Governance and networks for health co-benefits of climate change mitigation: Lessons from two Indian cities

Abstract

Health has been the main driver for many urban environmental interventions, particularly in cases of significant health problems linked to poor urban environmental conditions. This paper examines empirically the links between climate change mitigation and health in urban areas, when health is the main driver for improvements. The paper aims to understand how systems of urban governance can enable or prevent the creation of health outcomes via continuous improvements in the environmental conditions in a city. The research draws on cases from two Indian cities where initiatives were undertaken in different sectors: Surat (waste) and Delhi (transportation). Using the literature on network effectiveness as an analytical framework, the paper compares the cases to identify the possible ways to strengthen the governance and policy making process in the urban system so that each intervention can intentionally realize multiple impacts for both local health and climate change mitigation in the long term as well as factors that may pose a threat to long-term progress and revert back to the previous situation after initial achievements.

Urbanization in the time of climate change: Examining the response of Indian cities

“…An India‐wide study suggested that an increase in electricity consumption, modern cooking and clean water could lower short‐term morbidity for 2.4 million people with only modest increases to GHG emissions (Ahmad, Pachauri, & Creutzig, ). A range of studies point out that public and para transport can enhance safety, health and GHG mitigation (Ahmad et al, ; Arora et al, ; Doll & Balaban, ; Guttikunda, ; Maitra & Sadhukhan, ; Pathak & Shukla, ; Puppim de Oliveira & Doll, ; Woodcock et al, ). However, only few transport studies look at trade‐offs between GHG mitigation, land use, inclusivity and the local environment (Arora et al, ; Doll, Dreyfus, Ahmad, & Balaban, ; Li, ).…”

“…In Delhi and Kolkata, studies proposed both affordable and low-carbon residences with end-use efficiency, rooftop solar and waste-to-energy plants (Colenbrander et al, 2016;Farzaneh, Suwa, Doll, & de Oliveira, 2014). In Surat, a waste-to-energy plant reduced carbon emissions and water pollution, accruing in local health benefits (Kapshe, Kuriakose, Srivastava, & Surjan, 2013;Puppim de Oliveira & Doll, 2016). Another analysis shows how existing actions on biodiversity, slum development, solid-waste management, water supply, energy, transport, housing and urban development can be further enhanced to achieve multiple benefits (Narender & Sethi, 2018).…”

Decarbonizing the transportation sector: policy options, synergies, and institutions to deliver on a low‐carbon stabilization pathway

“…Potential to reduce energy consumption by 10-30% 45,46 Reduced travel times; public health, safety, and more equitable access 37,39,47,48 Shift Structure (shift to more energyefficient modes)…”

Flood risk and adaptation in Indian coastal cities: recent scenarios

“…The growing significance of urban areas is recognized by including Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities) in the United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals (SGDs). Cities are knowledge and innovation hubs, that can drive the urban system towards better governance of health and the climate within cities, and are centres which catalyse societal transformations (de Oliveira and Doll 2016). Most of the urban regions are located in coastal areas (Small and Nicholls 2003).…”