National workshop and expert consultation on the revision of URDPFI guidelines to integrate climate resilient urban planing
Urban Act
Urban-Act supports a transformation towards low-carbon and resilient urban development in the Asia-Pacific. The project aims to assist government partners in aligning policies, regulations, and services for urban development with climate and sustainability targets. It focuses on knowledge transfer to strengthen the capacities of institutions, decision makers and technical staff. At the local level, the project supports integration of climate action in urban plans and budgets across 14 pilot cities, including three Indian cities (Coimbatore, Panaji, Shimla). The project funded under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) is a follow-up to the Climate Smart Cities project, an initiative that aimed at supporting Indian cities in implementing smart solutions and thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Urban Act has been listed in Article 1 of the Agreement between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the Republic of India regarding Technical Cooperation in 2021, signed on 26 September 2022. The quantum of technical assistance sought from GIZ is Euro 3.70 million. The project will be supported by implementing partners NIUA, TERI, UN-ESCAP, UCLGA-ASPAC and the University of Stuttgart and Dortmund.
Aim and Objectives
The ‘Urban Act’ Project aligns with the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision on ‘Urban Development with focus on planning’.
Hon’ble PM during the Post Budget Webinar on March 1st 2023, provided impetus on the fact that “Urban planning will determine the fate of our cities in Amrit Kaal and it is only well-planned cities that will determine the fate of India”. He further added that “Our cities will also become climate-resilient and water secure only with better planning”.
To this end, the ‘Urban-Act’ project will support National, State, and Local authorities for the systematic integration of climate change perspectives into urban development and the urban planning system.
Project Relations
Project Details
Countries
China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand
Political Partners(India)
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Implementing Partners(India)
National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)(India)
Focus Cities(India)
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Panaji, Goa
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Partners
Cities at a glance
Project Outputs/ Components
Output
1
Improved institutional environment for climate-sensitive urban development
Assist national and/or state-level agencies in addressing barriers in the policy environment that hinder the localisation of climate change and sustainability targets.
Support the implementation of the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) and the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) of MoHUA at the national-level.
Output
2
Evidence based and inclusive climate sensitive spatial and urban planning
Evidence-based and inclusive climate-sensitive spatial and urban planning.
Revision of existing Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) guidelines and Master Plans & Local Area Plans, incorporating urban climate change aspects to plan low- carbon and resilient cities through participatory planning.
Output
3
Project concepts for urban climate action investments identified
Identify technical and institutional capacities at the city level for the development of viable project concepts for urban climate action investments.
Provide cities the support to explore access to finance in line with national climate policy frameworks, and analytical support for screening and climate-proofing urban investment plans or municipal budgets of the cities.
Output
4
Enhanced knowledge through regional networking, exchange and learning
Facilitate the enhancement of knowledge of urban practitioners and strengthening institutional capacities for climate action through training, regional networking, exchange, and learning.
This effort aims to complement the technical and process support provided in Outputs I-III.
Publication
Do you live in a Climate Smart City?
An illustrative guide to know if your city is prepared for Climate Change Guide
Updates
Launch of ‘Climate Considerations in City Plans’ at the 12th Session of the World Urban Forum, Cairo, Egypt
Launch of the white paper by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal, at the ‘Capacity for Change’ event
NIUA team at the workshop on 'Multi-level Climate Action Vertical and Horizontal Climate Governance and Integration' at Bangkok, Thailand
NIUA team along with city government officials from Panaji and Coimbatore presenting the collaboration on India's climate initiatives
Launch of the compendium on ‘Vibrant Public Spaces’ by the Hon’ble Minister of State of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Tokhan Sahu, at the ‘Capacity for Change’ event
Envisioned Impacts
The overall impact of the project envisages that cities are sensitised to bring in a climate lens while they plan and implement urban infrastructure projects.
The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) is mainstreamed, and local area/master planning processes integrate climate change aspects to become climate resilient.
The municipal practitioners are capacitated with regular handholding and exchange learning.
The cities’ access to domestic and international finance through partnerships is facilitated.
The project will upscale learnings from the three cities to implement coherent, evidence-based, and inclusive actions for sustainable, low-carbon and resilient urban development.
Related Reference Material
Related Links
International Climate Initiative
Video - Urban Act
Project Update - Urban India takes Action
Get in touch with us:
Sarath Babu MG - sarathbabu@niua.org
Akruti Murhekar - amurhekar@niua.org
Contact Us
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Please Call Help Desk at 011-411-86699
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Please write to us at c-cube@niua.org
