Lack of knowledge about climate impacts and the measures to address them is one of the main reasons for not addressing climate change challenges in Indian cities. Besides this, current vulnerability of urban areas like population pressures, inadequate infrastructure and services in India is so pronounced that cities are unable to prioritise climate change as one of their focus areas of action. Urban climate resilience would not only prepare the cities to withstand climate change related gradual impacts like change in precipitation and temperature and sea level rise, but also equip the city equally to respond to disasters and extreme events. It would also drive cities towards sustainable development as it encompasses environmental benefits. Thus, there is a strong need to equip the students, practitioners and future urban planners with an understanding on the subject such that this information could be logically applied in our cities and climate change considerations could be inbuilt into the overall development paradigm. For Agenda, Click here
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) organised a two day seminar on ‘Building climate resilient cities: Exploring theories, practices and prospects’ on 16 and 17 February, 2015 at TERI University, New Delhi. Pedagogy focussed on video screenings, lectures, interactive sessions and group exercises. The seminar introduced the participants to:
- Key concepts of climate change science and climate modelling
- Application of GIS and climate modelling tools for climate proofing cities
- Case studies of risk and vulnerability exercises
- Role and functions of various institutions and public agencies in building urban climate resilience
- Policy and regulatory measures for mainstreaming urban climate change resilience, etc.
- Importance of building data inventories in cities
- Importance of communication tools for sensitising stakeholders on climate change
The participants were awarded a certificate upon successful completion of the seminar.
