In Short : The Delhi government plans to revise its 2019 Climate Action Plan and will submit a draft of the updated policy to the Centre, according to Environment Minister Gopal Rai. This revision aims to address current environmental challenges more effectively and align with national climate goals, reinforcing the city’s commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience.
In Detail : New Delhi : Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday released a draft of a new environmental policy, which includes the creation of an “environment health cell” to address diseases linked to climate change, the expansion of solar-power generation and plans for waste-to-energy plants.
The draft action plan will be submitted to the Centre in the next two weeks, highlighting a vulnerability assessment showing that Northeast Delhi, East Delhi and South Delhi have high vulnerability while New Delhi, Central Delhi and North Delhi have a low-vulnerability index and the installation of smart meters.
Health adaptation plans will be developed for diseases caused by air pollution, disaster management related to heat and coldwaves, water-borne diseases and zoonotic diseases, as outlined in the Action Plan on Climate Change.
The plan includes provisions for accessible services, ensuring that there is no shortage in bed capacity and infrastructure, with an additional 10 per cent buffer, and aims to guarantee 100 per cent coverage of health interventions under various programmes and healthcare services for the vulnerable populations.
In addition to other plans, the draft includes a strategy for energy efficiency, aiming for 100 per cent saturation by 2030 of LED bulbs, LED tubelights and energy-efficient fans as well as energy-efficient LED streetlights. DISCOMS will also install smart meters for all consumers in a time-bound manner, in line with the Department of Power’s Vision 2041.
Addressing a press conference here, Rai said climate change is no longer an abstract concept but is directly impacting human lives.
He emphasised the urgency of the initiative, noting the severe impact climate change has had on Delhi, including record-breaking heatwaves and unprecedented rainfall this year.
“The way nature has been tampered with in the blind race of development, it is now having a direct impact on people’s lives. Delhi has witnessed extreme weather events and continues to struggle with air pollution. This comprehensive policy is our response to mitigate these challenges,” Rai said.
In a move to combat the adverse effects of climate change, the minister has initiated a comprehensive strategy focusing on seven critical sectors in Delhi — energy, water, waste management, green cover, transport, health and agriculture.
“Given the seriousness of the matter, we have drafted a new policy which will be submitted to the central government,” he said.
The policy aims to identify and control the sources of climate change within the seven targeted sectors.
“The rapid environmental degradation we have witnessed over the past few years prompted us to initiate a review of the 2019 policy. A stakeholder group was formed and meetings were held to discuss the necessary updates,” Rai said.
“More than 40 departments, experts and officials participated in the meetings aimed at revising Delhi’s 2019 Climate Action Plan,” he added.
The proposed policy will be submitted to the Centre in the next two weeks for approval, after which it will be implemented with necessary revisions based on feedback.
Additionally, the Delhi government has already established a core group and a steering committee, led by the chief secretary, to oversee the policy’s development and ensure its effective execution.
“This policy is not just about reducing the impact of climate change, it is about making Delhi a resilient city, prepared to face the challenges ahead,” Rai said.
The conference also highlighted specific measures under each sector, such as promoting solar energy, improving waste management, enhancing green cover and increasing the use of electric vehicles.
The policy also includes provisions for adapting infrastructure to withstand climate-related stresses, such as underground power distribution and flood-resistant urban planning.
The previous plan focused on six key areas, including energy, transport, green cover, urban development and projected changes in weather patterns.
Delhi’s previous climate action plan for the period from 2010 to 2020 was finalised in 2019 after a seven-year stakeholder consultation.
The work on a new plan began in 2021, with the first draft completed in 2022. It took around two years to finalise the consultations and fine-tune the plan.
