The Rockefeller Foundation has embarked upon a major climate change initiative aimed at supporting integrated adaptation measures that build the resilience of cities in Asia, especially vulnerable communities within these cities, to the risks associated with climate change. This is based on the understanding that Asian cities are experiencing a dramatic transformation as economic growth and urbanization sweep the region along with an increase in their climate risk exposure as a large number of their residents and enterprises, and much of their buildings and lifeline infrastructure continue to be highly vulnerable.
The Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network aims to catalyze attention, funding, and action on building climate change resilience for poor and vulnerable people by creating robust models and methodologies for assessing and addressing risk through active engagement and analysis of various cities. ACCCRN is being implemented in four countries- India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The project is currently planned in three cities of India - Surat, Indore and Gorakphur.
TARU conducted City level capacity assessment across six cities (June - Sep 08) under Phase-1 of ACCCRN. The current phase involves in-depth work in the cities including broad brush on climate risk analysis, detailed vulnerability assessment, deeper engagement and capacity building of the stakeholders over a period of next one year (Jan 09 - Dec 09). This is being undertaken by TARU as national partner and ISET as technical and strategic partner. At the end of this phase, it is envisaged that a number of proposals aimed at increasing the resilience of the cities, especially of the urban poor and select services such as water and sanitation, energy, will be developed.
This engagement will involve a wide spectrum of stakeholders including Municipal Corporation, Development Authority, state and national governments, the private sector. Chamber of commerce and industry, community based organizations, universities and research institutions. It is also expected that the approaches developed will be replicable in different urban contexts in India and other developing countries. The project aims to enable concrete improvements in the resilience of the poor and communities vulnerable to climate change impacts.
