ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Dull, inert cities, it is true, do contain the seeds of their own destruction and little else. But lively, diverse, intense cities contain the seeds of their own regeneration, with energy enough to carry over for problems and needs outside themselves.” - (Jane Jacobs, 1961)
Cities, being the engine of global economic growth, are experiencing multifold impacts of the climate change. From heat waves to cyclones to droughts, the frequency and intensity of these natural events harming the natural and built environments have been increasing rapidly. Already, cities are faced with the challenges associated with providing adequate and quality infrastructure and municipal services to their citizens, the added pressure to address the rising impacts of climate change may affect the operating and management mechanisms of the cities. To address these challenges holistically, cities need to adopt an integrated approach that provides a sustainable direction towards building an environment that improves the livability dimension for the cities as well as for its citizens. An integrated approach towards urban and infrastructure planning not only focuses on redefining the approach for identifying and addressing the prevailing urban challenges but also integrates an approach that addresses the physical and financial planning for the cities, providing holistic benefits including social, economic, and environmental. Further, a climate-based planning approach needs to be adopted by cities, including maintaining a GHG inventory that needs to be complemented by data-driven approach. Incorporating these dimensions will assist the cities in planning effective and efficient measures, achieving a sense of resilience. The major project was oriented towards devising sustainable actionable interventions (based on the recommendations of SUNDAR India) for cities to adopt and become resilient to the impacts of climate change. The project also included examining the financial capacities of Indian cities and further, encourage Visakhapatnam (as a pilot) to adopt non-conventional sources of financing.
