India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Government of Japan, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have announced a new initiative to accelerate climate action in 10 states and union territories (UTs) across the country.
Under the initiative, UNDP will work with IMD to promote climate resilience and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to promote climate mitigation by deploying clean energy infrastructure and low-emission technologies in key sectors including transport, health, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and agriculture. This includes solarsing 150 healthcare facilities, 20 micro-enterprises, and installing 85 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and 30 solar cold storage systems across the 10 states; demonstrating resilient climate planning at the grassroots through climate information flow systems for 30 Gram Panchayats. Further, it will promote green jobs and green entrepreneurship in sectors like renewable energy by providing skilling and training to over 2,000 people. The initiative will support nationally determined contribution (NDCs) to achieve net-zero emissions and ensure climate-resilient development. Japan has extended USD 5.16 million in climate grant to UNDP India for the project. The project will be rolled out in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, and UT of Delhi-NCR between 2022-23.