UK Minister Priti Patel Launches Vision Document On Climate Change For Kolkata
08 January, Kolkata
Indian origin UK cabinet minister Priti Patel and city Mayor Sovan Chatterjee Friday launched the roadmap on low-carbon and climate-resilient Kolkata strategy document here.
The UK employment minister who is here to attend Bengal Global Business Summit launched this roadmap, which contains recommendations across 20 sectors including disaster management, health, low-carbon procurement, resource conservation and policy to encourage use of solar energy.
The UK government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have been collaborating for two years to prepare this strategy paper which aims to create a Climate Smart Kolkata.Ms Patel, who is the first woman of Indian origin to be in the British Cabinet as minister, said she was delighted to see the successful conclusion of the UK-KMC collaboration which has made Kolkata one of the first cities in India with an integrated strategy to lower emissions, improve resilience to the impacts of climate change, and reap the economic benefits that come from low-carbon growth.
”All this will help Kolkata become an exemplar in climate-friendly municipal services, and encourage businesses looking to make sustainable, long-term economic investments in India,” she said.
The British Deputy High Commission Kolkata has been working closely with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to address these issues through innovative tools and policies.During Prime Minister David Camerons visit to Kolkata along with UK Minister Priti Patel on November 14, 2013, the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The UK Government provided technical assistance of 1 million to implement this initiative. The MoU covered the following three areas — Preparation of a Roadmap for low carbon and climate resilient development of Kolkata; Strategies to strengthen institutional capacity of KMC to implement the Roadmap and improve overall governance in response to the challenges and opportunities of climate change; and Sensitisation programme for Members of the Mayor-in-Council and Councillors of KMC on green growth of the city (including a Toolkit).