New Delhi, A rapid rollout of solar-powered electric vehicle charging infrastructure and vertical forests are among the new ideas the Delhi government is contemplating to address the twin challenges of air pollution and climate change.
Other innovative ideas include creating charging points and battery exchange stations by reusing streetlights, parking spaces and gas stations. Also, "smart poles" that combine fast charging, public Wi-Fi and Internet of Things features could soon become a reality in Delhi, a government official said.
These ideas were discussed at a meeting of the Delhi State Steering Committee on Climate Change in June and are likely to be incorporated in the city government's new action plan on climate change.
While climate change is exacerbating heat waves and heavy rains in this overcrowded, landlocked city, studies show that air pollution is shortening the lives of Delhi residents by 11.9 years.
The government is also exploring the potential of deploying vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in the national capital. V2G allows energy to return to the grid from an electric vehicle's battery, balancing variations in energy production and consumption.
The concept of vertical forests or residential towers enveloped by dense vegetation has also attracted the attention of the government as a means of reducing air pollution.
The Delhi government is also planning a campaign to paint roofs with white heat-reflective paint to reduce indoor temperatures, the official said.
This effort is part of the government's plan to mitigate the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable populations during peak summers.
The city government is contemplating a complete transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035-2040.
Currently, Delhi has 1,650 electric buses in operation, the highest among all Indian cities. The government aims to have over 8,000 electric buses operational in Delhi by the end of 2025.
Delhi aims to implement a new, albeit delayed, action plan to combat climate change this year.
Official sources said the final draft is ready and awaiting approval from the city government's environment minister before being sent to the Union environment ministry.
India introduced the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008, following which state governments were asked to develop their own State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with national strategies.
Delhi's previous climate action plan for 2010-2020, finalized in 2019 after a seven-year consultation with stakeholders, is now outdated. Work on a new plan began in 2021 and the first draft was completed in 2022. It took around two years to finalize consultations and refine the plan.
Other innovative ideas include creating charging points and battery exchange stations by reusing streetlights, parking spaces and gas stations. Also, "smart poles" that combine fast charging, public Wi-Fi and Internet of Things features could soon become a reality in Delhi, a government official said.
These ideas were discussed at a meeting of the Delhi State Steering Committee on Climate Change in June and are likely to be incorporated in the city government's new action plan on climate change.
While climate change is exacerbating heat waves and heavy rains in this overcrowded, landlocked city, studies show that air pollution is shortening the lives of Delhi residents by 11.9 years.
The government is also exploring the potential of deploying vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in the national capital. V2G allows energy to return to the grid from an electric vehicle's battery, balancing variations in energy production and consumption.
The concept of vertical forests or residential towers enveloped by dense vegetation has also attracted the attention of the government as a means of reducing air pollution.
The Delhi government is also planning a campaign to paint roofs with white heat-reflective paint to reduce indoor temperatures, the official said.
This effort is part of the government's plan to mitigate the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable populations during peak summers.
The city government is contemplating a complete transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035-2040.
Currently, Delhi has 1,650 electric buses in operation, the highest among all Indian cities. The government aims to have over 8,000 electric buses operational in Delhi by the end of 2025.
Delhi aims to implement a new, albeit delayed, action plan to combat climate change this year.
Official sources said the final draft is ready and awaiting approval from the city government's environment minister before being sent to the Union environment ministry.
India introduced the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008, following which state governments were asked to develop their own State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with national strategies.
Delhi's previous climate action plan for 2010-2020, finalized in 2019 after a seven-year consultation with stakeholders, is now outdated. Work on a new plan began in 2021 and the first draft was completed in 2022. It took around two years to finalize consultations and refine the plan.
