Chandigarh, 2 March, The Chandigarh administration has submitted its revised State Action Plan for Climate Change (SAPCC) to the Union environment ministry, aligning it with national and international climate commitments.
Originally drafted in 2015, the plan was updated to prioritize renewable energy, sustainability, and environmental conservation while adhering to the framework set by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF&CC).
Key strategies include expanding solar infrastructure, with solar parks and rooftop panels playing a central role.
Chandigarh currently has an installed rooftop solar capacity of 69 MWp, with further expansion planned. The city also leads in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, recording a 14.8% penetration rate between April and October 2024—the highest among all Indian states and Union territories.
The plan also promotes the Mission LiFE scheme to build a network of “pro-planet people” advocating sustainable living.
Other initiatives include the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree plantation campaign, biodiversity conservation, green buffers along traffic corridors, and an intelligent traffic management system to curb air pollution. Additionally, “terrace agreements” will encourage community-driven urban farming.
With Chandigarh having India’s highest vehicle density—12 lakh registered vehicles, averaging two per household—the administration is strengthening measures to decongest roads and phase out polluting vehicles while promoting hybrid and electric alternatives.
The SAPCC aligns with all nine missions of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), covering solar energy, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture, among other areas.
