Over the coming decades, India is projected to transition to a more urbanised nation as existing cities grow and new urban centers emerge. While the challenges and dilemmas posed by this transition are indeed daunting, from a global perspective, India is uniquely positioned to take the lead in rethinking accepted trends and patterns of urbanisation and infrastructure provision. It is also an opportunity to re-evaluate and contextualise notions of urban sustainability so that improvement in human well being is accomplished with minimum environmental costs.
This five day short-course is meant as an interdisciplinary introduction to the key issues of environmental sustainability that Indian cities will need to address. The short-course will introduce participants to the conceptual underpinnings of urban sustainability while grounding them in the realities of urban India. Critical challenges facing key sectors like transportation, energy, water and sanitation, land and shelter will be examined with an emphasis on issues of inclusion and poverty.
The short-course will involve classroom sessions along with opportunities for experiential learning through city walks, interaction with practitioners and other hands on activities like simulation games. This course is meant for advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and working professionals with less than five years of experience.
Our first course was completed successfully in January 2012 in Delhi.