The Hindu Business Line : Green cities for India

Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Melbourne, Palhoca, Stockholm, Johannesburg… a part of a list of 16 cities spread across six continents — what do these have in common?

In the coming years, these cities will each have a township that together have over a million people living in a model urban environment that demonstrates that cities can be sustainable and environment friendly. These projects will be supported by the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI).

In India, two projects have been identified by the CCI — Godrej Garden City, Ahmedabad, and Mahindra World City (MWC), Jaipur, according to the official Web site of the CCI.

A press release from Godrej Garden City says that it is one of the 16 founding projects of the Climate Positive Development Programme under the CCI. This programme is to support the development of large-scale urban projects that demonstrate cities can grow in ways that are “climate positive.”

These are real-estate developments that will reduce the amount of on-site carbon emissions to below zero.

According to officials at Mahindra World City Developers, who are jointly promoting the MWC Jaipur with Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd, the initiative is in the initial stages.

The official communication has been received from CCI and soon an agreement would be signed between the company and the agency to take the programme forward at the 3,000 acre integrated business city with SEZs.

270-acre township

Mr Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Director, Godrej Properties, told Business Line that Godrej Garden City, the 270-acre township, is to be launched in the next three months. The project, awaiting statutory approvals, is being supported by the Gujarat Government which has given in-principle approval.

Letters of support from the local administration and the Gujarat Urban Development Company have also been obtained.

To reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions of their projects to less than zero, property developers and local governments will agree to work in partnership on specific areas of activity.

This includes implementing economically viable innovations in buildings, the generation of clean energy, waste management, water management, transportation and outdoor lighting systems.

Mr Godrej said the company is working with internationally reputed architects for the project and the designs were in the initial stages. The local municipal administration has been enthusiastic in its support on dealing with issues relating to water treatment and waste water management and various utilities. The finer details are being worked out.

The Godrej group has the commitment to eco-friendly urban development concepts and the expertise, he said.

He pointed out that the group has pioneered the concept of sustainable urban development in India through the Green Building programme jointly with the Confederation of Indian Industry. The Group’s own premises in Mumbai has provided for the responsible conservation of mangrove areas in its vicinity.

Real-estate development is a key area for addressing the issue of greenhouse gas emissions.

While the details of the project was under the design stage the commercial advantage of green buildings and energy conservation has been well established.

While it was a little early to comment on the project cost, he said, there would be significant cost benefit in terms of maintenance costs and creation of a more pleasant space to live in, he said.

Godrej Properties aims to create an integrated township by providing a mix of residential, commercial and public spaces. It will be connected to neighbouring areas and to the old city, which makes it a desirable area for township development.

By combining CCI’s business and finance expertise with the technical knowledge of the US Green Building Council, the Climate Positive Development Program will support the planning and implementation process for each real-estate development and establish the standards and metrics by which the sites can measure climate positive outcomes.

MWC Jaipur

The integrated business city is among the largest projects of its kind in North India, according to company officials. The project includes over 2,500 acres of SEZ space for a range of sectors including light engineering, IT and ITES, logistics and warehousing, apparel, and gems and jewellery and a 500 acre domestic tariff area.

The IT and ITES SEZ is operational and the light engineering and handicrafts SEZ have been notified.

The Climate Positive Development Program was launched by the former US President Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, on May 19, 2009, at the C40 Summit, that brought together representatives from some of the largest cities around the world, in Seoul, South Korea.

Along with the other founding projects, Godrej Garden City will demonstrate climate positive strategies, setting an environmental and economic example for other cities to follow.

The William J. Clinton Foundation aims to provide solutions to the core issues driving climate change. CCI focuses on three strategic programme areas: increasing energy efficiency in cities, catalysing the large-scale supply of clean energy, and working to measure and value the carbon absorbed by forests.

CCI serves as the action arm of the C40, an association of large cities around the world that have pledged to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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