What is Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF 2.0) ?

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (I/C), Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, has launched the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0. He also launched ‘Streets for People Challenge’ along with CSCAF 2.0 in a virtual event which was organized by the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Key Facts

• The primary objective is to provide a clear road map for cities to combat the Climate Change while they plan and implement their actions on development and investments.
• The initiative intends to inculcate a climate-sensitive approach in urban planning and development in India to avoid destruction and economic losses after cyclones, floods, heat waves, water scarcity and drought-like conditions.
• ​This assessment framework has been developed after consulting more than 26 organizations and 60 experts from different thematic areas.
• It includes 28 indicators divided into five categories:
  1. Energy and Green Buildings.
  2. Urban Planning, Green Cover & Biodiversity.
  3. Mobility and Air Quality.
  4. Water Management.
  5. Waste Management.
• The Climate Centre for Cities under National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is supporting the initiative at the implementation level.

Streets for People Challenge

​​The Streets for People Challenge has been launched with an objective to make our cities more walkable and pedestrian friendly. It was launched on the advisory issued by MoHUA. It will work for the holistic planning of pedestrian-friendly market spaces. The Challenge will help cities to develop a unified vision of streets for people by consulting the stakeholders and citizens. Cities will also be guided to launch their own designs to gather innovative ideas from professionals for quick, innovative, and low-cost tactical solutions.

It is aimed at inspiring cities to create walk-friendly and vibrant streets through quick, innovative, and low-cost measures. Cities participating in the challenge would be encouraged to use the ‘test-learn-scale’ approach to initiate walking interventions. Fit India Mission and India program of the Institute for Transport Development and Policy (ITDP) have partnered with the Smart Cities Mission to support the challenge.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2020