Sustainable Urban Development
Sustainable Urban Development
Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe) was designated as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Urban Development and Climate Change in 2008, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India to address critical issues related to Urban development and Climate Resilience in India. IRADe’s approach as the Centre of Excellence is broadly based on three focus areas: Research, Knowledge Dissemination and Capacity Building. CoE has undertaken vulnerability assessment of 20 cities, devised roadmap for mainstreaming climate and disaster resilience components in the smart city development plans of 10 cities, and piloted the urban climate vulnerability index. Committed towards strengthening city health resilience, the CoE is actively involved in developing Climate Adaptive Heat Stress Action Plans, Early Warning System for Dengue and Air Pollution Action plans. The CoE developed robust models and methodologies to address risk through active engagement and analysis of various cities under the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN). The vulnerability assessment and resilience planning approach evolved by the ACCCRN programme identifies vulnerabilities and capacities based on GIS platform and spatial analysis.
The CoE have facilitated decision-making for various ministries, including Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Niti Ayog, Ministry of Power, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Urban Development, Department of Science and Technology, among others. COE has also contributed to the low carbon pathways and the Nationally Determined Contributions until 2030 and 2050, and the research outcomes are widely shared in platforms like IPCCSREX, European Union, Rockefeller Foundation (ACCCRN), UN Habitat and other international forums.
