The Times of India 10.09.2009
UK consulate to help corporation fight global warming
CHENNAI: The British high commission is keen to help Chennai Corporation in preparing a road map in its fight against global warming, said British high commissioner to India, Richard Stagg. He was speaking to mediapersons at Ripon Buildings on Wednesday.
"In the wake of climatic change, Chennai, a coastal city, will face disastrous effects. And developed economies that have supplied the bulk of problems will have to give the bulk of solutions," Stagg said. The British high commission is funding the initiatives of ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) - Local Governments for Sustainability, a consortium of local bodies, in identifying action plans to reduce energy consumption in municipal corporation services and its operations.
As a first step in that direction, ICLEI has identified 50 cities in the south Asia and 42 cities in India, which includes nine cities from south India (Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Guntur, Vizag, Vijaywada, Mysore, Bangalore), to adress climate change. ICLEI has completed a detailed energy and carbon emission inventory for all the participating cities and identified sectors where the respective municipal corporations can take the lead.
"It concerns issues of management of solid waste, of using energy more efficiently so that supply meets demand, and of managing water so that people's livelihoods are met," UK government first secretary (climate change), Fergus Auld said.
In June this year, cities in south India had come together to sign Mysore Call', which acknowledged the crucial role of cities and local governments in confronting the challenge of climate change.
"In the wake of climatic change, Chennai, a coastal city, will face disastrous effects. And developed economies that have supplied the bulk of problems will have to give the bulk of solutions," Stagg said. The British high commission is funding the initiatives of ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) - Local Governments for Sustainability, a consortium of local bodies, in identifying action plans to reduce energy consumption in municipal corporation services and its operations.
As a first step in that direction, ICLEI has identified 50 cities in the south Asia and 42 cities in India, which includes nine cities from south India (Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Guntur, Vizag, Vijaywada, Mysore, Bangalore), to adress climate change. ICLEI has completed a detailed energy and carbon emission inventory for all the participating cities and identified sectors where the respective municipal corporations can take the lead.
"It concerns issues of management of solid waste, of using energy more efficiently so that supply meets demand, and of managing water so that people's livelihoods are met," UK government first secretary (climate change), Fergus Auld said.
In June this year, cities in south India had come together to sign Mysore Call', which acknowledged the crucial role of cities and local governments in confronting the challenge of climate change.
