Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CAP) for Bengaluru

Consultative Session 24 June 2022

Climate Action Priorities for Energy & Building

BACKGROUND
Bengaluru is the fifth most populous metropolis (Census of India, 2011) and one of the fastest-growing
cities in India. The pressure of urbanization has not only impacted the natural resources and ecological
networks in the city region, but its effect can be felt in the city’s livability conditions in terms of
deteriorating air quality, frequent floods, and rising temperature levels.

To tackle these challenges, and reiterate its commitment to India’s climate agenda, Bengaluru joined the
C40 cities network in 2017. Bengaluru is also the co-lead of the Global Air Quality Network and a signatory
to the deadline of 2020 which requires the city to achieve carbon reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality
by 2050.

As an immediate step, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has started the preparation of a
Climate Action and Resilience Plan for Bengaluru in partnership with C40 Cities and the World Resources
Institute India (WRI India). The goal of the Plan is to help Bengaluru city find ways to reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions and to build resilience against climate-related hazards.

Climate Action and Resilience Plan - Bengaluru will formulate inclusive and robust mitigation and
adaptation strategies across seven different sectors: energy and green buildings, transport, air quality,
solid waste, water and wastewater, urban planning and disaster resilience, and green cover and
biodiversity.

Key features include:

• Profiling of City, Climate, and GHG emissions

• Identifying risks and vulnerabilities to climate change hazards
• Identifying future pathways for emission reduction and resilience building
• Setting goals, strategic priorities, and action areas

STATIONARY ENERGY AND BUILDINGS IN CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE PLAN FOR
BENGALURU
India, the third largest energy consumer and third largest oil importer is working aggressively to provide
affordable energy, to ensure energy access to all, and to enhance efficiencies in the operations. The energy
sector contributes to about 75% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the country. Electricity
generation is the highest source of greenhouse gas emissions accounting for more than 40% of the total
emissions as per official Inventories (MOEFCC) and CO2 emissions constitute 99% of the total emissions.
Construction sector, being one of the significant contributions to the nation’s GDP, emits about 22% of
the total annual emission of CO2 resulting from the Indian economy (GRIHA India).
Karnataka ranks first in the renewable rich states with 15 GW of installed capacity base and another 9 GW
of green capacity being under implementation. However, inadequate infrastructure to store the energy
generated from the green energy supply corridor is compelling the state to sell the excess power to the
open market.

Bengaluru, with a population of approximately 1.13 crore (2019) is one of the largest consumers of
electricity in Karnataka. Total electricity consumption in BBMP jurisdiction supplied by Bangalore
Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) is around 16,088 MU (2019-20). BESCOM’s energy generation
comes from a mixed source comprising around 53% of coal, 23.88% of solar, 12.56% of wind, 4.18% of
hydroelectricity, 3.18% of biomass, and 3.44% of others (Nuclear etc.).

The buildings sector plays a critical role in determining energy consumption. The gross electricity
consumption in residential buildings in India has been rising sharply over the years. For instance, the
consumption figure rose by more than four times in 20 years, about 260 TWh in 2016-17 from about 55
TWh in 1996-97 (Central Electricity Authority - CEA). Projections show that this may rise to anywhere
between 630 and 940 TWh by 2032 (NITI Aayog - India Energy Security Scenario, 2047). Global efforts on
the need for low carbon and zero carbon buildings have grown stronger in recent years. Despite
heightened efforts, Bengaluru has less than 5% of energy efficient green buildings of total buildings in the
city.

Studies show that the states performing well in terms of overall energy efficiency may not necessarily
perform well in the entire energy and climate sector (State Energy Climate Index – 2022). To tackle the
GHG emissions from energy and building sector, an approach that is equally weighed on both supply side
(i.e., increasing RE proportion) as well as demand side (i.e., improving energy efficiency) is critical.

There are other critical aspects related to implementation of clean energy pathways and green buildings
uptake in India that need addressal. These include building adequate mechanisms and enablers for just
transition, financing instruments, transparent frameworks, and resilience. Bengaluru was categorized as
moderately vulnerable to climate-risk (Dept of Science and Technology). Hence the sector also needs to
build resilience against possible vulnerabilities from climate change related hazards such as flooding,
temperature rise, severe storms and more.

SESSION OBJECTIVE & GUIDING QUESTIONS

Developing a successful action plan, to mitigate and adapt to climate change and build better resilience,
must be seen as a policy and human development challenge and not only a scientific discourse.
Consultations with the stakeholders are imperative to ensure that the planned output captures the
interests of all concerned groups, is cognizant of local realities, and is inclusive and implementable.
Through these consultations, we hope to engage with experts working in the field of energy and green
buildings who could help prepare meaningful and actionable pathways to secure a climate-resilient future
for Namma Bengaluru.

Following are a few guiding questions that we would like to delve deeper into during this session:

1. What are the strategic opportunities which are ambitious yet feasible for Bengaluru in mitigation
and resilience building in short term and long term?
 2. What are the challenges in enabling inclusive and just climate action pathways in energy and
building sector for the city?
3. What governance arrangements are required for the successful adoption and implementation of
just climate actions in the energy and building sector w.r.t. the following?
- Institutions and capacities
- Processes and platforms
- Plans, policies, regulations

SESSION AGENDA
• Opening remarks and agenda-setting, by
Introduction and
Dr Rohini Balasubramanian, Nodal Office for Climate Action Plan,
Agenda Setting
BBMP
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM • Introduction to City Climate Action Planning, by
Benjamin John, City Advisor for Bengaluru, C40 Cities, and
• Context setting on Climate Action Resilience Plan for Bengaluru, by
Shrimoyee Bhattacharya, Program Lead, Urban Development, World
Resources Institute India, and
Chetan V. Naika, Senior Program Associate, Sustainable Cities, and
Transport Team, World Resources Institute India

Views from Invited • Dr. Lasya Gopal, Area Convener, Cent. for Impact, Eval & Energy
Access, Bangalore, TERI
Speakers
• Mr. Saptak Ghosh, Senior Policy Specialist and leads the Energy
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM Efficiency and Renewable Energy domain, CSTEP
• Mr. Anurag Tamhankar, Director/ Senior Architect, BIOME
Each speaker will put • Mr. Gautham R K, Senior Director – Operations, GAIA The Earth
forward opportunities, Foundation
challenges, and • Mr. Kiran B, Senior Manager, TIDE
strategic priorities for • Mr. Salman Dawood, GB Member, CREDAI
climate action in • Mr. Deepak Krishnan, Associate Director, Energy Program, WRI India
Bengaluru (5-8 min
each) Moderated by Dr Rohini Balasubramanian, Nodal Office for Climate Action
Plan, BBMP
Discussion & Summary of key points raised and questions if any, led by
Concluding remarks Dr Rohini Balasubramanian, Nodal Officer for Climate Action Plan, BBMP
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM

Vote of Thanks