New Clinton Climate Initiative program to demonstrate economic, environmental strategies for sustainable urban growth
Godrej Garden City, a township development in the city of Ahmedabad, was announced today as one among 16 founding projects of the Climate Positive Development Program, a Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) program that will support the development of large-scale urban projects that demonstrate cities can grow in ways that are “climate positive.” Climate Positive real estate developments will strive to reduce the amount of on-site CO2 emissions to below zero.
The Climate Positive Development Program was launched by President Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, on May 19, 2009, at the C40 Summit in Seoul, South Korea. Along with the other founding projects, Godrej Garden City will demonstrate Climate Positive strategies, setting a compelling environmental and economic example for cities to follow.
To reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions of their Climate Positive Development projects to below zero, property developers and local governments will agree to work in partnership on specific areas of activity. This includes implementing economically viable innovations in buildings, the generation of clean energy, waste management, water management, and transportation and outdoor lighting systems.
Last year, for the first time, half the world’s population (3.2 billion people) lived in cities, and that figure is expected to grow to 70 percent by 2050. Cities also occupy just 2 percent of the world’s landmass, yet are responsible for more than two-thirds of global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. How cities change and grow is therefore a critical component to tackling the climate crisis.
“Godrej Properties looks forward to working towards achieving the goal of a climate positive development in Godrej Garden City, an upcoming township development located in Ahmedabad, India,” said Mr. Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Director, Godrej Properties.
Godrej Garden City is a 270-acre township development in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. This project is being developed by Godrej Properties, the real estate development arm of the Godrej Group, which is one of India’s most accomplished and diversified business houses. The Godrej Group was created in 1897 and currently has annual revenues of US $2 billion. Godrej Properties aims to create an integrated township within the city limits of Ahmedabad by providing a mix of residential, commercial and public spaces. Godrej Garden City is connected to neighboring areas and to the old city, which makes it a desirable area for township development. By combining CCI's business and finance expertise with the technical knowledge of the USGBC, the Climate Positive Development Program will support the planning and implementation process for each real estate development and establish the standards and metrics by which the sites can measure climate positive outcomes.
When the initial 16 projects are completed, nearly one million people will live and work in Climate Positive communities. These communities will be located in Melbourne, Australia; Palhoca, Brazil; Toronto, Canada; Victoria, Canada; Ahmedabad, India; Jaipur, India; outside Panama City, Panama; Pretoria, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa; Seoul, South Korea; Stockholm, Sweden; London, UK; San Francisco, USA and Destiny, Florida, USA.
About the Clinton Climate Initiative
The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate change. Working with governments and businesses around the world to tailor local solutions that are economically and environmentally sustainable, CCI focuses on three strategic program areas: increasing energy efficiency in cities, catalyzing the large-scale supply of clean energy, and working to measure and value the carbon absorbed by forests. In each of these programs, CCI uses a holistic approach to address the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the people, policies, and practices that impact them. CCI serves as the action arm of the C40, an association of large cities around the world that have pledged to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more about the work of the Clinton Climate Initiative and the William J. Clinton Foundation, please visit www.clintonfoundation.org
