HEAT & HAZE : Climate and Clean Air Imperatives for Cities

As the world continues to warm in these climate-risked times, urban areas are some of the worst-impacted. The concrete-and-cement jungles have steadily erased their ‘green’ and ‘blue’ footprints, turning into heattrapping monstrosities in the process. Add to this the severely polluted and unbreathable air that is becoming common to most cities due to growing construction and demolition activities, waste burning, vehicular traffic and emissions from a variety of other sources.

India, a member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, is committed to reduce short-lived climate pollutants that not only heat up our cities but make the air unfit for breathing. Further, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) 2019 and the 15th Finance Commission have played a crucial role in pushing multi-sectoral clean air action in cities. With the NCAP deadline approaching in 2026 as well as notification of the new Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025 that bring an Extended Producer Responsibility framework, cities need to gear up for the necessary push for clean air and climate resilient cities.

WHAT THE TRAINING WILL COVER:

• Understanding climate stressors at city level
• Environmental Impact Assessment with a focus on air environment
• Exposure visit to learn dust control and C&D waste recycling equipment and operations in real time
• Demystifying Extended Producers’ Responsibility under the Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025
• Understanding techno-economic feasibility of C&D waste recycling plants in tier-I and tier-II towns
• Volume estimation methodologies for different waste streams and substreams
• Learning from implementors: good and innovative practices on C&D waste management across India
• Lessons from implementation of NCAP and 15th Finance Commission
• Identifying and mapping overlaps of heat stressed areas and air pollution hotspots using remote-sensing
• Exploring heat and air vulnerability and mitigation strategies using micro-climate simulations

TRAINING METHODOLOGY:

• Classroom lectures
• Case studies
• Exercises
• Discussions
• Field visit

YOUR KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS TRAINING:

• In-depth understanding on how to plan an enabling environment for achieving climate and clean air co-benefits
• Understand roles and responsibilities of stakeholders for effective C&D waste and dust management.
• Learnings from on-ground implementation of C&D waste management systems in cities including hits and misses.
• Knowledge and exposure to evaluate detailed project reports and negotiate costs for setting up recycling infrastructure.
• Firsthand exposure to equipment, operations and products at a C&D waste recycling facility.
• Development of skill sets for mapping and analysis of heat-stressed areas and air pollution hotspots using remote sensing
• Comprehensive understanding of urban vulnerability with focus on heat and air pollution and methods to carry out assessments and identify mitigation strategies.

TRAINING COORDINATOR

SAYANI SEN
Programme Officer
Sustainable Habitat Programme, CSE
8240061255, 7278204216
Email: sayani.sen@cseindia.org

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

RAJNEESH SAREEN
Sustainable Habitat Programme, CSE
Email: rajneesh.sareen@cseindia.org