ICLEI South Asia

On #ChildrensDay, we are excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership between Amazon and ICLEI South Asia! 🌍 Together, we are launching a network of 75 #UrbanFoodGardens in municipal schools across Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Built on India's #SchoolNutrition Garden Scheme, this initiative will provide 15 million nutritious meals to children in need, over the next 3 years. 💚 This project will help to improve pollinator population🐝 (the decline of which is a global crisis) along with overall #biodiversity in schools (productive green spaces in schools). To Know More: https://lnkd.in/ggHfKBCg Empowering children with better nutrition and nature, one garden at a time. 🌾🍽️ #CommunityImpact #HealthyFuture #FoodSecurity #SocialGood ICLEI | ICLEI Europe | ICLEI East Asia Secretariat | ICLEI South Asia - Bangladesh | ICLEI Argentina | ICLEI Brasil | ICLEI Oceania | ICLEI Korea | ICLEI Kaohsiung Capacity Center | ICLEI USA | ICLEI Africa | ICLEI Canada | ICLEI América do Sul Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Bedoshruti Sadhukhan | Dr. Monalisa Sen | Divyaprakash Vyas | Rithika Fernandes | Alex C.J. | shayeesh pirankar | Vanshika Panchal

Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF24) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia CIMT, as co-organiser alongside the Asian Development Bank (ADB), welcomed the strong participation and active engagement of all participants at the Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF24), held on 26-27 November 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The forum brought together a dynamic mix of policymakers, private sector leaders, development partners, and urban innovators to share insights and strategies for advancing sustainable urban development and fostering investments in green cities. The forum featured discussions on sustainable urban mobility, urban greening, and climate resilience, with an emphasis on unlocking climate finance and strengthening public-private partnerships. CIMT also had the chance to highlight IMT-GT’s commitment in supporting green city initiatives, including the progress of Green City Action Plans (GCAP) development in Malaysia under the IMT-GT Green Cities Initiative. CIMT extends its appreciation to IMT-GT Joint Business Council Malaysia, ICLEI South Asia, and all panellists, participants as well as stakeholders who contributed to the success of GCIF24. Together, we are paving the way for a sustainable and resilient future across the IMT-GT subregion. #GreenCities #SustainableDevelopment #IMTGT #GCIF24 #SustainableDevelopment #Partnerships #SubregionalCooperation

Plenary 5 Session Highlights: 'Startups Driving the Green Cities Revolution: Innovating for Sustainability and Navigating CBAM' at #GCIF24 🌍 ICLEI South Asia is proud to be part of the Plenary 5 session at the Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 on 27 November 2024. Startups are at the forefront of transforming urban living by developing cutting-edge solutions in renewable energy, smart infrastructure, and eco-friendly innovations. These game-changing technologies are revitalizing cities into sustainable, resilient communities. This session explored how startups are driving the green cities revolution, while also providing the tools to navigate regulatory frameworks like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (#CBAM). By merging innovation with policy, startups are helping cities not only thrive but also stay competitive in a low-carbon world. Key insights from the session included: 🔹 Mr. Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer, Cyberport Hong Kong: Highlighted Hong Kong’s growing ecosystem in smart green building development and government-backed Green Fintech initiatives as critical solutions for climate challenges. 🔹 Dr. Jurgen Landgrebe, Head of Division V "Climate Protection, Energy", German Emissions Trading Authority: Stressed the importance of mechanisms like the EU ETS and CBAM in reducing emissions and promoting sustainable market practices. 🔹 Mr. Mu Pathma, Treasurer, Malaysia Internet-of-Things Association: Discussed how IoT solutions and startups are accelerating the development of smart, sustainable cities through a nurturing "sandbox" environment. 🔹 Mr. Wayne Lim, Group Chief Editor, MALAYSIA SME Media Group: Addressed the challenges MSMEs face in adopting sustainability but emphasized their crucial role in driving environmental change through collective action. 🔹 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Izian Idris, Sunway Business School: Underlined the importance of strategic marketing, consumer education, and collaborations for green startups to scale their impact and foster long-term growth. 🔹 Mr. Philippe Alliaume, Otto Graf GmbH – GRAD South-East Asia Malaysia: Shared insights on the innovative Graf Ecobloc system, an effective water management solution tackling stormwater and rainwater challenges in green cities. Let's continue to innovate and work towards a greener, more sustainable future. 🌿 #GreenCities #Startups #Innovation #Sustainability #UrbanDevelopment #ICLEISouthAsia Asian Development Bank (ADB) | Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) | Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council | Penang Institute | Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur | Green City Action Plan | ICLEI | Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Keshav Jha PMP®

ICLEI South Asia conducted a two-day hands-on training for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) officials on November 27–28, 2024, focusing on developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for the city. The training provided detailed demonstrations on conducting a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA), developing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission inventories, and formulating climate adaptation and mitigation strategies at the city level. This training marked a significant step forward, outlining actionable outcomes to support the implementation of DNCC’s CAP, which was developed with technical support from ICLEI South Asia and officially launched on 12 May, 2024. Discussions also emphasized the importance of reporting CAP implementation outputs at both local and global levels. Furthermore, the training highlighted how DNCC can contribute to the national government’s reporting in the upcoming Nationally Determined Contribution 3 (NDC 3) next year. This initiative aligns with Bangladesh’s commitments under the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership (CHAMP), strengthening its role in addressing climate challenges. #ClimateActionPlan #DNCCClimateAction #UrbanResilience #ClimateAdaptation #GHGReduction #BangladeshClimateAction #NDC3 #CHAMPPartnership #CityClimateLeadership #ClimateMitigation #LocalClimateAction Md. Jubaer Rashid I Sadeque Mahmud I Dipak Bhowmick,CSCA™

#CapaCITIES project cities presented their learnings from the preparation of Net-Zero CRCAP and insights from the pilot projects implemented in Phase 1 & 2 of the project at #Ahmedabad, #Udaipur and project cities in #TamilNadu at the Workshop on Building Climate Resilient Cities: From Planning to Implementation on 20 November 2024. The workshop was held at #Visakhapatnam to demonstrate climate resilient city action planning processes and share locally applicable best practices. The workshop was attended by city officials from cities of Andhra Pradesh state such as #Kakinada, #Vijayawada, #Visakhapatnam, #Srikakulam, #Vizianagaram along with participants from NITI Aayog, academia, NGOs and research think tanks. Greater Vishakhapatnam Municipal Corporation | Vijayawada Municipal Corporation | Kakinada Municipal Corporation | Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation | Udaipur Smart City Limited | Climate and Development Knowledge Network | C40 Cities | NITI Aayog Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Nikhil Kolsepatil | Daniel Robinson PMP® | Vasavi Yarram | Ramya M.A | Anuradha Adhikari | Maaz ali Mohammed | Satyasai Sivakumar G.

ICLEI South Asia at the Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (#GCIF24) 🌱 At GCIF 2024, ICLEI South Asia proudly led the Green City Action Plan (#GCAP) Exhibition, showcasing the GCAP 2024 for Malaysian cities, including the Phase 1 Cities - #LangkawiIsland, #Padawan (Kuching), #KotaBharu, and #PenangIsland. This exhibition highlights ICLEI South Asia's successful submission of the Green City Action Plans for these cities. We were honored to have prominent figures visit our exhibition, including YBhg Dato’ Luqman Bin Ahmad, Deputy Secretary General (Macro), Ministry of Economy, Malaysia, Dr. Mohd Shaharin Haji Umar, Director of Regional Development Division, Ministry of Economy, Malaysia and Mr. Alfredo Perdiguero, Regional Head, SERC, Asian Development Bank This event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the innovative solutions and partnerships that are driving sustainable urban transformation in the region. By preparing the GCAPs and showcasing our work, ICLEI South Asia would continue to support cities in their journey towards a greener, more resilient future. 🌿💧 #GreenCities #SustainableDevelopment #UrbanResilience #ICLEI #GreenCityActionPlan #ClimateAction #UrbanSustainability #BlueEconomy #Phase1Cities Asian Development Bank (ADB) | Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) | Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council | Penang Institute | Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur | Green City Action Plan | ICLEI | Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Keshav Jha PMP®

🌿 The Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF24) Begins! 🌿 We are excited to announce that the Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF24) is currently taking place at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant milestone in the journey toward sustainable urban development. Co-organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT), ICLEI South Asia, and the IMT-GT Joint Business Council (JBC), with the support of the Ministry of Economy Malaysia, the forum highlights the transformative Green City Action Plan (GCAP) as a key framework for building sustainable cities. We are honored to have YBhg Dato’ Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur and Former Executive Director of UN-Habitat, delivered the opening address. Additionally, YBhg Dato’ Luqman Bin Ahmad, Deputy Secretary General (Macro) of the Ministry of Economy, Malaysia, delivered the keynote address. GCIF24 is a platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to collaborate on innovative solutions for sustainable urban growth. Together, we are paving the way for greener, more resilient cities across the region. 💡 Let’s make an impact! #GCIF24 #GCAP #ADB #IMTGT

Plenary 3: Including the Blue Economy within the Green City Agenda at #GCIF24 🌱 ICLEI South Asia was pleased to be part of an insightful session on 26 November 2024 that explored the integration of the blue economy within sustainable urban development. The blue economy focuses on fostering sustainable economic growth while preserving coastal, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. Cities play a pivotal role in shaping policies and investments that impact blue economy sectors, and Green City Action Plans (GCAPs) are increasingly recognized as valuable tools for advancing this agenda. Key highlights from the session included: Mr. Alfredo Perdiguero (Regional Head, SERC, ADB) highlighted the importance of subregional cooperation in accelerating blue economy initiatives, showcasing projects in IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA that address energy efficiency, renewable energy, green transport, and coastal resilience. Dr. Kanchana Wanichkorn (Director, Sectoral Development Directorate, The ASEAN Secretariat) emphasised the alignment between green city initiatives and the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, which focuses on sustainable use of resources, economic growth, and environmental conservation. Ms. Sonia Chand Sandhu (Principal Evaluation Specialist, ADB) underscored the need for cities to adopt hybrid solutions, combining structural measures and nature-based solutions, to design resilient infrastructure that addresses climate adaptation challenges. Ms. Sira Tecchiato (Coastal Resilience Consultant, ADB) emphasised embedding resilience into Green City Action Plans through strategies like coral reef restoration, mangrove rehabilitation, and innovative reef structures to enhance biodiversity and protect coastal assets. Ms. Siou Woon Ong (Director of Operations, Penang Institute) highlighted Penang’s efforts in establishing Malaysia’s first urban marine sanctuary at Middle Bank, blending conservation, climate adaptation, and education to support biodiversity and economic sustainability. This session underscored how cities are adopting blue economy strategies to complement green initiatives, ensuring a balanced approach to urban sustainability. #BlueEconomy #GreenCities #ICLEI #SustainableDevelopment #UrbanResilience #ClimateAction #NatureBasedSolutions #BiodiversityConservation #UrbanSustainability Asian Development Bank (ADB) | ICLEI | Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) | Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur | Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council | Green City Action Plan | Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Keshav Jha PMP®

🤝Sharing is Caring: Exchanging Best Practices for Sustainable Transport!🤝 On World Sustainable Transport Day 2024, let's commit to open collaboration and knowledge sharing. By exchanging best practices in infrastructure development, we can optimize the design and construction of interconnected highways, roads, railways, and waterways. Let's learn from each other's successes and challenges to create transport systems that are: Safe and efficient: Minimizing risks and maximizing flow. Environmentally friendly: Reducing emissions and protecting ecosystems. Accessible to all: Ensuring equitable access for everyone. ICLEI South Asia #SustainableTransportDay #BestPractices #InfrastructureDevelopment #InterconnectedTransport #KnowledgeSharing #SustainableSolutions Illustration Credit: Gemini Advanced generated Illustration

Session Highlights - Plenary 2: Greening Malaysian Cities: Unveiling Green City Action Plans (GCAPs) with Investment Opportunities for Padawan, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kota Bharu, and Melaka at #GCIF24 🌱 During the session, YBhg. Dato’ Sri Dr. Haji Sabin bin Samitah, JP, Mayor of Kota Kinabalu, presented the city’s Green City Action Plan (#GCAP), which was developed in November 2019 by ICLEI South Asia, with support from the Government of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu City, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Kota Kinabalu GCAP has made significant strides since its inception. According to the 2024 Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation Report, 62% of the recommended climate actions across various sectors—including land use, water, energy, transport, solid waste, and more—have already been implemented. Additionally, 24% of actions are ongoing, while 14% have been passed out, demonstrating strong progress towards building a sustainable and climate-resilient city. In 2023, Kota Kinabalu explored three funding avenues to support the GCAP projects: • Bankable Cities Climate Project Fund • City Climate Finance Gap • Climate Adaptation Fund These funding sources successfully helped the city continue its climate action journey and secure the necessary resources for sustainable urban development. #GCIF24 #GreenCities #ICLEI #UrbanSustainability #ClimateAction #GCAP #ClimateResilience #GreenFinance #SustainableDevelopment Asian Development Bank (ADB) | ICLEI | Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) | Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur | Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council | Green City Action Plan | Emani Kumar | Soumya Chaturvedula | Keshav Jha PMP®