UPSC Current affairs - Mumbai Climate Action Plan

Mumbai Climate Action Plan

Context:

• On 13th March, Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) was released, which was prepared by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Background:

• Amid warnings of climate change leading to extreme weather events in the city, the civic body has started preparing the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP).
• It will look at climate resilience with mitigation and adaptation strategies by focusing on six areas — sustainable waste management, urban greening and biodiversity, urban flooding and water resource management, building energy efficiency, air quality, and sustainable mobility.

About:

• Before the preparation of MCAP, a vulnerability assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) and natural green cover inventory was conducted. World Resources Institute (WRI), India, and the C40 Cities network provided technical support to BMC for the preparation of the plan.
• The MCAP has laid down a 30-year roadmap for Mumbai to tackle the challenges of climate change.
• It has set short-, medium- and long-term climate goals to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2050.
• It has identified six strategic areas where massive changes will have to be made over the next 30 years.
• The main focus of MCAP will be decarbonizing Mumbai’s energy grid.
• This is important because 95% of Mumbai’s energy needs are met by fossil fuel sources.
• MCAP envisages 90% of Mumbai’s energy from renewable sources by 2050. The city will also explore energy sources like tidal power, green hydrogen, etc.
• There is a plan to shift from LPG to other cleaner methods such as electrified cooktops. MCAP also encourages green buildings.
• The transport sector contributes to a major portion of Mumbai’s emissions. MCAP proposes giving a push to public transport and non-motorized transport.
• There is a plan to purchase 2,100 electric buses by 2023. Incentives like a reduction in toll charges, parking fees, etc. will be offered to electric vehicles.

Source: THE HINDU