Thane could cut GHG emissions by 22 per cent

Thane city can ensure a 22 per cent reduction in its annual greenhouse gas GHG emissions by 202526 according to a recent climate assessment report A reportmdashlsquoState of Cities Towards Low Carbon and Resilient Pathwaysrsquomdashpublished by the National Institute of Urban Affairs NIUA under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has identified action points to curb emissions from the cityrsquos transport residential and public buildingsThane citymdasha key pillar in the statersquos developmental master planmdashhas been staring at a mix of climate issues and increasing greenhouse emissions thanks to its established status as an IT hub However the report has identified how the city can reduce its annual emissions by 22 per cent by 202526 through effective action points that can be implemented at a city and state levelThe report gives an insight into 15 of Indiarsquos smart cities their future challenges and pathways in terms of climate resilience which includes mitigation of greenhouse gases GHG GHG around Earth and its atmosphere traps heat and contributes to the greenhouse effect which in turn leads to global warmingExplaining the recommendations put forth by the report Hitesh Vaidya director of NIUA said ldquoThis is a firstofitskind report which not only underscores the urgent need for resilient climate action but also highlights the crucial role it plays in attracting investments for low carbon transitions It serves as a guidebook for Indian cities enabling them to navigate the complexities of sustainable urban development and make informed decisions that will shape a greener more resilient futurerdquoAccording to Vaidya by harnessing the potential of the report the aim is to create a harmonious balance between economic progress environmental stewardship and social inclusivity ultimately shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for all ldquoNIUArsquos role as the U20 secretariat is to help cities understand their commitments and develop sustainable solutions to achieve inclusive prosperityrdquo he addedAs per the report Thane has GHG emissions of 229 MTCO2e metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent uses 1306 million GigaJoule GJ energy and consumes 1677 million kW of electricity annuallyWhen it comes to consumption in Thane city residential buildings account for the highest energy consumption 47 per cent and are also the highest in terms of GHG contributors 43 per cent In terms of the energy used by the local government its GHG emissions profile shows that transport is the biggest energy consumer 369 per cent but public sector buildings are the biggest emitter 478 per centPast green endeavoursThane has long strived to achieve sustainable practices and a reduction in energy consumption as well as GHG emissions In 2015 an 11member international jury declared Thane as the National Earth Hour Capital Notable actions by the Thane city administration include the mandatory use of solar waterheating systems for municipal buildings and energy solutions such as solar and windsolar hybrid systems for lighting and airconditioning The cityrsquos plan for solar rooftop meteringbased power generation and regular energy audits in 2015 pushed the city to emerge as the winner in the yearlong national competitionRecommendations of reportThe report has listed action points to ensure that Thane citymdasha commercial hub with its economy based mainly on consumerrelated services including hospitality and the IT industrymdashreduces its emissions by 22 per cent by 202526To get there all buildings residential commercial industrial must use rooftop solar panels and solar water heaters evaluate the integration of district cooling systems and conduct energy audits for retrofits There must be green building designs for highrises along with the deployment of photovoltaic PV cells and solar water heating systems at hotels and hospitalsThe transport sector could look at developing an electric mobility framework introducing electric buses with solar PV charging facilities at depots and replacing the existing diesel bus fleet with CNG buses There must also be a speedy implementation of EVs for intermediate modes of public transport Additionally there should be a citywide scaleup of energy efficient streetlightingIn the area of waste management the administration can look at 600 tonnes per day TPD waste to energy and 2 TPD plastic waste to fuel plants the scientific closure of landfills and the development of a solar farm There will also be a need for decentralised biomethanation and composting plants for organic waste processing Water and wastewater departments can adopt renewable energy systems at water supply and sewage treatment facilities The report demarcated wastewater treatment stormwater management and solid waste management to be at high risk in its assessmentldquoWhile the assessment talks about risks there are ways to mitigate them Thane can look at an integrated urban water management and catchment management plan Additionally there can be integrated groundwater management through increased recharge efficiency For wastewater treatment we need to look at a faecal sludge management policy with reuse methods and dual plumbing with regard to stormwater management the administration can install an IoTbased stormwater grid harvest rainwater with regular monitoring and incentives and look at an early warning system and flood lines for hazard alertsrdquo said Emani Kumar executive director ICLEI South Asia15No of Indian smart cities report covers