Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Resource Economics

Megacity 2

Climate and Energy in a Complex Transition Process towards Sustainable Hyderabad <p> Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies by Changing Institutions, Governance Structures, Life Styles and Consumption Patterns
Start: 07/2008 (expected)
End: 06/2013 (expected)

The focus of this project proposal is the South Indian emerging megacity of “Greater Hyderabad”, which is expected to reach 10.5 million inhabitants by 2015. Driven by consumption and lifestyle changes based on modernization and urbanization processes, combined with the use of traditional biomass for fuel in peri-urban areas, energy use and per capita greenhouse gas emissions are constantly increasing in Hyderabad. Severe floods in 2002, strong heat waves in 2003 and altogether three drought years between 2000 and 2007 in Hyderabad and its surrounding region causing serious damages fully correspond to predicted levels of vulnerability to climate change in the region in terms of food production, water management, biodiversity and livelihoods. Therefore, the assessment of the role of climate change in the everyday life of people in Hyderabad has become a central issue. From the perspective of a cross-cutting theme of energy efficiency and climate change impact, the Project focuses on four basic and closely interrelated problems of sustainability:

(a) environmental and resource degradation;

(b) poverty, food, nutrition and health;

(c) application of locally generated knowledge; and

(d) innovation in institutions and reform of governance structures.

The project concept is concerned with mitigation achieved through (a) accounting via a consumption oriented analysis of greenhouse gas emissions (diet, traffic and transport etc.) and (b) concepts, regulatory studies, policy learning and governance reforms in infrastructure sectors, such as energy, transport and water. The adaptation measures will address potential climate impacts on Hyderabad with particular reference to rural-urban linkages, which Hyderabad needs urgently to cope with key challenges. The Project is expected to implement an Action Plan to solve core problems related to climate change and energy provision through institutional innovations and governance reforms. Further expected outcomes are the integration of organisations of civil society in communication, participation, co-operation and network linking strategies, the establishment of pilot projects, which have the potential for implementation, once handed over to relevant actors and the dissemination of knowledge on how to institutionalise sustainable urban development.

Coordinator: Dr. Ramesh Chennamaneni

Leader: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Konrad Hagedorn

Project sites:
Hyderabad Megacity Project

Climate and Energy in a Complex Transition Process towards Sustainable Hyderabad Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies by Changing Institutions, Governance Structures, Life Styles and Consumption Patterns