Statement of Intent signed with NIUA on CapaCITIES-II project learnings

The consortium of implementing agencies for the CapaCITIES project have signed a Statement of Intent with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), aiming to create and disseminate knowledge products based on project learnings and outputs. The second phase (September 2019 to July 2023) of the CapaCITIES project is being implemented in India with support 

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Podcasts around pandemic: Insights from Indian states

Lessons from Maharashtra’s Battle with COVID-19 Dr. Ramnath Sonawane, Secretary, Maharashtra Water Resource Regulatory Authority, talks about how Maharashtra, an Indian state, has been fighting the coronavirus pandemic and the state’s plans for the long haul. Listen to the FULL PODCAST here.   Kerala’s Best Practices in the Context of COVID-19 Mr. Shibu K. Nair, 

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Policy brief suggests integrated approach for inclusive development of peri-urban areas

Peri-urban areas in India face numerous challenges due to patterns of urbanisation and ambiguity in their administrative status. They are constantly transforming and are characterised by a mix of urban and rural features, with development practices often neglecting the natural ecosystems present in these areas. ICLEI South Asia, under the CDKN Knowledge Accelerator project, is 

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City Biodiversity Index to Help Assess Conservation Efforts in Gangtok

ICLEI South Asia has developed the City Biodiversity Index of Gangtok as part of the INTERACT-Bio project, which is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). This is the only biodiversity index designed specifically for monitoring and evaluating biodiversity in cities. It is a self-assessment tool that will help 

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Why Nature Matters: Photo Contest, Webinar Spotlight Biodiversity to Mark World Environment Day

The theme for this year’s World Environment Day, “Time for Nature”, which once again put the spotlight on biodiversity, was particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak. There is growing evidence that links the loss of biodiversity and forests to the rise of zoonotic diseases through a complex web of interactions. The 

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‘Pandemic gives us window of opportunity to adopt sustainable adaptation practices’

Bangladesh lifted a national lockdown of more than two months on the 31st of May 2020, even though the number of coronavirus cases continues to surge in the country. Dr. Md. Munsur Rahman, Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, speaks to ICLEI South Asia about the impact 

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New case studies from South Asia showcase best practice from the region

This week, CDKN is launching a new case study series on best practice examples of climate compatible development in South Asia. The series explores themes related to finance, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy and the empowerment of women. In India, the city of Ahmedabad successfully raised funds through municipal bonds to finance climate-resilient urban development, including waste 

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Pilot Initiatives under IAdapt Project introduce innovative ways for water management

Under the Integrated Rural Urban Water Management for Climate Based Adaptations in Indian Cities project, two pilot initiatives have been undertaken in a micro-catchment of Solapur city in India. While one looks at safeguarding the common water resource of a lake in the rural area through bio-remediation of waste water flowing in, the other looks 

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RURBAN meeting commits to continue efforts on integrated water management

Under the IAdapt project, ICLEI South Asia, Solapur Zilla Parishad and Solapur Municipal Corporation (SMC) organised the 3rd RURBAN meeting in Solapur on the 6th of March, 2020. The meeting was organised to deliver the outcomes of the project and handover of the pilot projects executed to conserve water resources in the catchment. In this 

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Comic book conveys the significance of nature based solutions to combat climate change

Local action moves the world! This fact has been highlighted even more in the present scenario. Rapid urbanization has led to environmental degradation across the globe. Loss of biodiversity, particularly in the urban areas has several cascading and far reaching consequences. Biodiversity provides ecosystem goods and services and also has benefits such as Flood Control, 

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