Now, citizens of Kolkata can make collective efforts towards combating climate change, with dedicated web-portal and mobile app
The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata organise programme on “Climate Smart City”
10th February, Kolkata:
Imagine if you could get information on eco-friendly measures and alerts during disasters as part of preparedness planning. Or if you could take steps at an individual level to make a difference to the climate change issues facing Kolkata. With India’s first ever integrated and dedicated climate cell at a municipality with a dedicated web-portal and mobile app for citizens, you can do exactly that.
The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata are jointly organising a programme on “Climate Smart City” and a Green Adda on “Climate Smart Kolkata” at The Park, a part of the GREAT Britain in Kolkata Week (7-13 February 2016).
The dignitaries to be present include Shri Debashis Sen (IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development & Town & Country Planning, Government of West Bengal and Chairman, Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, Government of West Bengal), Mr. Scott Furssedonn–Wood (British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata), Mr. Debasish Kumar (Member of Mayor-in-Council, Kolkata Municipal Corporation) among others.
There will be a curtain raiser of the proposed Kolkata Climate Change Cell to be established at Kolkata Municipal Corporation which will be India’s first ever integrated and dedicated climate cell at a municipality with a dedicated web-portal and mobile app for citizens. This mobile app is first-of-its-kind in the country and is intended to give out information to citizens on various eco-friendly measures and alerts during disasters as part of preparedness planning. This initiative is expected to help citizens take steps at individual and collective level to make a difference to the city. The app consists of rooftop solar feasibility calculator, which is a first of its kind in India. This Climate Change Cell initiative is expected to help citizens take steps at the individual and collective level.
The setup of the Climate Change Cell has been supported by the UK Government under a two-year UK-Kolkata Municipal Corporation Programme of £1 million technical assistance on low carbon and climate resilient Kolkata signed during UK’s Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron’s visit to Kolkata in November 2013.
The dialogue on Climate Smart City will focus on discussion of city level solutions, be it in the form of policies or in the form of implementation of innovative projects, to address opportunities and challenges arising out of climate change. Kolkata with a population of more than 16 million is a vital centre of economic growth in key emerging markets in eastern India. But at the same time, it has also been identified as a city which is extremely vulnerable to climate change, since it is exposed to sea level rise, flooding, heat waves, water shortages and climate-induced disasters such as increasingly severe and frequent storms and cyclones. Also the speed of urbanisation is fast emerging as an enhancer of the risks. Many reports over the years have stated that impacts of climate change could have far reaching consequences, not only for the people living in this city, but on business, national economy, trade and investment flowing into the state.
The dialogue will be followed by the Green Adda on “Climate Smart Kolkata” which is an attempt to bring together eminent personalities and thought leaders from different walks of life to present views on how Kolkata can be one of the greenest, cleanest and climate smart cities of the world