comprehensive waste management, urban mobility, and local biodiversity planning. These training sessions are occasionally incorporated within programs and projects but can also be crafted as independent initiatives.

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability aims to bolster an international policy framework that fortifies local governance and promotes sustainability at the grassroots level. To achieve this, ICLEI orchestrates local government participation across various UN organisations. The organisation’s consistent contributions, including side events, publications, verbal interventions, and official background papers, have significantly drawn international attention to local initiatives and the prospects to advance sustainability.