Context: A nine-country ‘Global River Cities Alliance’ (GRCA) inspired by India’s River Cities Alliance was launched at the Indian Pavilion, Dubai on the sidelines of the ongoing COP28.

Background

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): It is responsible for implementing India's NamamiGange program, has taken a significant stride in river conservation and sustainable water management.

• Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA): This was achieved through the launch of the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai.

Expanding Reach of River Cities Alliance

• River Cities Alliance: The GRCA builds upon the existing River Cities Alliance formed by NMCG in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), which includes 142 Indian River cities as members.

• Inclusion of river cities: The global expansion of this alliance saw the inclusion of river cities such as Den Haag from the Netherlands, Adelaide from Australia, and Szolnok from Hungary.

International Collaboration:

• Memorandum of Common Purpose (MoCP): In a groundbreaking move, the River Cities Alliance (RCA) had previously signed a Memorandum of Common Purpose (MoCP) with 124 member cities of the Mississippi River Towns and Cities Initiative in the United States.

• This collaboration marks the first-of-its-kind alliance in the world, underlining the shared commitment to global river conservation.

NMCG's Statement

• Significance of the GRCA: The NMCG, in a statement, highlighted the significance of the GRCA launch as a momentous step in global efforts towards river conservation and sustainable water management.

Quoting PM Narendra Modi's Vision

• New river planning: G Asok Kumar, Director General of NMCG, quoted Prime Minister NarendraModi's call for new river planning.

• Rivers in urban planning: Stressing the importance of mainstreaming rivers in urban planning without a regulatory mindset, Kumar emphasized the need for a holistic approach to ensure the sustainability of river ecosystems.

Global River Cities Alliance's Role

• Global commitment: The launch of GRCA signifies a global commitment to coordinate efforts for the conservation and sustainable management of rivers.

• Crucial Roles: As an alliance with international representation, it will play a crucial role in developing strategies, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration among cities facing similar challenges related to river ecosystems.

Focus area of work

• It focuses on capacity building and knowledge exchange in integrated river management to address climate change impacts on the ecosystem. 

• The collaboration includes a comprehensive water monitoring program, sharing best practices for renaturing urban areas, and restoring aquatic ecosystems for sustainable urban development.

• Initiatives extend to restoring urban forests and lakes connected to rivers, emphasizing the importance of green spaces. 

• The proposed collaboration emphasizes collective action for safeguarding environmental flows and acknowledges the role of floods in maintaining river ecosystem health, showcasing a commitment to proactive environmental stewardship and innovative solutions for sustainable river management.

First-of-its-Kind Initiative

• Varied Continents: The inclusion of cities from different continents in the GRCA, coupled with the MoCP signed with the Mississippi River Townsand Cities Initiative, underscores the uniqueness of this initiative.

• Bringing together cities across the globe: By bringing together cities across the globe, the GRCA aims to create a platform for collective action and knowledge exchange in the pursuit of common goals related to river conservation.

Road Ahead

• Global pursuit of river conservation: The launch of the Global River Cities Alliance by the National Mission for Clean Ganga marks a historic moment in the global pursuit of river conservation.

• Venues for innovative solutions: As cities from diverse regions unite under this alliance, it opens avenues for innovative solutions, collaborative initiatives, and the exchange of expertise to address the challenges faced by river ecosystems worldwide.

• Sustainable water management: The GRCA is poised to become a catalyst for positive change and sustainable water management on a global scale.