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Decarbonization Avenue : Low Carbon Cities

In India, rapid urbanization is leading to an increase in the urban population, which is projected to reach 600 million by 2030. This urban growth presents both challenges and opportunities for decarbonization. Indian cities, which already face significant energy demand and emissions issues, can become focal points for implementing effective decarbonization strategies. Cities are responsible for a substantial portion of the country's energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, making them critical to achieving national climate goals.

 

Current Scenario

Urban Population and Energy Use

  • Urbanization Rate: India's urban population is expected to increase from 34% in 2020 to 40% by 2030.
  • Energy Consumption: Urban areas consume around 70% of the total energy produced in the country.
  • GHG Emissions: Indian cities contribute significantly to national greenhouse gas emissions, with urban transportation, industrial activities, and residential energy use being major sources.

 

Key Technology

Sustainable Building and Construction

  • Green Buildings: Promote the construction of green buildings that meet energy efficiency standards and use sustainable materials.
  • Retrofitting: Implement retrofitting programs for existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

 

Urban Transportation

  • Public Transport: Expand and improve public transportation systems, including metro, bus rapid transit (BRT), and electric buses.
  • Non-Motorized Transport: Promote cycling and walking by developing dedicated lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): Support the adoption of electric vehicles through incentives, charging infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns.

 

Energy Supply and Management

  • Renewable Energy: Integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into the urban energy grid.
  • Smart Grids: Develop smart grid infrastructure to optimize energy distribution and reduce losses.

 

Heating and Cooling Systems

  • District Cooling and Heating: District cooling and heating systems to improve energy efficiency in urban areas.
  • Efficient Appliances: Use of energy-efficient appliances and HVAC systems in residential and commercial buildings.

 

Case Studies

  • Delhi’s Green Building Initiative: To promote the construction of energy-efficient buildings. The Delhi government has implemented incentives for green buildings, including fast-track approvals and subsidies.
  • Pune’s Electric Bus Fleet: To reduce emissions from urban transportation. Pune has introduced a fleet of electric buses as part of its public transport system, supported by central government incentives.
  • Bangalore’s Solar Rooftop Program: To increase the adoption of renewable energy in urban areas. Bangalore has promoted rooftop solar installations through subsidies and net metering policies.

Decarbonization potential

India's rapid urbanization, with an urban population projected to reach 600 million by 2030, presents a significant opportunity for decarbonization. Urban areas consume around 70% of the country's energy and contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. By implementing sustainable building practices, enhancing public transportation, integrating renewable energy, and promoting energy efficiency, Indian cities can significantly reduce their carbon footprint. These efforts not only mitigate climate change but also improve urban livability and public health. 

 

Key Datapoints

  • Urban Renewable Energy: Increase the share of renewable energy in urban areas to 40% of total energy consumption.
  • Public Transport Expansion: Double the public transport network in major cities and increase ridership by 50%.
  • Green Building Certification: Achieve green building certification for 30% of new constructions in urban areas.
  • Electric Vehicle Adoption: Ensure that 30% of new vehicle registrations in urban areas are electric vehicles.
  • Energy Efficiency Improvement: Improve energy efficiency in urban buildings by 20% through retrofitting and efficient appliances.

Industries impacted

  • Construction & real estate
  • Environmental services
  • Financial services
  • Logistics
  • Power
  • Rail transport Retail
  • Road transport
  • Trading & distribution
  • Waste management
  • Water

Themes & Topics

  • Low carbon transport

    • Mass transit

    • Electric mobility

    • Last mile

    • Transport infrastructure

  • Low carbon buildings

    • Residential buildings

    • Commercial buildings

    • Industrial buildings

  • Low carbon industries

    • Industrial estates

  • Low carbon power

    • Thermal power

    • Renewable energy

    • Distributed energy

  • Low carbon lifestyle enablers

    • Awareness creation

    • Low carbon communities

    • Contests and competitions

  • Low carbon infrastructure

    • Roads

    • Parks

    • For walking & bicycling

  • Water

    • Wastewater

    • Storm water

    • Rainwater harvesting

    • Lakes & ponds

  • Waste management

    • MSW management

    • Commercial & industrial waste management

    • E-waste management

  • Biodiversity

    • Parks

    • Other biodiversity hotspots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Low carbon capacity building

    • For government employees

    • For home makers

    • For small businesses

  • Collaboration

    • Regional

    • National

    • International

    • Corporate - municipality collaborations

    • Corporate - citizen collaborations

    • Citizen - municipality collaborations

    • Municipality- academia collaborations

  • Use of IT & digital tools

    • Cloud & online platforms

    • AI/Big Data/ML

    • Analytics

    • Digital twins

  • Policies

    • Targets

    • Mandates

    • Incentives

  • Accelerators

    • Contests & competitions

  • Financing

    • Public finance

    • Multilateral finance

  • Regional trends

    • North America

    • South America

    • Europe

    • Asia

    • Middle East & Africa

    • Oceania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Communities

  • Low Carbon Lifestyles
  • Low Carbon Cities

    • All Decarbonization Avenues @ EAI


    Renewable Energy :

  • Utility Scale Solar PV |
  • Distributed Solar PV |
  • Solar Thermal |
  • Wind Power |
  • Biomass for Heating & Power |
  • Biofuels |
  • Hydro Power |
  • Geothermal Energy |

    • Energy Efficiency :

  • Industrial Waste Heat Recovery |
  • Low Carbon Thermal Power |
  • Energy Efficient Industrial Equipment |
  • Smart Grids |
  • Heat Pumps |
  • Digital for Decarbonization |
  • Energy Efficient Buildings |

    • Energy Storage :

  • Green hydrogen |
  • Thermal & Mechanical Storage |
  • Battery Storage |

    • Agriculture & Food :

  • Sustainable Forestry |
  • Regenerative Agriculture |
  • Smart Farming |
  • Low Carbon Food |
  • Agro Waste Management |

    • Waste Management :

  • Reducing Food Waste |
  • Solid Waste Management |

    • Materials :

  • Bio-based Materials |
  • Advanced Materials |
  • Product Use Efficiency |
  • Industrial Resource Efficiency |

    • Water :

  • Water Use Efficiency |

    • Decarbonizing Industries :

  • Low Carbon Metals |
  • Low Carbon Chemicals & Fertilizers |
  • Low Carbon Construction Materials |
  • Low Carbon Textiles & Fashion |
  • Corporate Carbon Management |
  • Decarbonizing Oil & Gas Sector |

    • Low Carbon Mobility :

  • Electric Mobility |
  • Low Carbon Trucking |
  • Low Carbon Marine Transport |
  • Low Carbon Aviation |
  • Low Carbon ICE Vehicles |
  • Mass Transit |

    • GHG Management :

  • C2V - CO2 to Value |
  • CO2 Capture & Storage |
  • Reducing Emissions from Livestock |
  • Reducing Non-CO2 Industrial & Agricultural Emissions |
  • Managing Large Carbon Sinks |

    • Communities :

  • Low Carbon Lifestyles |
  • Low Carbon Cities |

    • Finance :

  • Climate Finance |

    • Platforms :

  • Multi-stakeholder Collaboration |
  • Low Carbon Accelerators |

    • Moonshots :

  • Moonshots |

    • India Decarbonization Avenues


    LOW CARBON ENERGY

    LOW CARBON RESOURCES

    LOW CARBON INDUSTRY & TRANSPORT

    LOW CARBON FACILITATORS