16-20 December: Focus on Siliguri’s River Restoration
From December 16 to 20, European experts Ruslan and Alejandro visited Siliguri to explore opportunities for supporting the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the natural restoration of the city’s rivers through nature-based solutions. The initiative aims to enhance ecological balance, reduce pollution, and promote sustainable urban development.
During their visit, the experts engaged with a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA), the Irrigation Department, the Pollution Control Board, and the Forest Department...
A key meeting was recently held with Sh. Moses Kunzang, Director, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), UT Ladakh, to discuss the way forward for the implementation of the Leh Climate Action Plan (CAP). This meeting highlighted strategic areas of focus and funding opportunities for the CAP, emphasizing a collaborative approach to achieving climate resilience in Leh.
The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) delivered a presentation detailing the key thrust areas for the Leh CAP, which include promoting the use of renewable energy, advancing electric vehicle adoption, creating a dedicated climate cell within the Leh Municipal Committee (LMC), and implementing water-related measures to build climate resilience...
The Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) South Asia Cluster Meeting was organised by All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG) on September 23, 2024, in New Delhi, as part of the ongoing commitment to foster regional collaboration on climate action.
The meeting was attended by Mr Pier Remitti, Co-managing director GCoM Secretariat; Ms Eline Houwer, EU Delegation to India, all members of the GCoM South Asia Secretariat (NIUA, ICLEI South Asia & AIILSG); representatives of the GCoM SA Coordination group member, namely, CDP, Climate Group and WRI as well as city officials from two GCoM signatory cities – Leh and Jamnagar...
Cocoparks, a leading curb and parking management startup based in France, is proud to announce the deployment of its innovative smart parking technology in the city of Shimla, India. This project marks a significant milestone in Cocoparks' mission to transform urban mobility and optimize parking management globally through cutting-edge technology. It will be deployed by end of 2024.
The project in Shimla aims to address the city's longstanding parking challenges by introducing a revolutionary technology that detects available parking spots in real-time...
Leh, Ladakh – In a landmark event for environmental sustainability, the Leh City Climate Action Plan (CAP) was officially launched on September 6th, 2024, during the Climate 11 Summit in Leh. The unveiling, led by Chief Guest Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), marked a pivotal step in the city’s commitment to combating climate change.
The Leh CAP aims to significantly reduce the city’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while bolstering its resilience to climate impacts...
On 29 July 2024, workshop on ‘Advancing Climate Action: Implementation Strategies and Lessons Learned’ was organised by Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) South Asia’s Technical Coordinator, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia. The workshop was supported by GCoM South Asia, funded by the European Union, and the Capacity Building Project on Low Carbon and Climate Resilient City Development in India project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation...
On July 5, 2024, Pune’s Climate Action Plan was presented to Mr. Madhav Jagtap, Head of the Environment Department, Pune Municipal Corporation by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and funded by the European Union.
The journey began in May 2023 with stakeholder consultations involving government officials, NGOs, and academia. Over the past year, a series of consultations and field visits have meticulously shaped the comprehensive plan we presented...
The Jamnagar City Climate Action Plan, aiming for a Net-Zero carbon footprint by 2050 has been developed by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and funded by the European Union. The plan was presented on July 16, 2024, to Mr. D N Modi, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Jamnagar.
Known as the ‘Jewel of Kathiawar,’ Jamnagar is a coastal city in Gujarat's Saurashtra region. Jamnagar has become a hub for traditional textile crafts like-dye and Bandhani techniques...
The comprehensive report of Junagadh City Climate Action Plan, aiming for a Net-Zero carbon footprint by 2050, was presented to Junagadh Municipal Commissioner on July 12, 2024, developed with GCoM and funded by the EU.
Junagadh’s total emissions for the inventory year are 422,512 MTCO2e, translating to a per capita emission rate of 0.96 MTCO2e. Stationary energy accounts for over 63% of these emissions, with residential and industrial consumption being major contributors. Transportation emissions are nearly 25% of the total, primarily from petrol, diesel, and CNG vehicles...
Leh: The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) South Asia chapter recently presented the Leh Climate Action Plan in the finalization meeting held on July 4, 2024 at the Civil Secretariat in Leh. The meeting focused on the comprehensive plan to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint in Leh by 2047.
Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS, Advisor to Hon'ble Lt. Governor, chaired the finalization meeting. The meeting was attended by key dignitaries including Shri Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS, Principal Secretary (Housing and Urban Dev...
Bangkok, 12-13 June 2024 | After three and a half years of implementation, the European Union-funded GCoM Asia Project is coming to an end. Since 2021, the project has worked across eight Asian countries, supporting climate action for over 250 cities. Through technical assistance, capacity building, networking, and knowledge-sharing activities, the GCoM Asia Project has helped local climate action planning and implementation at the city level.
This workshop, titled ‘Advancing Climate Action for Resilient Cities,’ was an excellent opportunity to showcase collective achievements, share lessons learned, and discuss ways to move forward to strengthen actions and achieve climate goals...
Bangkok, Thailand — On June 12-13, representatives from GCoM Asia countries will gather in Bangkok, Thailand, alongside key technical partners to showcase all the progress and achievements made during the 3.5 years of the GCoM Asia project and conclude the project as a whole...
The 15th Meeting of the GCoM Coordination Group India and Way Forward convened on April 04, 2024, in New Delhi, marking an important moment to review past achievements and plan future steps. Representatives from European Delegation to India, GCoM Team, AIILSG, CDP, ICLEI SA, NIUA, TERI, The Climate Group, and WRI actively participated in the discussion. Participants engaged in productive discussions, exchanging insights from completed and on-going efforts of South Asian cities.
GCoM South Asia recently held important meetings in Pune on 7th and 8th March 2024. The aim was to discuss and prioritise the key interventions planned/conceptualized as part of Pune Climate Action Plan. One first day, there was a meeting with the Additional Municipal Commissioner of Pune. This meeting was about understanding Pune's plans for a greener future/livable city and how to work together on them. The team from NIUA headed by Mr. Victor Shinde has presented the list of potential interventions (mitigation and adaption) in different sectors eg...
Junagadh is gearing up for a sustainable transformation with the recent 'Vision Setting' stakeholder consultation organized by the NIUA in partnership with Global Covenant of Mayors South Asia and the Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JuMC) as part of preparation of a net zero climate action plan (CAP) on 22nd February 2024.
The consultation witnessed the active participation of key stakeholders, including Municipal Commissioner Dr. Om Prakash (IAS), Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dr...
In a significant stride towards a sustainable future, Jamnagar successfully conducted the 'Vision Setting' stakeholder consultation meeting for its City Climate Action Plan (CAP) on 20th February 2024. This meeting was made conducted as part of the preparation of a Climate Action Plan for Jamnagar under EU supported Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) in South Asia program. The consultation aimed at laying the groundwork for Jamnagar's Climate Action Plan by:
1. Understanding the current environmental baseline of Jamnagar city...
The GCoM South Asia Webinar ‘Mobilizing Climate Finance for Cities - Unveiling Strategies for Navigating from Concept to Financing’, organized by ICLEI South Asia, the GCoM South Asia Technical Coordinator, with support of the European Union Delegation to India (EUD), the GCoM India Coordinator, and GCoM SA Networking and Governance Coordinator, aimed to facilitate capacity and knowledge building of GCoM South Asian cities and beyond by preparing good quality applications and EoIs to access climate finance...
All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) as the Networking and Governance Coordinator for Global Covenant of Mayors South Asia (GCOM SA) in association with the EU-funded Global GCoM Asia Support Project organized the Global Covenant of Mayors South Asia Regional Workshop ‘Advancing Climate Action and Enabling Access to Climate Finance in South Asia’ at the Soaltee, Kathmandu, Nepal on December 5-7, 2023 at Kathmandu, Nepal.
The primary objective of this three-day workshop was to provide signatory GCoM cities with hands-on training to use essential tools and insights to access climate finance opportunities effectively and connect them with EU businesses providing technical solutions...
Kathmandu, Nepal — On December 5-7, representatives from GCoM South Asia signatories in India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh will gather to further increase knowledge and awareness, as well as receive hands-on training, on how to access climate financing opportunities alongside EU delegations and businesses, the All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG), the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN), ICLEI South Asia, Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) at NIUA, and other technical partners...
Mumbai, India: AIILSG, Networking, and Governance Coordinator of the Global Covenant of Mayors South Asia (GCoM SA), organized a Regional Cluster Meeting on October 26, 2023, at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. The session was attended by several Indian cities, including representatives from a few GCoM signatory cities, such as Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Shimla, Pune, Mumbai, and more. There were a total of 30 participants.
The factsheet showcases all the essential GCoM South Asia initiatives and activities for the year (July 2022 to June 2023).
In a dynamic meeting, representatives from NIUA, GCoM South Asia, EU in India and Municipal committee Leh had the privilege of updating Hon’ble LG Ladakh Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra on the progress of the Leh Climate Action Plan (CAP). Team Leader, NIUA, Shri Victor Shinde apprised the HLG about their plan to prepare the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Leh town. HLG, the officials from NIUA and MC Leh discussed various issues faced by Ladakh, including water scarcity and groundwater management.
We are thrilled to announce that Mayor Rohit Monserrate of Panaji, a proud signatory of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), participated in the prestigious High-Level Dialogue on Sustainable Cooling. This event brought together leaders and experts from around the world to discuss and strategize sustainable cooling solutions for our planet.
Panaji has been shortlisted as part of the global cohort of cities for the Urban Transitions Mission on Mission Innovation...
Goa, India: On July 20th 2023, The Mayors-Ministers Dialogue on Future-proofing Urban Infrastructures brought together national and local government leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss and strategize innovative urban infrastructure solutions. With cities accounting for over 70% of global energy consumption, the dialogue emphasized their crucial role in achieving a sustainable transition to a climate-neutral future.
Dr. Cathy Oke, Senior Advisor at the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, delivered the welcoming remarks, setting the context for the dialogue...
Mumbai, India — On May 18-19, representatives from GCoM South Asia signatories in India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh gathered to discuss, learn, and share knowledge on climate finance and funding mechanisms alongside EU delegations, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and technical partners as part of the GCoM South Asia Regional Workshop in Mumbai, India...
Cities have been greatly impacted by climate change, but many are taking action to mitigate its effects and adapt to the changing conditions. Thomasz Gawlic, Member of the 'International Climate Finance' unit at the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), European Commission - focal Point for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) - spoke at length about cities preparing climate action plans and the ways the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) has been by their side. Abhisek Pandey, Editor of Urban Update, interviewed Thomasz Gawlic on diverse issues concerning cities around the world especially when they are greatly affected by climate change and the role of the European Green Deal in making an impact in Europe and elsewhere...
The newsletter puts together recent updates of signatory cities from GCoM South Asia Network, major events and news updates from GCoM South Asia Coordinators and Partners, along with South Asian best practices. To veiw the GCoM South Asia Newsletter, please click below:
DHULIKHEL, Nepal: Mr. Ashok Kumar Byanju, Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipal Corporation, signed the commitment letter to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), thus making Dhulikhel the 47th city from South Asia and fourth city from Nepal to join this global network. GCoM is the largest coalition of mayors committed to taking action on climate change. This global network currently includes over 12,700 cities and local governments representing around 1 billion people spread across 142 countries...
Heat-related socioecological risks are one of the most significant challenges posed by a rising global temperature. This frequently results in potentially reparable but significant economic damages and irreparable human losses. The risk is particularly high in approximately 60% of working population in South Asia that is engaged in outdoor labour activities, which serves as the mainstay of economies of South Asian countries. To respond to the growing challenges related to extreme heat, government and policy bodies need to implement strategies that will improve building design, urban planning, and emergency planning through regulations, incentives, pilot projects, and climate resilience programs...
The Global Covenant of Mayors South Asia (GCoM SA) session was conducted during the 6th Asian Cities Sumit with the theme ‘Local Actions and Global Collaboration’ held on April 07, 2023 in New Delhi, India. The session was attended by over 20 South Asian city mayors of which 15 mayors were representing the GCoM SA signatory cities including cities of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
The Cluster meet of GCoM for Climate and Energy South Asia was held in the city of Ahmedabad on February 08, 2023. The cluster meet was attended by councilors from four signatory cities of Gujarat State along with delegates from GCoM SA Secretary. The sessions consisted of various presentations as a means for knowledge exchange and experience sharing.
Global Secretariat of Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy organised a five-day Open House at International Press Centre and Hotel NH Berlaymont in Brussels from Jan 23-27, 2023. Representatives of regional covenants, country representatives, and delegations from partner organisations, including the European Commission, Bloomberg Philanthropies, GIZ, ICLEI, DAI, and UCLG Global, among others, were present in-person to participate in a series of meetings, knowledge-sharing sessions, technical working group presentations, and interactive city-to-city exchange sessions...
ICLEI South Asia, the GCoM South Asia Technical Coordinator, with support of the European Union Delegation to India (EUD) and GCoM’s Country Coordinator India organised a webinar on ‘Holistic Management of Waste to Promote Circularity in South Asian Cities’ on 16th December 2022. Convened as part of the GCoM South Asia webinar series under the EU-funded Project for Global Covenants of Mayors–Asia, the session aimed at promoting the development of GCoM South Asian cities' ability and understanding on practical approaches to solid waste management, circular development and beyond through Indian and European settings...
The 14th GCoM South Asia Coordination Group meeting was held on November 28, 2022 in New Delhi, India.
TRIVANDRUM, Kerala: Arya Rajendran, Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, signed the commitment letter to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), thus making Trivandrum the 29th city from India and second city from Kerala to join this global network. The other member city from the state is Kochi. GCoM is the largest coalition of mayors committed to taking action on climate change. This global network currently includes over 11,500 cities and local governments representing around 1 billion people spread across 142 countries...
ICLEI South Asia, the GCoM South Asia Technical Coordinator, organized a webinar on ‘Integrated Climate Action Planning and Reporting for South Asian Cities’ with support of the European Union Delegation to India (EUD) and GCoM’s Country Coordinator - India on 28th September 2022. The webinar was organized under the EU-funded Project for Global Covenants of Mayors–Asia. The session aimed to facilitate capacity and knowledge building of GCoM South Asian cities and beyond on effective climate action planning, implementation and reporting...
DHARAMSHALA, Himachal Pradesh: Onkar Singh Nehria, Mayor of Dharamshala Municipal Corporation, signed the commitment letter to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), thus making Dharamshala the 27th city from India to join this global network. GCoM is the largest coalition of mayors committed to taking actions on climate change. This global network currently includes over 11,500 cities and local governments representing around 1 billion people spread across 142 countries. The cities and partners of GCoM share a long-term vision of supporting voluntary action to combat climate change...
Ahmedabad: The Climate Centre for Cities (C-CUBE) of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), in collaboration with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) Asia, organised a two-day workshop ‘National Training cum Workshop for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation’ at Ahmedabad on August 29-30. Over 24 city officials from 17 cities participated in the workshop. The workshop began with the opening remarks of Kamila Kristensen Rai, Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to India, and Shwetal Shah, Technical Advisor, Climate Change Department, Government of Gujarat...
National and local governments will identify the most effective way for integration of city-level Climate Action Plans within the NDC multilevel implementation process, involving financial institutions for a faster unlocking of climate action financing. New GCoM country-tailored initiatives to support multilevel climate action will be launched. In this perspective, the GCoM session at COP26 on “Localizing the NDCs: how do we fund and implement action at scale?” will be taking place on 9th November, 2021 which aims to contribute to identifying technical procedures and institutional mechanisms for multi-level implementation of Climate Action Plans at scale…...
During the 1st India - European Union Forum organized on 17-18 September 2019 in New Delhi, seven new Indian cities, namely Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kochi and Vadodara signed the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCOM) commitment in presence of Mr. Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and other senior EU officials. Since the launch of GCOM-South Asia in May 2018, 15 Indian cities in total representing over 25 million people, have committed to climate action...
Both cities then applied for funding through the European Union International Urban Cooperation programme (IUC). Since december 2017 Rotterdam and Surat were officially paired as part of the IUC programme. After couple of exchange visits the outcome is that Rotterdam- Surat have developed implementable Water Resilience Plan for Surat.