Mumbai has set a lofty target of becoming net-zero by 2050

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with technical support from the World Resources Institute (WRI) India and the C40 Cities network, launched the city's first Climate Action Plan on Sunday, amid warnings of severe damages from sea-level rise, critically high temperatures, and increased risks from climate impacts for coastal cities like Mumbai (MCAP).

 

Following the recent publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II report, a vulnerability assessment, Green House Gas (GHG) inventory, and natural green cover inventory were conducted over the last six months.

 

MACP is a policy statement that outlines how to transition from action planning to strategic projects by using an evidence-based planning methodology and mobilising resources. The overarching mitigation target of MCAP is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In comparison to base year emissions, the plan's interim and long-term goals include a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030, a 44% reduction by 2040, and a net-zero reduction by 2050. (2019). The base year carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e) for 2019 were predicted to be 23.42 million tonnes, or 1.8 tonnes CO2e per person.

 

The BMC also wants to achieve net-zero before the Government of India's goal of 2070, as part of the strategy. Net-zero refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

This is significant in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments at the Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, which established a 2070 Net Zero objective for the country.

 

Under the building energy efficiency theme, the MCAP focuses on decarbonizing Mumbai's energy grid and constructing energy-efficient and climate-resilient infrastructure, as well as promoting low-carbon mobility solutions under the sustainable mobility theme, with a strong emphasis on non-motorized transportation infrastructure and zero-emission fuels. Under sustainable waste management, MCAP strives to establish a zero-landfill waste management plan.

 

The urban greening and biodiversity theme, meanwhile, will focus on increasing resilience by reducing water-sanitation inequity and adopting nature-based solutions for water conservation and flood risk management, while the urban flooding and water resource management theme will focus on reducing heat risk and increasing the city's resilience to flooding events. By enhancing monitoring, establishing effective legislation, and moving to cleaner technology, MCAP hopes to reduce air pollution.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @fpjindia