
Model Cities
Rajkot
Thane
Satellite Cities
Coimbatore
Gwalior
Nagpur
Panaji
Pimpri-Chinchwad
Shimla
The project Urban-LEDS is being implemented in India by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) in partnership with UN-Habitat. The responsible ICLEI office dealing with India is ICLEI South Asia Secretariat (ICLEI SAS).
After a call for Expression of Interest (EOIs) in which a total of fifteen cities in India participated two Model Cities – Thane and Rajkot and six Satellite Cities were selected to participate in the Urban-LEDS project.
City profiles
Model cities
Satellite cities

- Agreements were signed with the eight cities selected.
- A stakeholder committee and core team comprising of ULB (Urban Local Bodies) officials were formed in all the cities.
- The national level project launch workshop was held in New Delhi on 5 September 2013 [read more].
- Currently, all the cities are updating their energy consumption inventories in order to prepare the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile and to analyse the potential low carbon actions to be integrated into city level activities.
Project partners
The PAG has a diversified representation with representatives from the national ministry, international organizations, development institutions, private organizations. ICLEI is in contact with Schneider Electric India Pvt. Ltd. for conducting energy efficiency awareness activities in selected schools in both the model cities and the satellite cities as well.
National Project Advisory Group composition:
- NIUA - National Institute of Urban Affairs
- IGEP, GIZ - Indo-German Environment Partnership Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
- EU Delegation to India
- MNRE - Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India
- UN-Habitat India
- Schneider Electric India Private Limited
- KFW Development Bank
Project Resources
2015
Urban-LEDS Exhibition Poster of Coimbatore (2015):
A low-carbon leader in renewable energy
Published: April 2015
Poster detailing the status of Low Emission Development progress in the project city as of March 2015. Exhibited at the ICLEI World Congress (Seoul, R. of Korea, 8-12 April 2015), and at the 2nd Urban-LEDS International City Networking Seminar (Bogor, Indonesia, May 2015).
Urban-LEDS Exhibition Poster Panaji (2015):
Achieving low-emissions development through energy and resource-efficient initiatives
Published: April 2015
Poster detailing the status of Low Emission Development progress in the project city as of March 2015. Exhibited at the ICLEI World Congress (Seoul, R. of Korea, 8-12 April 2015), and at the 2nd Urban-LEDS International City Networking Seminar (Bogor, Indonesia, May 2015).
Urban-LEDS Exhibition Poster Pimpri-Chinchwad (2015):
Low-emissions development through green building policy and sustainable technology
Published: April 2015
Poster detailing the status of Low Emission Development progress in the project city Pimpri-Chinchwad as of March 2015. Exhibited at the ICLEI World Congress (Seoul, R. of Korea, 8-12 April 2015), and at the 2nd Urban-LEDS International City Networking Seminar (Bogor, Indonesia, May 2015).
Urban-LEDS Exhibition Poster Rajkot (2015):
Urban-LEDS leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy
Published: April 2015
Poster detailing the status of Low Emission Development progress in the project city as of March 2015. Exhibited at the ICLEI World Congress (Seoul, R. of Korea, 8-12 April 2015), and at the 2nd Urban-LEDS International City Networking Seminar (Bogor, Indonesia, May 2015).
Urban-LEDS Exhibition Poster of Thane (2015):
Low-carbon development through citywide green policies and programs
Published: April 2015
Poster detailing the status of Low Emission Development progress in the project city Pimpri-Chinchwad as of March 2015. Exhibited at the ICLEI World Congress (Seoul, R. of Korea, 8-12 April 2015), and at the 2nd Urban-LEDS International City Networking Seminar (Bogor, Indonesia, May 2015).
2014
LED actions in Rajkot
Published: December 2014 as part of the Cities in Action Brochure
Detailing the status of the implementation of LEDS in Rajkot as of December 2014. Featuring the City's first GHG inventory.
ICLEI CityTalk Blog Post on Rajkot (22 Nov. 2014):
9 Days to Lima: Focus on Rajkot, an Urban-LEDS Model City
LED actions in Thane
Published: December 2014 as part of the Cities in Action Brochure
Detailing the status of the implementation of LEDS in Thane as of December 2014. Featuring the City's first GHG inventory.
ICLEI CityTalk Blog Post on Indian Cities (07 Oct. 2014):
Harnessing the power of the sun and aiming at zero waste: Indian cities work for low emissions development
2013
Urban-LEDS project city poster: Pimpri-Chinchwad
Published: November 2013
Poster detailing the status of the Urban-LEDS project in Pimpri-Chinchwad as of November 2013. Created for the 1st Urban-LEDS International Networking Seminar, hosted 27-29 November 2013 by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Urban-LEDS project city poster: Rajkot
Published: November 2013
Poster detailing the status of the Urban-LEDS project in Rajkot as of November 2013. Created for the 1st Urban-LEDS International Networking Seminar, hosted 27-29 November 2013 by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Urban-LEDS project city poster: Thane
Published: November 2013
Poster detailing the status of the Urban-LEDS project in Thane as of November 2013. Created for the 1st Urban-LEDS International Networking Seminar, hosted 27-29 November 2013 by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
India in numbers
Population | 1,237,000,000 (2012) |
Population density | 376.3 hab/km2 |
% living in urban areas | 31.16% |
% living in poverty | 32.7% (2010) |
Human Development Index (HDI) | 0.554 (136th) |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita | 3,851 USD |
GINI index | 33.38 |
No. ICLEI Member local governments | |
Primary energy sources distribution | Coal: 41% |
Annual energy consumption | 42,664 (PJ) (2011) |
National GHG emissions | 1727.71 million units of CO2eq |
Contribution to global GHG emissions | 4.25% (2005) |
International ranking as GHG emitter | 7th (2005) |
Governance structure
Local governments | |
Regional governments | |
Key governmental institutes for local governments | Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat & Gram Panchayat |
National associations for local governments | All India Institute for Local Self Government (AIILSG) |
Climate action
Local climate action and energy legislation |
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National climate initiatives for local governments |
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National GHG commitments |
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UNFCCC status | Signatory (10 June 1992) |
Kyoto Protocol status | Ratified (22 August 2002) |
Cities reporting to carbonn Cities Climate Registry |
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Mexico City Pact signatory cities |
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Durban Adaptation Charter signatory cities |
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