Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) unveils the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP) to position the city as the third city in India with a global standard climate action strategy
In a decisive move towards environmental sustainability, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) unveiled the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP) on Monday, outlining its vision to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. With this initiative, Bengaluru aims to join the ranks of a select few cities globally and become the third in India to possess a climate action plan adhering to international standards.
With the city's commitment to the C40 cities network, Bengaluru's climate action plan adopts a data-driven, inclusive, and collaborative approach. The C40 network, comprising nearly 100 mayors from leading cities worldwide, collectively addresses the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
As part of the BCAP launch, BBMP announced two immediate priority initiatives. Firstly, establish a dedicated Climate Action Cell within BBMP to ensure the efficient implementation of the BCAP. The cell will coordinate with various stakeholder agencies, with dedicated staff and resources allocated to this purpose.
Secondly, BBMP introduced the #BluGreenUru campaign, urging citizens and stakeholders to actively participate, contribute, and collaborate in conserving, restoring, and integrating Bengaluru's natural infrastructure. This campaign underscores the collective responsibility of every individual and organisation to enhance Bengaluru's resilience against the impacts of climate change.
BBMP officials revealed that the BCAP, crafted in collaboration with the Karnataka government, C40 Cities, and research organisation WRI India as a knowledge partner, underwent extensive consultations with diverse stakeholder groups. This inclusive approach involved engagements with various government departments, practitioners, civil society members, and community-based organisations in Bengaluru.
Net-zero, a crucial aspect of the BCAP, refers to balancing producing and removing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As part of the C40 network, Bengaluru is actively contributing to the urgent actions required to address the global climate crisis.
This initiative gains particular significance against the backdrop of the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP28), as Bengaluru strives to fortify the city against the impacts of climate change, especially for vulnerable populations, according to BBMP authorities.