Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA)

13 Dec 2023 Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA)

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “ Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA)”. This topic has relevance in the Environment section of the UPSC CSE exam.

GS 3: Environment 

Why in the news?

The Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) has been initiated by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the implementing body for the government’s flagship Namami Gange program.

The Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) is a collaborative initiative modeled after India’s River Cities Alliance, established by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Institute of Urban Affairs under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in November 2021.

Participating Nations and Support:

• Nine nations are part of the GRCA, including India, Denmark, Cambodia, Japan, Bhutan, Australia, Netherlands, Egypt, and Ghana. 
• Multilateral funding agencies such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank have pledged their support for the initiative.

Focus Area of Work:

• The GRCA focuses on capacity building and knowledge exchange in integrated river management to address climate change impacts on ecosystems. 
• 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.

River Cities Alliance in India:

• The River Cities Alliance in India serves as a platform for river cities to ideate, discuss, and exchange information for the sustainable management of urban rivers. 
• It is a collaborative effort between the Jal Shakti Ministry and the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry. The National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) have joined forces for launching the River Cities Alliance.

Objectives:

The primary objective is to provide participating cities with a platform for discussing and exchanging vital information on sustainable urban river management. This includes reducing impacts on rivers and water bodies, minimizing water footprints, preserving architectural heritage, and developing self-sufficient water resources through reuse and recycle strategies.

Current Developments:

• The River Cities Alliance in India currently comprises 142 river cities, serving as a dedicated platform for members to enhance the state of urban rivers within their administrative boundaries.
• Recently, the NMCG signed a Memorandum of Common Purpose with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), representing 124 cities/towns along the Mississippi River, USA, on the sidelines of COP28. 
• The collaboration will discuss comprehensive water monitoring, best practices for urban area renaturation, and initiatives for sustainable urban development.
• This collaborative effort showcases a commitment to proactive environmental stewardship and innovative solutions for sustainable river management on a global scale.

Source:https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-led-global-river-cities-alliance-launched-at-cop28-9064183/

Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 13th Dec 2023

Q.1 Regarding the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) recently seen in the news, consider the following statements: 

1. 1. It is a United Nations Led Initiative.
   2. It is to be supported by the World Bank
   3. All SAARC nations are part of the initiative.

How many of the above statement/s is/are correct? 

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) All three 

(d) None

ANSWER: A

EXPLANATION:

Q.2 Examine the objectives, composition, and focus areas of the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) in the context of sustainable urban river management. 

rishabh