Climate Action Network South Asia(CANSA)

In urban planning, there is an increasing urgency to incorporate Climate Resilience, particularly concerning the urban poor. Traditionally, most programs from civil society and government have been tailored to support rural communities, overlooking the plight of the urban poor. This project aims to highlight and address the vulnerabilities faced by the urban poor, who are highly susceptible to climate risks, health issues, and substandard living conditions, including unsafe housing, lack of clean water, and inadequate sanitation and drainage systems.

The District Climate Resilience Planning (DCRP) lays out a framework to fortify district development plans across India against climate impacts. It enables an analysis of developmental measures considering both current and future challenges and opportunities posed by climate change. The climate action plan is designed to facilitate an empowering process, fostering a shift in beliefs and enhancing the capacity to make informed choices. It aims to provide perspective in development planning and guide decision-making towards sustainable development.
Objectives:
• Drive systematic changes in district development planning by encouraging climate action through improved communication and behavioural change.
CANSA's role:
1. Conduct research, liaise with the government, draft planning documents, and assist in their dissemination.
2. Promote DCRPs and advocate for district resilience planning on national and international platforms.

Articles 11 and 12 of the Paris Agreement underscore the significance of capacity-building and climate change education & training for informed decision-making. In alignment with these principles, this project aims to bolster capacity-building at the state and district levels in India. Its primary focus is on climate-proofing district development plans in three specific states and fortifying their readiness and ability to access appropriate climate finance channels.
Through meticulous research and advocacy efforts, the project seeks to galvanize local action and ambition. It will pinpoint the sectors most susceptible to climate change and craft customized training modules tailored to the specific needs of field-level officers and functionaries in Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

In 2020, CANSA, along with partners Healthy Energy Initiative India and Health Care Without Harm, conducted one of India's most extensive studies on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Health Care Professionals regarding Climate Change. The report, unveiled in February 2021, highlighted that although 93% of healthcare professionals were familiar with the concept of climate change, only around 55% actively engaged in activities or initiatives related to it. A major contributing factor was the insufficient and unclear understanding of the subject, especially regarding the roles of health professionals and the healthcare sector.

Responding to these findings and the expressed needs of healthcare professionals, a guidance document titled "No Vaccine for Climate Change – A Communication Guide on Climate and Health for Healthcare Professionals in India" was published.

The Climate Action Network's #WorldWeWant Campaign focuses on Climate Impacts, rallying collective action by sharing stories of communities affected by the climate crisis. This initiative stands as a powerful call to governments worldwide, urging them to tackle interconnected crises effectively and safeguard their citizens for a secure and resilient tomorrow. The campaign employs impactful short videos created locally using smartphones. These videos vividly illustrate the repercussions of years of negligence regarding the climate crisis on people's lives. Moreover, they shed light on how communities, both in developing and developed nations, are employing grassroots solutions. These solutions aim to hold leaders accountable while showcasing innovative approaches to combatting the crisis.