Focus on ward weather stns, clean air zones, AC temp as Kol launches climate action plan
Times of India | 6 June 2025
123456 Kolkata: In a defining moment for the city's sustainability goals, mayor Firhad Hakim on Thursday unveiled final draft of Kolkata Climate Action Plan (KCAP), calling it "not just a climate action plan but a survival plan for the city and its future generation". Dedicating it to the citizens of Kolkata, the mayor stressed the urgency of its successful implementation to safeguard the city's future against the growing climate risks.KCAP recommended implementation of ward-wise hyper-local weather stations, and upgraded disaster shelters to improve resilience against extreme weather events like cyclones and floods. The plan also includes a hyper-local early warning system, clean air zones based on hyper-local ambient air quality monitoring, and climate-smart slums by redesigning slums with a lot of green spaces.Prepared through collaboration between global and local climate experts and advocacy groups such as EnGIO (Environment Governed Integrated Organisation) and CANSA (Climate Action Network South Asia), KCAP includes 60 sector-specific recommendations, of which 30 have been prioritised for urgent, evidence-based implementation. "This is a set of self-imposed obligations with strict deadlines we have to live by," said KMC commissioner Dhaval Jain, referring to the plan's time-bound rollout. "This is a climate plan that targets emission reduction, inclusivity, and evidence-backed interventions," said Sujata Basu of EnGIO. Sanjay Vashist of CANSA said the recommendations align with global best practices while addressing Kolkata's unique vulnerabilities.With climate challenges looming large, Kolkata's ambitious plan seeks not only to mitigate emissions but also adapt its infrastructure and communities to the realities of a warming world. The KCAP draft will be available on its dedicated website for stakeholders' deliberations for two months. It encompasses several transformative actions like Heat Action Plan (HAP). Recognising Kolkata's status as one of the world's most heat-vulnerable cities, the plan includes city-wide temperature, humidity monitoring, green infrastructure, shaded intersections, reflective roads, and "heat units" in hospitals. A formal K-HAP is proposed by 2026, with full implementation by 2030.Climate-smart slums are envisaged through pilot projects for solarisation, green spaces, and heat-resilient housing. Air conditioning control, a city-level AC temperature policy, is proposed to cap indoor temperatures at 22–24°C. Clean air zones & monitoring are planned to combat rising pollution.Urban mobility and decongestion will be planned with dedicated cycle tracks, no-vehicle streets, and pedestrian-friendly zones. Green infrastructure mapping will focus on mapping of trees, parks, and water bodies. Water management and decentralised waste processing have also been given priority.