Delhi Youth Summit on Climate Change

Delhi Youth Summit on Climate Change

Delhi youth summit held on the 28th and 29th of May, 2008 at Nehru Memorial Museum & Library in the Teen Murti Bhawan in New Delhi.   The first event organised by IYCN in collaboration with various civil society organisations based in Delhi.  It brought 200 youth from around Delhi  to discuss an issue of high social concern- "climate change”. A Delhi Youth Charter on climate, outlining the aspirations of the youth was presented to Mr. J.K. Dadoo, the Delhi Secretary of Environment. Sessions covered urban planning, water, waste, energy, transportation, health, media, buildings and youth empowerment. 

Objectives: The objective of organising this summit was bringing together youth to contribute in finding solutions for a problem as sensitive as climate change. Youth constitutes a large part of the society and representation of youth voice is very essential as it's the future of the youth that is being planned. There should be at least one youth representative of the Indian Youth Climate Network (age 18-30) on the Delhi Master Plan Reviewing Committee. The youth is brimming with ideas and enthusiasm to work towards the benefit of the society at large. These ideas need to be directed effectively to achieve something constructive and concrete.

 Hundreds of recommendations came out during the outlining of the charter some of the areas of major concerns were focused at a brief overview is given below:

Urban planning: encouraging sustainable communities along with that urban planning need to invite public responses to draft legislations which result in a flexible statement, not a law. It also requires Strengthening the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations and Rehabilitating slums to meet adaptation needs.

Urban transport infrastructure: policies such as progressive taxation of vehicles directly proportional to their horsepower and fuel efficiency. Use of triangulation for better traffic management through use of sound and finally increase in the frequency of public transports.     

Parks and open spaces: maintain green cover of Delhi and undertaking eco-restoration of the Delhi ridge forest and encourage urban eco-tourism to get people interested in the green spaces of the city.

Water: Water tariff to be based on consumption on a Willingness To Pay (WTP) model for potable drinking water; Implementation of the Water (Cess) Act on NDMC.Upgrading and maintaining existing water supply systems. Implementation of IT Technology and GIS applications in water resource management and Water Auditing.

Waste: Individual and local composting and Using waste to energy processes. Getting R&D funding for university research on waste technology solutions and Recycling polythene into other handicraft products.

Energy: Increase use of renewable energy and decrease fossil fuel usage by subsidizing renewables and removing subsidies on non-renewables. Improve Delhi’s energy metering systems by using Time-of-Day metering and charging higher electricity costs for higher consumption. Use government buildings and infrastructure as examples of clean technology and energy efficiency by converting government buildings to green buildings; installing solar PV and water heating technology in government buildings; and increasing public infrastructure efficiency. Create and implement energy efficiency standards for buildings by curtailing financing for non green buildings and by mandating ECBC and increasing awareness about energy efficient systems among architects, engineers and consumers.

    
Transport: Increase fuel switching through increased availability of CNG filling stations and other low-carbon fuels, subsidization of low-carbon fuels while removing subsidies from petrol and create standards for fuel efficiency of vehicles. Increase effectiveness of public transportation through public-private partnerships to create multi-modal transportation systems and Create disincentives for vehicle purchase, such as staggered pricing for used cars, efficiency of vehicles and passenger numbers, increased parking fee in all parking areas and impose congestion charges, and increase age for driving licenses and Encourage cycling and walking by creating designated zones.