ICLEI-South Asia

24/01/2025

ICLEI South Asia is supporting the municipality of to prepare an Action Plan and recently visited the city to speak with the Municipal Commissioner. During the tour, the team looked at important infrastructure such as the water supply system, solid waste management (SWM), and f***l management systems and helped the officials analyse their issues and identify suitable solutions through detailed conversations with the local municipal staff.

It is encouraging to see Nuwara Eliya working with Korean, Japanese, and UN financing, which will surely help to accelerate its development. Moving forward, ICLEI South Asia is committed to engaging key stakeholders and offering training on Sri Lanka's Climate Action Plan.

As we celebrate , it is vital to highlight how these partnerships and knowledge exchanges contribute to building resilient communities and advancing climate action.



Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities | Climate and Development Knowledge Network | Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula

24/01/2025

On this International Day of Education, ICLEI South Asia strengthens its commitment to empowering local governments and communities via sustainable and inclusive education. 🌱📚

Education is an important driver of climate change action, and by incorporating environmental and social learning into local policies, we are creating more resilient futures for everyone.

Together, we can build more sustainable cities and regions in which every person has access to the information and resources they require to succeed.

Let us continue to translate education into action for a greener, brighter tomorrow. 🌿💡



IDRC / CRDI | The Asia LEDS Partnership | CapaCITIES

Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Monalisa Sen

23/01/2025

Kudos to the DMA Tamil Nadu and the cities of , and on their visionary approach to implement Net-zero Climate Resilient City Action Plans 2070. Plans are afoot to establish Climate cells to prepare and implement annual climate action plans.

The DMA is keen to scale up climate action to 21 other cities under TNCRUDP. The CapaCITIES project will also provide the necessary training and technical support to the DMA.



Tirunelveli City Municipal Corporation | Coimbatore Corporation | Swiss Development & Cooperation | South Pole

14/01/2025

Wishing everyone a joyful Pongal and Makar Sankranti! 🌞

As we celebrate the harvest festival, let us also reflect on the importance of sustainability in shaping a greener future. At ICLEI South Asia, we remain committed to empowering communities to adopt eco-friendly practices, ensuring a healthier planet for generations to come. 🌍

May this season bring prosperity, peace, and a renewed sense of responsibility towards our environment. 🌱



Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula

31/12/2024

As we welcome the New Year, the team at ICLEI South Asia sends our warmest wishes for a prosperous and sustainable 2025! 🎉🌱

Together, we can create lasting impact for communities and the planet. Here's to new beginnings, growth, and collaboration in 2025! 🌍💚

27/12/2024

Driving Green Tourism in Dalhousie-Chamba! 🚗⚡

A stakeholder sensitization workshop was held in Dalhousie-Chamba with the support of ICLEI South Asia, the Directorate of Transport Shimla, and the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department on 17 December 2024. The focus: advancing sustainable tourism through electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in hotels.

Key discussions included the Himachal Pradesh EV Policy, strategies for overcoming financial challenges, and the competitive benefits of EV adoption for the tourism sector. Insights from charging point operators and collaborative efforts between public and private stakeholders highlighted the way forward.

Hotel owners and local authorities pledged their support, recognizing the potential of EV infrastructure to enhance Dalhousie's green reputation and attract eco-conscious travelers.

To Know More: https://shorturl.at/X3MGt

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My EV Point | Emani Kumar

27/12/2024

Exciting Progress Towards Sustainable Urban Mobility! 🌱🚖

ICLEI-South Asia is proud to have facilitated a significant milestone under the Green Mobility Zone program! A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and the Municipal Corporation Udaipur to provide technical support for developing a viable business model that transitions rickshaw drivers to electric autos. This initiative aims to promote sustainable urban mobility and reduce environmental impact.

ICLEI South Asia played a role in bringing both parties together, formalizing the MoU, fostering discussions, exchanging ideas, and organizing stakeholder meetings to drive this development forward.

This collaboration underscores the importance of collective action for greener, more inclusive cities. 🌍💚



Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula

25/12/2024

From all of us at ICLEI South Asia, we wish you a Merry Christmas filled with joy, peace, and hope! 🎄✨

As we reflect on the year, we are grateful for the collective efforts toward building a sustainable and resilient future. May the spirit of the season inspire us all to continue working together for a greener planet.

Here's to a bright and impactful New Year ahead! 🌍💚

19/12/2024

19/12/2024

18/12/2024

📣​ JOB VACANCY

We are looking for multiple talented professionals to join our incredible team.​

⭐️ Project Associate / Project Officer - Biodiversity

Find Out More & Apply Now:​ https://shorturl.at/oHFuH



Emani Kumar | Monalisa Sen

13/12/2024

12/12/2024

The December 2024 ICLEI South Asia Newsletter is here!

From to launching urban food gardens in India, ICLEI South Asia is leading the way in sustainable urban development! 🌍✨

Here are a few highlights:
🌱 At COP29, we emphasized the vital role of local governments in climate action.
🍎 Partnering with Amazon to create urban food gardens in India’s megacities.
💧 Tackling water scarcity in Darjeeling with community-led solutions.
🌿 Leading the National Conference on Urban Biodiversity to promote sustainability.

Stay informed and be part of the movement. 🔔 Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on our impactful initiatives!

🌱 Check it out now!
📰 Read More: https://shorturl.at/lc4ix
✅ Subscribe Here: bit.ly/43V8LRv



Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Bedoshruti Sadhukhan | Divyaprakash Vyas | Monalisa Sen

11/12/2024

ICLEI-South Asia organized a stakeholder consultation meeting in on 10 December 2024, under the ‘Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN): Accelerating Inclusive Action’ Programme. The Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) has developed the Climate Resilience City Action Plan ( ) with technical assistance from ICLEI South Asia and support from C40 Cities. In response to valuable insights gained on the growing challenges of climate extremes, the city has proactively collaborated under the CDKN Programme for planning, implementation, and capacity-building on climate-induced disaster-resilient development, integrating gender-responsive, social inclusion, and ecosystem-based approaches.

Convened and spearheaded by Ms. Bhawna, Municipal Commissioner, KMC, the meeting was attended by around 20 participants, representing the Climate Core Team of KMC, various district and state departments (including the District Disaster Management Authority, District Forest Office, District Fire Office, Pollution Control Board, and others), as well as civil society organizations.

The ICLEI South Asia team presented the process and key findings of the climate action plan. They also demonstrated the process of assessing disaster resilience using the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The team highlighted the city’s progress, the efforts of relevant stakeholders, and sought stakeholder inputs for transitioning to climate-induced disaster resilience.

The Commissioner emphasized, “While the climate action plan serves as a foundation for long-term benefits, considering the slow onset of climate extremes, a coastal city such as Kakinada must be proactive in building resilience to address the recurring threat of climate hazards.”

Participants deliberated on the efforts of various stakeholders to safeguard the city’s people, infrastructure, and ecosystems from future climate-related disruptions. They discussed the scope and opportunities to be integrated into the assessment process. The meeting concluded with consensus on the need for a collaborative approach in crafting climate and disaster resilience action plans.



Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula

06/12/2024

Enabling a 1.5°C Future: Strategies for Sustainable and Resilient Transport Systems 🌍

The Asia LEDS Partnership (hosted by ICLEI-South Asia, ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, and ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat) is excited to co-host the pre-event at the High-Level 16th Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia: Sustainable Urban Mobility Solutions- Empowering Cities towards Low Carbon Pathways for Achieving Co-benefits & Economic Resilience in the SDGs Era, to be held on 9 December 2024 at the Innovation Hub, ADB Headquarters, , .

This event, organized by the Asia LEDS Partnership, Global Climate Action Partnership ( ), and Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport, will focus on the urgent need for sustainable transport solutions in the Asia-Pacific region.

🚗 Why is this important? The Asia-Pacific region is the world’s largest and fastest-growing emitter of transport CO2, and without a major shift, these negative impacts will continue to rise. However, there is growing momentum towards a net-zero future for transport in the region.

🌱 Key Outcomes:
• Strengthening the connection between climate action, transport policies, and economic development.
• Supporting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in decarbonizing their transport sectors.
• Fostering international cooperation to enhance knowledge-based policymaking and technical capacity.

This session will bring together policymakers, experts, and key stakeholders to explore practical approaches for transforming transport systems in line with climate and sustainability goals. It will also highlight key findings from the Asian Transport Outlook (ATO) and SLOCAT’s policy analyses.

Join us to help pave the way for clean, sustainable, and resilient transport in the Asia-Pacific!



United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) | Asian Development Bank | U.S. Department of State | NITI Aayog | Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula

03/12/2024

Highlights from the National Conference on Urban Biodiversity! 🌱

ICLEI-South Asia, in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority India, hosted a successful National Conference on Urban Biodiversity in Hyderabad on 29-30 November 2024. With over 200 delegates from 35 cities across India, this two-day event sparked insightful discussions on the urgent need for biodiversity conservation in our urban spaces.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Integration of biodiversity & urban planning: Addressing the challenges of urbanization and the role cities play in meeting India's revised National Biodiversity Targets (NBT).

✅ Sharing best practices & innovations: From local government representatives to environmental experts, the conference showcased groundbreaking ideas for sustainable urban biodiversity solutions.

✅ Collaboration for action: A strong emphasis on fostering partnerships between governments, NGOs, and the private sector for coordinated efforts in biodiversity conservation.

Check the post to see what the speakers and guests had to say:

Let’s continue working together to create cities that nurture both people and planet. 🌍✨



Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India | Rajkot Municipal Corporation | Smart City Nagpur | Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation | Municipal Corporation of Delhi | Gwalior Municipal Corporation

Nayanaben Pedhadiya | Emani Kumar | Monalisa Sen

02/12/2024

Highlights: National Conference on Urban Biodiversity!

ICLEI South Asia, in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority, successfully organized a two-day National Conference on Urban Biodiversity in on 29-30 November 2024. The event brought together over 200 delegates, including mayors, policymakers, environmental experts, and urban planners from 35 cities across India. The conference provided a platform to discuss pressing biodiversity conservation issues in urban environments.

The inaugural session saw participation from distinguished guests, including Smt. Vijayalaxmi Gadwal, Hon'ble Mayor of Hyderabad, who emphasized the importance of integrating urban biodiversity into city planning. Technical sessions covered topics ranging from foundational principles of urban biodiversity to showcasing best practices from cities across India.

The conference concluded with a field visit to the Botanical Gardens in , Hyderabad, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts in promoting urban biodiversity. This timely event served as a call for prioritizing biodiversity in urban development to ensure sustainable and environmentally responsible cities.



National Biodiversity Authority | Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India | Rajkot Municipal Corporation | Emani Kumar | Monalisa Sen