This project has now been concluded.
HSBC, the world’s first carbon neutral bank, launched a climate change programme for India together with four world-class environmental organisations – The Climate Group, Earthwatch Institute, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and WWF. Through its partners HSBC will work with research institutions, businesses and individuals to combat the impact of climate change on forests, freshwater, cities and people.
In India, the climate programme involves sustainable water resource management in the Ganges river basin focusing on biodiversity and human livelihoods, sustainable water usage by industry and sustainable energy usage in local cities.
WWF India will be working in the Ganges river basin from Gangotri in the Himalayan foothills to Kanpur in northern India on various aspects of environmental flows of rivers, climate impact on glaciers and preparation for climate change effects in vulnerable communities. ICLEI South Asia will work as a partner to WWF India in their Climate Change Program in India. The two organizations will collaborate to have joint projects to promote and advocate – measures for co-management of water and energy in urban areas; promote sustainable use of natural resources and consumption practices in urban areas; promote and pilot innovative approaches in water resource management, energy use, and municipal waste, develop innovative initiatives; and campaigns such as rating/footprint disclosure of urban local bodies which promote sustainable development and capture the minds of decision makers, investors and key stakeholders as well as work on initiatives of biodiversity conservation, natural resources and promote management systems such as ecoBUDGET in the context of rapid urbanization.
Duration:
August 2008 – January 2011