Kolkata: In a proactive move to combat rising temperatures and mitigate the adverse effects of urban heat islands, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is set to implement an ambitious plan aimed at quadrupling the city’s green cover this monsoon and establishing community green cool zones.
This initiative comes as the city gears up to unveil the first draft of the Kolkata Climate Action Plan. Revealing the municipal corporation’s strategic vision, a Member-in-Charge (MMiC) disclosed the plan during a symposium on climate change held on World Environment Day. The symposium, organized by the Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO) in collaboration with the Just Transition Research Centre at IIT-Kanpur, witnessed discussions on pressing environmental concerns and the urgency of adopting sustainable measures.
Highlighting alarming trends in temperature rise, an official from the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) expressed concerns over the city’s mean temperature increasing by over 2°C between 2019 and 2023. Reports from WBPCB stations in Kolkata indicated a steady upward trend in maximum temperatures, with a record high of 44.97°C recorded on April 30 this year, underscoring the pressing need for effective climate action. Citing projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), officials warned of a potential rise of around 4.5°C in Kolkata’s annual mean temperature by 2080 under the worst-case scenario, rendering the city uninhabitable in the near future if unchecked. In response, the MMiC outlined the municipality’s multifaceted approach to halt this alarming trajectory, emphasizing the role of intensive greening in mitigating climate change impacts.
Key components of the Kolkata Climate Action Plan (K-CAP) include a comprehensive heat action plan, incorporating measures for heat mitigation and resilience-building. Officials underscored the importance of striking a balance between addressing environmental challenges and facilitating a smooth transition towards clean energy solutions, emphasizing the need for technological, financial, and legal interventions to achieve net-zero emissions. The KMC’s strategic shift towards enhancing green cover and implementing climate-resilient measures reflects a concerted effort to address the evolving climate crisis and ensure a sustainable future for Kolkata. As the city prepares to embark on this transformative journey, collaboration between government agencies, environmental organizations, and academic institutions remains paramount in realizing the shared goal of climate resilience and environmental stewardship.
