Abu Dhabi [UAE], October 11 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh on Saturday shared India’s vision for sustainable, nature-positive urban development that prioritizes both people and the planet. He was speaking at the Ministerial Panel during the High-Level Dialogue on “Transforming Our Urban Environment: Pathways to Sustainability” on the sidelines of the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Singh highlighted India’s efforts to foster carbon markets and promote renewable energy generation as steps aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Mission LiFE,” a guiding principle for global sustainability initiatives. The government’s approach emphasizes integrated planning, scalable missions, and citizen-centric behavioral change.
Flagship initiatives such as the Smart Cities Mission focus on energy efficiency, renewable integration, sustainable mobility, and resilient infrastructure. Singh outlined three key pillars through which the government supports urban development: enabling frameworks and standards for green buildings, energy codes, and municipal finance; financing and risk-sharing through central grants, targeted viability-gap funding, and expanded access to municipal bond markets, including green bonds; and capacity-building and knowledge systems, including training, data platforms, and model projects under Smart Cities, AMRUT, and urban planning reforms.
He stressed that with the right vision, finance, and citizen engagement, urbanization can become a powerful driver of low-carbon, inclusive development. National programs such as the Smart Cities Mission, which covers 100 cities, combine central funding with local planning to implement smart street-lighting, rooftop solar, and building-energy management systems, reducing electricity consumption while improving urban services. Energy-Efficient Building Codes guide cities to ensure new construction is climate-friendly.
The Energy Conservation Act, amended in 2022, strengthens energy-efficiency standards for buildings, appliances, and industries, while enabling the creation of a domestic carbon-credit market that rewards cities and businesses for reducing energy footprints. The AMRUT program has supported municipalities in upgrading to energy-efficient water-supply and pumping systems, lowering both costs and energy demand.
Looking ahead, Singh emphasized that national governments must provide stable policy frameworks, expand access to innovative finance, and deepen technology partnerships to encourage compact, transit-oriented, and energy-efficient urban growth. Such support can help cities progress toward low-emission, climate-resilient pathways that benefit both citizens and the planet.
“As countries of the Global South, including India, urbanize rapidly, our goal must be to create cities that are livable, green, and inclusive—places where aspirations can thrive without losing the human touch,” Singh concluded. (ANI)
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