In a remarkable showcase of environmental commitment, the Udaipur Municipal Corporation (UMC) organised ‘Climate Week’, to mark World Environment Day (WED) as well as Mission LiFE, an India-led global mass movement to nudge individual and community action for environmental conservation.

The Climate Week, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) funded CapaCITIES project, aimed to raise awareness about climate change and foster sustainable practices with several impactful activities and workshops for government officials, municipal gardeners and citizens.

The week commenced with a training workshop on climate action planning and awareness generation, in which 35 municipal officials from several departments such as planning, civil and construction, electrical, accounts and revenue, and solid and liquid waste management, participated. Experts from ICLEI South Asia conducted the training, placing particular emphasis on the 75 recommended actions outlined in the Government of India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) that aims to equip officials with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively tackle the challenges posed by climate change.

Another training session, focusing on urban forest development, was led by Acacia Eco, an Ahmedabad-based organisation specialising in the development of Miyawaki forests. Thirty-two municipal gardeners participated, gaining valuable insights into sustainable gardening practices and the Miyawaki technique. A live demonstration of the techniques was also held at Mohta Park in Udaipur, showcasing the city’s commitment to enhancing green cover and establishing small-scale urban forests.

The Climate Week concluded on a high note with a plantation drive within the Municipal Corporation premises, in which the UMC encouraged citizens to adopt sustainable practices, including  the use of retrofitted old tree guards, in alignment with Mission LiFE. Several people participated in the planting of approximately 40 native species.

Mr Vasudev Malavat, Commissioner, UMC, thanked the CapaCITIES project and the participants for the successful culmination of the Climate Week, while emphasising the importance of collective efforts in tackling climate change, and reaffirmed the UMC’s commitment to building a sustainable and climate-resilient city.