Stanzin calls for united action to power resilient mountain cities
Leh/New Delhi, Oct 31: The fragile Himalayan ecosystem found strong representation at the launch of the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia and Australasia Programme in India, where Stanzin Rabgais, Executive Officer of the Leh Municipal Committee, highlighted the urgency of climate resilience and sustainable resource management for high-altitude cities.
Speaking at the Urban Infrastructure Finance Festival 2025, held under the theme “Inclusive, Resilient, Sustainable Cities,” Rabgais underscored the unique challenges faced by Himalayan towns, including limited institutional capacity, constrained financing, and the growing impacts of extreme climate conditions. He called for targeted cooperation and technical support under IURC Phase 2 to help mountain cities like Leh strengthen adaptation strategies and manage scarce natural resources effectively.
The session marked the formal launch of the IURC Asia and Australasia Programme’s India component, aimed at deepening city-to-city collaboration between the European Union (EU) and India. Moderated by Ashish Verma, IURC India Country Coordinator, the meeting brought together EU officials, national partners, and six Indian pilot cities—Chennai, Pimpri Chinchwad, Jabalpur, Cuttack, Gangtok, and Leh—to exchange ideas on sustainable urban development.
The launch represented a decisive step in advancing EU–India cooperation on urban transformation. It formally initiated IURC Phase 2 in India, designed to strengthen partnerships between Indian and European cities in sustainable development.
Opening the session, Viktorija Kaidalova, Programme Manager at the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments in Bangkok, traced the evolution of EU–India cooperation from the International Urban Cooperation (IUC) initiative to IURC Phase 2. She urged participating cities to think long-term, engage communities, and connect with global opportunities, emphasizing the importance of translating urban strategies into actionable projects with measurable outcomes.
Echoing her remarks, Lutz Köppen, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, described cities as “laboratories of the world’s green transition.” He highlighted IURC’s role in linking innovative local leaders and stressed the need to blend public and private finance, leveraging initiatives such as the EU’s Global Gateway to support transformative urban projects.
Pablo Gándara, Team Leader of IURC Asia and Australasia, acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the EU Delegation to India, and GIZ in facilitating the programme’s launch. He outlined the next steps, which include pilot projects, technical exchanges, and best-practice sharing to advance sustainable urban cooperation.
Reaffirming the EU’s commitment, Smita Singh, Senior Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to India, said the partnership aims to strengthen collaboration between national and local governments to foster climate-resilient and inclusive growth across Indian cities.
During the session, representatives from the six pilot cities presented their development priorities and challenges. Chennai emphasized partnerships on circular economy and sustainable mobility; Pimpri Chinchwad focused on urban innovation and climate resilience amid rapid growth; Jabalpur stressed regeneration and affordable housing; Cuttack sought expertise in solid waste management; Gangtok highlighted the need for sustainable tourism strategies in fragile ecosystems; and Leh drew attention to the twin challenges of capacity and climate extremes in managing limited resources.
The dialogue revealed common themes across cities—climate adaptation, circular economy, digital innovation, and sustainable finance—as shared areas of focus. Both Indian and EU participants agreed on aligning local actions with national frameworks such as the Smart Cities Mission and the National Urban Policy Framework.
The meeting concluded with a pledge to develop joint action plans, capacity-building programmes, and technical exchanges. The IURC launch marked the beginning of a new phase in EU–India cooperation, aimed at fostering inclusive, climate-smart urban transformation and building a network of cities ready to shape a sustainable urban future.
