UK companies offer support to develop a low carbon and climate resilient Kolkata

An interactive session titled Showcasing UK expertise towards developing a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Kolkata provided the platform for British businesses to discuss and understand the strengths and opportunities in Kolkata’s low-carbon sector and also provide their expertise and solutions.

Sir Dominic Asquith, British High Commissioner to India, Sovan Chatterjee, Mayor of Kolkata, Municipal Commissioner, and the British Deputy High Commissioner spoke at the event.

PwC gave a presentation on the proposed interventions in the UK-KMC low-carbon roadmap to be implemented in the coming years.

Ten UK companies specialising in waste, energy and water management, smart parking, street lighting and renewable energy presented their expertise and offer to the delegates present at the event.

Speaking at the event, the British High Commissioner said the KMC-UK MoU for a green and smart Kolkata is a fantastic example of what Greening the Economy looks like in practice – creating business opportunities in low-carbon growth; reducing carbon emissions; building skills and capacity; and making cities more climate resilient.

The UK-KMC roadmap was launched in January 2016 by the then Minister for Skills Priti Patel.

The British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata signed an MoU with KMC during the visit of the then UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

The MoU delivered a £1 Million Technical Assistance Programme aimed at the following:

• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electricity bills and also respond to the impacts of a changing climate
• To introduce policies and schemes to generate new sustainable economic opportunities through green job creation
• To introduce state-of-the-art municipal services that support clean and green development of the city

Image: Wikimedia Commons