About Kolkata CAP-Climate Scenario
Kolkata Municipal Corporation is currently developing the city’s first climate action plan, with the aspiration to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet the Paris Agreement’s science-based, internationally accepted target of limiting global heating to 1.5°C. With the current era of climate change, every city globally wants to take effective action to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects. Therefore there is an urgent need for developing an evidence-based roadmap for delivering the city’s fair share of emissions cuts and strengthening its resilience.
Kolkata is one of the most climatically vulnerable South Asian and global cities. Various studies indicate that high population density, significant concretization and limited vegetation along with low resilience is turning the city into a climate hotbed. Research notes that proximity to Bay of Bengal amplifies the climate risks facing the city.
Kolkata has an area of about 200 square km and comprises 144 wards. It has a current population of about 4.5 million people and a population density of 24,250/ square km thus, making it one of the most densely populated global cities. About one-third of the urban population live in low-income neighbourhoods. Incidentally, Kolkata has another 5 million floating population who come to the city every day from its hinterland for livelihood purposes.
KMC Climate Mission:
KMC has undertaken several initiatives in the past few years to combat the problem of climate change and disasters. The measures range from up-gradation of drainage system and disaster management infrastructure to preparation of a biodiversity plan and plantation of trees across the city. Several steps have been taken to minimize vector borne diseases in the city. However, much more is required to be done to combat future climate challenges facing Kolkata.
Multiple scientific studies, including IPCC AR 6 report, have underlined various climatic risks and impacts affecting Kolkata in recent times. Those are listed below.
- Kolkata has lost a substantial portion of its green cover to Cyclone Amphan in 2020. The estimated damage amounts to Rs 1,350 crore.
- Kolkata is the only Indian city among the eight global megacities which are the most vulnerable to disaster-related mortality
- The city lacks resilience plans which could address the underlying drivers of climate vulnerability.
- Kolkata is one of the major global cities exposed to heat /urban drought risk.
- It is among the 20 largest coastal cities projected to incur the highest possible flood losses by 2050 because of sea-level rise and flooding.
- The city faces the additional risk of subsidence and damages from storm surge. In the absence of adaptation measures, Kolkata is projected to face huge economic losses due to climate change by 2050.
Kolkata’s average temperature between 1958-2018 is one of the highest in the world, around 2.7 degree Celsius, according to the latest IPCC AR 6 report. 90 percent of the emissions in the city is internally generated within the greater Kolkata region and have been linked to the temperature rise.
Kolkata’s climate risks, be it from heat; flooding; cyclone risk and likewise, are likely to increase in future under business-as-usual emission scenario.
Kolkata Climate Action Plan (K-CAP)
The Kolkata Climate Action Plan (K-CAP) is a comprehensive strategy to tackle the challenges of climate change by adopting inclusive and robust mitigation and adaptation strategies. The Plan aims to identify vulnerable communities that are most impacted by the effects of climate change and to increase resilience by introducing sector-specific strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
The broad objective of the K-CAP areas follows:
- KMC acknowledges that the climate crisis is already affecting us all, although in varying ways, and the time for action is now to secure a better future for all. The K-CAP envisions a city where its communities and citizens will be safer, healthier, and thrive even in the context of a changing and uncertain climate.
- Kolkata is committed to push towards a Net Zero emission scenario and climate-resilient status as early as possible in tune with the state and national policy, as well as in accordance with international imperatives; and would like to use the KCAP as the guideline for achieving this goal.
