Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel released the “Ahmedabad Climate Resilient City Action Plan – Towards a Net Zero Future”, a document developed jointly by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and ICLEI South Asia, at a glittering event held on 7 July 2023, under the aegis of the Urban20 Mayoral Summit in the city.

Among the dignitaries present at the event were Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA); Mayor of Ahmedabad; Swiss Ambassador Mr. Ralf Heckner; Secretary, MoHUA; Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Gujarat; and Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad. The Action Plan has been developed under the CapaCITIES project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Ahmedabad’s Climate Resilient City Action Plan (CRCAP) gives the city very real, detailed and well-conceived actions to move towards a climate-resilient future, in line with the Government of India’s ‘Net Zero by 2070’ goal. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Panchamrit” (five elixirs) plan, the CRCAP’s key objectives include: making all buildings green and energy efficient by 2050; renewable energy powering 85% of commercial and industrial energy by 2070; 100% circular waste management by 2030; and 90% of the vehicles being electrified by 2070.

To achieve these objectives, a range of strategies have been proposed, including promoting energy efficiency in buildings; increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources; encouraging sustainable mobility options; implementing effective waste management practices; and providing guidance for developing climate-resilient infrastructure.

The Action Plan will be an inspiring model for urban climate action to help achieve India’s Nationally Determined Contributions. It was developed using a robust, international methodology, the Net Zero ClimateResilientCities (CRC) methodology, which draws upon ICLEI’s experience in nurturing, strategizing, planning and implementing climate action along with our member and partner cities over two decades. The methodology meets international climate planning and reporting guidelines and includes a GHG emissions scenario planning tool, allowing for an analysis of future emissions scenarios or pathways for various urban systems and their implications.

The GHG Emissions Tool, developed by ICLEI South Asia, incorporates local data, population growth projections, economic growth patterns, and sector-specific assumptions. It allows for exploring different scenarios and helps identify specific emissions reduction targets and strategies.

Guided by the CRC methodology, Ahmedabad conducted an in-depth vulnerability assessment, analysing key sectors such as water resources, stormwater management, waste management, urban greening and biodiversity, and public health. This assessment will enable policymakers to prioritise actions and allocate resources efficiently.

Aligned with Gujarat’s State Action Plan for Climate Change and global commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, the CRCAP will transform Ahmedabad into a climate-resilient city with net-zero emissions by 2070.