The Lima-Callao area has a population of 9 million andan economy worth US$66 billion in 2014. The preliminary results of our research indicate that the total energy bill for the city was US$4.7 billion and that the bill for waste and water was US$50 billion - meaning that 8% of everything earned in the local economy was spent on energy, water and waste.
Economic Times India reports on Climate Smart Cities launch in Kolkata
Kolkata ranks seventh highest in climate change in coming decades: Sanjay Wadhwani
Kolkata is a climate vulnerable city and according to a study ranked seventh in the global list of cities facing the highest climate change in the coming decades, British Deputy High Commissioner (Eastern India), Sanjay Wadhwani said today.
"We know that climate change will impact business and the Kolkata economy in sectors such as buildings, power, water and energy supply,"
Wadhwani said, announcing the launch of a study by the Centre for Low Carbon Futures (CLCF) and Jadavpur University.
Backed by the British Deputy High Commission, the study 'The Economis of a Low Carbon Kolkata as part of the 10 Climate Smart Cities' would be conducted in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and would help identify relevant policies to attract investment.
The KMA was chosen for the study because it is one of the 10 largest cities in the world and is growing at a rapid rate.
Jadavpur University Professor Joyashree Roy said the programme would create a global network of cities representing different climates and states of development and reflecting varied approaches to green growth and concerns relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
"We will identify the projects for reducing carbon emissions and green growth. We will also suggest cost effective ways for implementation of those projects," Roy said.
West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) Chairman Binay K Datta said, "We will have to streamline issues and areas before making a bigger plan for energy conservation. One-third of the water supply in the city is wasted because of silly reasons like pipe leakage, we need to plug such loopholes," he said.
"Even transport, we need more of elevated and underground metros to stop too much dependency on fuel-based transport," he said
He added that even housing projects needed to be designed in a way that lights and other electricity-based connections are wisely used.
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The Centre for Low Carbon Futures (CLCF) is a collaborative research centre that focuses on the evidence base and demonstration of low carbon innovations, formed by the Universities of Birmingham, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York.
