Srinagar- Installing solar power plants (SPP), replacing diesel gensets, adopting Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) and UJALA schemes for lighting, promoting the use of electric vehicles (EV), establishing a strong public transport (PT) system, and enhancing green cover are the steps authorities will be taking to mitigate climate change and increase climate resilience in Srinagar.
This was revealed by a Climate Resilient City Action Plan (CRCAP) for Srinagar city, prepared by the Department of Ecology, Environment, and Remote Sensing, Government of Jammu and Kashmir in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This initiative is in collaboration with Taru Leading Edge Pvt. Ltd. and Vasudha Foundation.
This draft marks the inaugural framework for the CRCAP and maintains that the CRCAP is committed to a net zero and climate-resilient Srinagar by 2050.
Mindful of the consequences of climate change to future generations living in Srinagar and its region, the CRCAP recognizes that actions must be prioritised across four sectors – power, energy and habitat sector; sustainable transport; agriculture and green spaces; waste management. The actions identified in each sector are framed on four pillars of success.
The CRCAP report estimated greenhouse gas emissions, identified vulnerability hotspots, understood critical infrastructure systems with respect to resilience, and developed specific climate change mitigation and adaptation plans, while also promoting sustainable development.
The CRCAP for Srinagar typically includes a thorough analysis of climate change risks, identifying priority areas for action, and developing action plans that include specific measures to boost the resilience and adaptive capacity of Srinagar city.
“Developing a Climate Resilient City Action Plan for Srinagar city is crucial for building a sustainable and resilient city that can withstand the impacts of climate change. This plan is comprehensive, involves stakeholder engagement, and has a clear implementation and monitoring strategy,” the report said, adding, “There has to be a sustainable plan for the development of Srinagar”
The experts suggested that for each of the sectors, the specific timeframe, priorities (short and medium-long term), entities that are primarily responsible for the implementation and various schemes and programmes that can support the intervention, funding sources, mitigation potential, indicators and measure outcomes are indicated.
The sectoral action plan focuses on power, energy and habitat sector, sustainable transport, agriculture and green spaces, and waste management as the key sectors for Srinagar city. The resilience interventions included in the action plan are informed by the baseline sectoral GHG emissions and identified climate vulnerabilities.
The team recommended a number of suggestions to save the city from Nature’s wrath. The key intervention that needs to be taken, according to the researchers, include scaling up Renewable Energy (RE) generation by promoting rooftop and ground mounted installations of solar power plants (SPP) at households, institutions, government buildings, commercial buildings etc in the city.
It also suggested encouraging faster penetration of the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) and UJALA Scheme (Domestic Efficient Lighting Program), that will ensure all lighting fixtures are replaced with energy-efficient LED bulbs, tube lights and fans at domestic, public buildings and streetlights.
The report also recommended replacing Diesel gensets in residential, commercial, institutional sectors with solar powered or other storage options.
It further says that the government needs wide-scale adoption of Electric Vehicles (EV) by increasing share in private passenger vehicles (cars and 2 wheelers), public transport (buses, mini-buses), intermediate public transport (3 wheelers, e-rickshaws), delivery service fleets, vehicle fleets owned by government departments etc:
“Establish widespread EV charging infrastructure (at strategic locations such as commercial hubs, public parking, airport, railway station etc.) free/subsidized parking spaces,” the report suggested.
The report further noted that a strong Public transport (PT) and Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) network in the city would discourage use of private vehicles and help curb Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and traffic congestion. It focused on enhancing green cover by increasing trees outside forest and green spaces through measures such as setting up of urban parks, floating gardens etc.
“These steps will reduce GHG emissions, improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and improve public health,” the experts recommended.
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