Your vote can win Hyd a prestigious award

The city was shortlisted for its green initiatives like providing tax rebates for green properties, the wide dissemination of environmental building guidelines and the introduction of mandatory energy auditing for buildings etc, which contribute towards sustainable development of the city. Now the city is competing for the title of Global Earth Hour Capital 2014, for its outstanding sustainability efforts.

In an earlier interview in September 2013, the then Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner MT Krishna Babu said that it was taking several steps like installation of solar water heating and lighting in all nursing homes, hotels and hospitals. Plans were on to introduce these in complexes that house more than 100 units. He also added that it was mandatory for the town planning to give a fillip to renewable energy as per GO 168. World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) has invited people from across the world to join in the global celebration of these loveable cities. As Hyderabadis, we can support our city by voting for it and sharing what we love about the city through photos and videos. Suggestions on how cities can become more sustainable, can also be submitted on www.welovecities.org. The best part is that the suggestions posted on the website would be mailed to the GHMC.

How the challenge works

Cities have reported relevant data, plans and actions via an internationally recognised carbon reporting platform for cities, carbon Cities Climate Registry (cCCR). This is managed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) – Local Governments for Sustainability. Outreach and support to cities would be provided in collaboration with ICLEI and the final plans and data reviewed by an international jury.

The international jury will review development plans for building, transport, energy and food systems – solutions that will make a city greener and cleaner and improve living standards for residents. This year 163 cities from 14 countries will participate in the Earth Hour City Challenge.

34 finalist cities now selected

34 finalists from 14 participating countries have been selected from among the 163 entrants in this year’s Earth Hour City Challenge. An expert jury will now review the actions and commitments reported by these cities and ultimately identify one sustainability leader per country for the National Earth Hour Capital Award. One of these cities will also be awarded the title ‘Global Earth Hour Capital 2014’ for outstanding sustainability efforts at a ceremony on March 27, in Vancouver, Canada.

According to Dr Sejal Worah, programme director, WWF-India, “These finalists are Indian cities that have already recognised the climate challenge and started to measure and report their emissions. The Earth Hour City Challenge not only recognises their initiatives by way of encouraging their movement towards low carbon development, but also promotes such development and innovativeness by city municipalities across the globe. Ultimately, the challenge is not about having the most hi-tech plans, but about a commitment towards ensuring sustainable development in cities.”

Three Indian cities are in the running for the ‘We Love Cities Award’ which have been short-listed based on their individual accomplishments. Apart from Hyderabad, the other two are Coimbatore and Cochin. In Coimbatore, the installation of solar cookers in municipal schools, the installation of LEDs and preparations for 84mw solar power plant are the highlights. The Cochin Airport is the first in India to generate electricity through solar power for its daily operations, while the Waste to Energy (W2E) Project in Cochin is the first plant in India where municipal and industrial wastes are gasified to produce energy, used for power generation.