The Delhi Government will seek the opinions of global experts in formulating a long-term plan in making the national capital a carbon-neutral city in a time-bound manner.
The Government has invited experts from over 20 countries as well as from within India to suggest ways to help Delhi frame an environment-friendly policy so that it could deal with the challenges of climate change effectively.
The experts will deliberate on the issue at a two-day conference beginning Monday where all aspects of the problem will be discussed in great length.
“Although the government has taken a series of measures to deal with the problem, a need was felt to take these initiatives forward and plan our future climate change agenda by sharing and learning from the experiences of other cities across the globe,” said Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta.
The conference will be attended by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in addition to representatives of various states.
“We want to make Delhi a carbon-neutral city, and to achieve that we are going to come up with a broad policy after the conference,” Mehta said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was invited to the conference but he will not be able to attend due to other engagements, said Environment Secretary Dharmendra. Asked whether Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was invited, he answered in the negative.
The major issues to be discussed at the conference have been broadly divided into seven segments including energy efficiency and conservation, transport management systems, renewable energy, green neighbourhoods and waste management.
Mehta said the city government had almost achieved the goals set out in its climate change agenda of 2009.
He said as part of its green initiatives, the government had taken various initiatives including introduction of ultra low sulphur diesel, increasing green cover from 3 per cent to 20 per cent of the geographical area in a period of 10 years, and setting up an integrated waste management system.
He also said the delegates will include experts from various countries in Europe, Asia and the US.
