Navi Mumbai's Net Zero Roadmap: Carbon Footprint Audit Underway To Reduce Emissions

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is taking significant steps to reduce the city's carbon footprint and promote sustainability. In an effort to gather comprehensive data on the amount of carbon generated by various city sectors and sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the corporation has recently hired a consultant to conduct a carbon footprint audit.

The audit, which began at the start of the year, is set to last for four more months and will involve the participation of government organizations, energy providers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals. It will focus on various areas of the city, including industrial zones, building sites, the services industry, residential regions, waste management, and transportation.

Official stated that the audit will assist the civic body in gathering comprehensive data on the amount of carbon generated by each city sector, industry, and source of GHG emissions. For this, government organizations, energy providers, NGOs, and individuals will all be involved.

The carbon dioxide proportion in the air is increasing by the day, which is contributing to increased pollution, officials added.

The audit is in line with the national government's plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070 and NMMC's goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through a net zero pathway. In support of this objective, the corporation announced an independent environment budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and has committed to the global "Race to Zero" initiative, which aims to make Navi Mumbai carbon neutral. The corporation also plans to boost its carbon credit.

In addition to the carbon footprint audit, the NMMC has already begun implementing cutting-edge sewage treatment facilities and is developing a Miyawaki urban forest with over 1.72 lakh trees. The corporation also plans to convert all NMMT diesel buses to electric buses over the next three years, introducing 266 electric buses in total.

In October 2021, the municipal organization had published a request for proposals to hire a consultant to create the city's Net Zero Roadmap, an ambitious plan outlining the steps the city will take to achieve carbon neutrality.