Gurgaon and carbon emissions

The city of Gurgaon participated in the project called "the Roadmap of South Asian Cities and Local Governments for the post 2012 global climate agreement" along with 53 other South Asian cities.

Of the total cities participated in the project, 40 were from India and 13 were from the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The initiative was implemented by ICLEI – South Asia and was supported by the British High Commission, New Delhi.

Under the project, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon shared the information related to energy consumption in various sectors, such as- street lighting, transportation, water pumping system, residential, commercial, industrial, etc. under the jurisdiction of Gurgaon Municipal Corporation. ICLEI -South Asia analysed this information to arrive at the City Energy Status Report, which indicates energy consumption by considered service sectors and resultant carbon emissions.

A similar exercise has been carried out with 52 other South Asian cities leading to the preparation of the Carbon Emission Inventory of the 53 South Asian cities.

In June this year, at the sub national workshop in Bhopal, ICLEI South Asia discussed the analysis with the Municipal Corporation.

The analysis estimated the city’s total carbon emissions to be 251626 tonnes of CO2e. Corporaiton activities result in 6889.39 tonnes and community activities contribute 2544736.61 tonnes of CO2e emission. The per capita CO2e emission in Gurgaon is 2.13 tonnes.
ICLEI South Asia discussed action plans covering energy efficient & design based street lighting, efficient transport management, energy efficient, water pumping system, waste management & enhancement of urban livability and sustainability, that if implemented, will facilities in further reducing carbon emissions, in the city.

The Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon, Mr. R.K.Khullar thanked ICLEI South Asia and the British High Commission for studying and analyzing their City’s emissions and indicating avenues to reduce carbon emissions in the city. He expressed his happiness at representing Gurgaon city at COP 15 as a part of the South Asia delegation and looks forward to bringing back enriching experiences to share with the city.

Formally releasing the analysis and findings of the project at a press conference, Mr.Khullar said that the detailed information was available with the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation and with ICLEI South Asia, which can be approached for further details.

Under this project the energy status for all other project cities was also being released. Carbon emission status of 40 cities across India would be known to the world if the press and media reported the release of these reports, he added.

Mr.Khullar said that climate change was the most evident environment, social and economic problem facing the world today. He said, "We have to move from a high energy-use, wasteful economic model to one that conserves energy and minimizes waste. In other words we have to be more efficient."

Given India’s critical role in the upcoming COP 15 at Copenhagen, GMC’s participation in this project might be seen as a voluntary step in the right direction towards reducing global carbon emissions, he added.