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The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Study highlights need for nature-based solutions to prevent climate-related losses in the city
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) should establish a permanent nature-based solutions advisory board, and ensure that urbanising zones integrate the solutions into long-term urban planning, reducing future risks related to industrial expansion and climate vulnerabilities, according to a recommendation of a study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a Bengaluru-based think tank. The study titled 'Urban Greenprints-Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Feasibility Framework for Urban Coastal Regions' covered 23 wards of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), spanning an area of 64.35 for their NbS potential using land-use and land-cover mapping. Key zones for intervention included residential areas, public spaces, transportation corridors, and blue-green infrastructure. Rooftops in residential zones present major opportunities for green infrastructure, with a potential to increase NbS areas in the city by 76%. Chennai and Mangaluru were the cities selected as case studies because of their exposure to flooding, sea level rise, and extreme weather events. Permeable pavements in transport corridors could improve urban drainage, offering a 5% increase in NbS areas for both cities. Additionally, waterbodies in select wards can be fully leveraged for wetland restoration and establishing buffer zones. The study's findings pointed to the need for developing partnerships with real estate developers and industry stakeholders to fund large-scale NbS interventions, particularly in coastal industrial zones. Collaborations among government bodies such as the Park Department of the GCC, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Authority and private entities such as Chennai Smart City Limited and Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company can help pool resources for larger-scale NbS projects. The study also stressed the need for coordination with neighbouring cities, such as Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu, to create a regional NbS network, which can help pool resources for larger ecosystem resilience projects and share best practices. Eco-tourism should be promoted around green spaces serving as public parks or restored wetlands such as Pallikaranai, where guided tours can attract visitors and generate income for maintenance. The study recommended pilot projects, such as green rooftops and permeable pavements, in densely populated wards to combat storm-water runoff and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Green corridors connecting parks and open spaces along Old Mahabalipuram Road and East Coast Road, where urban expansion is intense, will be beneficial, it added. The study said cost–benefit analysis for green rooftops and permeable pavements estimated that implementing these measures would cost ₹2,203 crore in Chennai and ₹172.97 crore in Mangaluru. In Chennai, the expected benefit from reduced flood damage and productivity losses is ₹505.31 crore every year. This means the investment would pay for itself in just over four years, the study said. Without any action, Chennai could face climate-related losses of up to ₹10,000 crore over the next 20 years, according to the study.
Hans India
19-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Mangaluru can cut climate damage with ₹172 crore investment: CSTEP report
Mangaluru: A new report by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has outlined that with an investment of ₹172.97 crore, Mangaluru could avoid ₹11.62 crore in annual damages linked to climate-related risks, including flooding and coastal erosion. The report, titled Urban Greenprints: A Nature-based Solutions Feasibility Framework for Urban Coastal Regions, calls for the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS) into the urban planning of select wards in Mangaluru. CSTEP recommends embedding NbS within planning and budgeting processes instead of treating them as standalone initiatives. The study identifies Panambur, Port, Hoige Bazaar, and Bengre as suitable wards for interventions such as rooftop greening, permeable pavements, and water body restoration. The report also notes that initiatives like the Coastal Bioshield Project at Tannirbhavi and ongoing lake rejuvenation efforts have shown preliminary success but remain limited by top-down governance and lack of community participation. The document advocates for spatial mapping, inclusive governance, and master planning focused on vulnerable zones like Surathkal and Ullal. It proposes that Mangaluru's approach could serve as a model for other coastal cities facing climate stress.
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Business Standard
19-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
₹2,203 crore green push can ease Chennai's climate challenges: CSTEP
Chennai, which frequently experiences heavy rains and floods, could save around ₹500 crore in reduced flood damages and co-benefits each year by investing ₹2,203 crore in key nature-based solutions across selected city wards, according to a study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). Nature-based solutions must be embedded in planning, budgeting and policy processes rather than treated as standalone initiatives, said the report titled Urban Greenprints: Leveraging Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to Address Urban Climate Risks. While Chennai is making steady progress through its climate action plans and green initiatives, the study highlights the need for further steps to tackle challenges such as heatwaves and flash floods. The research indicated that in selected wards, implementing green spaces, urban farms, permeable pavements and restored wetlands could significantly improve resilience to urban flooding. These measures would also help mitigate heat stress, reduce pollution and enhance overall liveability. Many proposed ideas are simple and cost-effective. For instance, in North Chennai wards, converting bare concrete rooftops into low-cost, low-maintenance gardens could increase local green cover by over 70 per cent. This would cool some of the city's hottest and most densely populated areas. In addition to reducing temperatures, rooftop gardens can absorb rainwater and provide household produce. Streets can also contribute to climate resilience. The report notes that switching to permeable surfaces in flood-prone areas would allow rainwater to seep into the ground, helping to recharge groundwater and reduce waterlogging. Chennai's wetlands form another essential part of the solution. Neighbourhood lakes and river catchments can act as natural sponges, absorbing stormwater and filtering pollutants. Preserving and expanding these ecosystems would not only protect against flooding but also support birds, fish and other native wildlife. The report cites existing on-ground initiatives that have demonstrated success. For example, the Chennai Urban Farming Initiative has introduced rooftop and mobile gardens in schools, homes and homeless shelters. These help cool buildings, grow food and create learning opportunities and jobs—especially for women and young people. In a city with limited land, using rooftops effectively is a smart and inclusive strategy. 'These changes require investment. We estimate that around ₹2,203 crore would be needed to put key nature-based solutions into action across selected wards in the city,' the report said. It also noted that the potential economic benefits, such as reduced flood damage, could yield annual savings of over ₹500 crore—meaning the investment could be recovered in just over four years. What makes the approach especially appealing is its flexibility. Projects can start small—such as a community wetland park or a few green rooftops—and scale up over time. The aim is not to overhaul the entire city at once, but to create context-specific solutions developed in collaboration with communities. Lakshmi Menon, Senior Analyst in the Adaptation and Risk Analysis group at CSTEP, said: 'In cities like Chennai and Mangaluru, even modest ward-level investments in green infrastructure can yield substantial long-term savings and ecological benefits. As climate risks intensify, integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning is not just desirable—it is essential for building resilient, adaptive and sustainable cities.'
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Namma SAFARI Model offers data-driven insights for Karnataka's climate goals
Namma SAFARI, a first-of-its-kind integrated system dynamics model enabling policymakers, researchers, and planners to explore low-carbon development pathways, was launched at an event at the Bangalore International Centre on Thursday. Developed by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think- tank, Namma SAFARI intends to simulate growth across key sectors such as power, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, and land use, while tracking resource use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Namma SAFARI dashboard offers policymakers and other stakeholders an intuitive, interactive platform to simulate scenarios, tweak variables, and design actionable roadmaps for a greener Karnataka. It is claimed to be Karnataka's first comprehensive long-term planning tool tailored to the State's unique development needs and climate goals. Participating in the launch event, Rajeev Gowda, former MP, spoke about the need for modelling studies that inform policies by looking at long-term future scenarios and highlighted that maintaining dialogue with policymakers is important. As part of a panel discussion at the event, N. Amaranath, CEO, Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited (KSPDCL), pointed out that globally, the expansion of large-scale solar capacity faces significant land-use challenges, particularly in balancing food security, forestry, and urbanisation goals. This makes the prospect of meeting all energy needs through electrification alone seem highly unrealistic for a country like India. Key insights from the model Insights from the model showed that while Karnataka's electricity demand is projected to soar, driven by massive electrification across sectors, a green shift is possible. If no new coal plants are built and renewables are ramped up, GHG emissions could fall from 400 MT to just 50 MT by 2050. Green construction materials, rooftop solar, and passive cooling strategies could cut building-related electricity demand by 25%, while making houses more comfortable and energy-efficient. Shifting from coal-heavy production to electric- and hydrogen-based alternatives could decarbonise two of Karnataka's most emission-intensive industries. A freight modal shift from road to rail and widespread electric vehicle adoption can slash diesel use and transport emissions. Insights from the model also underline the importance of solar pumps, micro-irrigation, and millet cultivation in reducing agriculture's massive electricity footprint, and highlight that renewables paired with battery and hydro storage will be the backbone of Karnataka's green energy transition. Policies around time-of-day tariffs and storage incentives are critical.
Scroll.in
22-04-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Green promise of India's ethanol-blend fuel could be undone by land, water demands
Green promise of India's ethanol-blend fuel could be undone by land, water demands India is pushing to add more biofuels to its fuel in a bid to shift to cleaner energy. Its target of a 20% ethanol blend in its gasoline by the end of this year aims to reduce both tailpipe pollution and the country's reliance on imported oil and natural gas. Biofuels, produced from organic matter like plants, crops or waste, are seen as a greener alternative to the planet-heating fossil fuels that power more than 90% of global transport. But producing ethanol, which is made mainly from sugarcane and maize, requires land and water use that could have a larger climate impact than fossil fuel emissions. Meeting the blending target will require diverting land roughly seven times the size of New York City to grow enough biofuel crops, according to an analysis from the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, an Indian think tank. Pressure on land use India produces nearly 40% of its ethanol from sugarcane, and the rest comes from grains, according to estimates from Indian credit rating company Crisil. The country will need to produce 10 billion litres of ethanol by 2025 and 20 billion litres by 2050 to meet its targets, according to the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy. This will entail about 8 million hectares of additional land for maize cultivation by 2030, equivalent to roughly a quarter of India's total agricultural land, the think tank said. Biofuels have become a popular choice for reducing climate-polluting emissions, with global production reaching 200 million metric tons in 2023. However, making biofuels emits greenhouse gases even before the fuel is burned, especially if forests have been cleared to grow the crops. And the increased demand for maize may lead to food price inflation, CSTEP said. Additional water needs Producing one litre of ethanol from sugarcane consumes about 2,860 litres of water, according to a report by NITI Aayog, the Indian government's public policy think tank. This could have a severe impact on India's water needs, because most districts are already water scarce, the data showed. With rising ethanol production, the annual average irrigation water demand is projected to rise by 50 billion cubic metres by 2070, CSTEP's analysis showed. That is enough water to meet Delhi's needs for more than 17 years. NITI Aayog, the government's think tank, argues ambitious biofuel targets should only be pursued if there is a breakthrough in technology that significantly lowers the overall land and water footprint of ethanol production.
