Can low-carbon urban development be pro-poor? The case of Kolkata, India

Fast-growing cities in the Global South have an important role to play in climate change mitigation. However, city governments typically focus on more pressing socio-economic needs, such as reducing urban poverty. To what extent can social, economic and climate objectives be aligned? Focusing on Kolkata in India, we consider the economic case for low-carbon urban development, and assess whether these this pathway could support wider social goals. We find that Kolkata could reduce its energy bill by 8.5% and greenhouse gas emissions by 20.7% by 2025, relative to business-as-usual trends, by exploiting readily available, economically attractive mitigation options. Some of these measures offer significant social benefits, particularly in terms of public health; others jeopardise low-income urban residents’ livelihoods, housing and access to affordable services. Our findings demonstrate that municipal mitigation strategies need to be designed and delivered in collaboration with affected communities in order to minimise social costs and – possibly – achieve transformative change.