ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, an international association of local governments, today released a report highlighting energy consumption and carbon emissions of key cities across India and South Asia in New Delhi today. The study covers 40 Indian and 13 international cities, mostly from South Asia. It captures data from different sectors like residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and also discusses the action plans cities have proposed to curb carbon emission and reduce energy consumption. The report seeks to support the South Asian local governments in understanding the contribution of city level carbon emissions and develop regional consensus on local action plans to address climate change issues and also networking them to contribute towards the Post 2012 International Negotiation Processes on Climate Change. The project is supported by the British High Commission.

Owen Jenkins, Counsellor, Climate Change and Energy, British High Commission-DFID India said: "The leadership shown by the cities involved in this work is extremely impressive. Their commitment has provided a new and comprehensive view of energy use and carbon emissions in cities. This will be crucial in helping inform the cities' leaders in their future planning and help provide an example to others at a time when climate change is consistently at the front of people's minds.  I am very pleased that the British High Commission has been able to support this work."

Emani Kumar, Director, ICLEI South Asia said: “Great to see the support of 53 South Asian cities, and also respective sub national and national government to address climate change issues. We hope the cities will implement the suggested action plans by us and show the response to the world.”

The findings of the report will help in developing and including climate protection measures in national and city level policies and action plans to limit climate change. Also, the analysis will help individual cities to develop their own operational action plans that will help reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promoting greater uptake of renewable energy and more efficient use of energy to help address climate change and enhance energy security.

Notes for Editors

• The project “Roadmap of South Asian Cities and Local Governments for the post 2012 global climate agreement” is an international initiative with 53 South Asian cities where 40 cities are from India and 13 cities are distributed in countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The participating cities shared the information related to energy consumption in various sectors such as street lighting, transportation, water pumping system, residential, commercial, industrial etc. ICLEI South Asia analysed this information to arrive at the City Energy Status Report, which indicates energy consumption by considered service sectors and resultant carbon emissions of the 53 South Asian cities.
• For realising initiatives in emerging economies of Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa, Local Government Associations across the world, including ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Metropolis, the C40 Climate Leadership Group, and the World Mayors Council on Climate Change (WMCCC) have come together for the first time. With support from European Commission (Europe Aid), they are currently implementing the “Local Governments’ mobilisation and backing for the development and implementation of a global and comprehensive post-2012 climate change agreement” project in these countries. 
  
• ICLEI South Asia provides technical consulting, training, and information services to build capacity, share knowledge, and support local governments in the implementation of sustainable development at the local level. The basic premise is that locally designed initiatives can provide an effective and cost-efficient way to achieve local, national, and global sustainability objectives.
• The project is funded under the Strategic Programme Fund (SPF) - formerly the Global Opportunities Fund - which was established in 2003 to support the UK’s international goals. The purpose of SPF is to promote action on global issues in areas of strategic importance to the UK. SPF funds projects around the world relating to the HMG’s departmental strategic objectives (DSOs). To know more visit UkinIndia.
• To know more about the project please visit the ICLEI website.
  
• For more information about the project and a copy of the report, please email Emani Kumar at Tel: 91-120-4368400 or visit ICLEI website.

5.11.2009

Dan Chugg
Director, Press and Communications
British High Commission
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Tel: 26872161; Fax: 26870065
mailto: Sidharth.Patnaik@fco.gov.uk

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