What is Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF 2.0)?

The Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0. was launched by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (I/C), Shri Hardeep Singh Puri. Along with the CSCAF 2.0, ‘Streets for People Challenge’ was also launched by him in a virtual event organized by the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Points covered:

• Background
  
• What is India Cycles4Change Challenge?
• CSCAF 2.0 – Key Facts
  
• Streets for People Challenge

Background

As posted by the PIB Delhi, the cities across the world, such as Berlin, Bogota, and Milan have responded by transforming streets for walking and cycling, with an aim to endure safe mobility during Covid-19.

As the lockdowns lift, cities face challenges in providing affordable, safe, and equitable modes of transport that facilitate social distancing.

The Smart Cities Mission is also associated with the India Cycles4Change Challenge, which strives to encourage Indian cities to come up with quick cycling-friendly interventions in the wake of Covid-19.

What is India Cycles4Change Challenge?

As pet the smartnet.niua.org, The India Cycles4Change Challenge is an initiative of the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India which aims to inspire and support Indian cities to quickly implement cycling-friendly initiatives in response to COVID-19. The key objective of the Challenge is to help Indian cities connect with their citizens and experts for the development of a unified vision and initiatives to promote cycling.

CSCAF 2.0 – Key Facts

As stated in a Press Release by PIB Delhi:

• Objective: To provide a clear roadmap for cities towards combating Climate Change while planning and implementing their actions, including investments. CSCAF initiative intends to inculcate a climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and development in India.

• Framework:  It has 28 indicators across 5 categories developed after a review of existing frameworks and assessment approaches across the globe followed by an extensive consultative process with over 60 experts and 26 organizations from different thematic areas. The five categories are:

• Energy and Green Buildings
• Urban Planning, Green Cover & Biodiversity
• Mobility and Air Quality
• Water Management
• Waste Management

• Implemented By: The Climate Centre for Cities under National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) collaboratively working with MoHUA to implement CSCAF.

Streets for People Challenge

• The objective of the Streets for People Challenge is to make Indian cities pedestrian-friendly and more walkable.
• Streets for People Challenge was launched on the advisory issued by MoHUA.
• The Challenge will work for the holistic planning of pedestrian-friendly market spaces.
• The Challenge will help cities to develop a unified vision of streets for people by consulting the stakeholders and citizens.
• Cities will also be guided to launch their own designs to gather innovative ideas from professionals for quick, innovative, and low-cost tactical solutions.
• It aims to inspire cities to create walking-friendly and vibrant streets through quick, innovative, and low-cost measures.
• All cities with a population of over 5 lakh, and capital cities, can apply.
• Cities participating in the challenge would be encouraged to use the ‘test-learn-scale’ approach to initiate walking interventions.
• Fit India Mission and India program of the Institute for Transport Development and Policy (ITDP) have partnered with the Smart Cities Mission to support the challenge.

Wrapping Up

The aim of CSCAF 2.0 is to provide affordable and equitable modes of transport that enable social distancing. Making streets more walkable for pedestrianisation and creating public spaces is what this initiative strives for. Do you think this is a much-needed step? Tell us in the comments below.