THE BAMBOO CITY

Is Bamboo a Nature Based Solution for Carbon Neutral and Regenerative City?

Project Brief

“The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that. It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action.”

- UN Secretary-General António Guterres

In India, 461 million people are living in cities, and this number is growing by 2.3% each year. We still need to build 70 to 80% of the infrastructure that will be required by 2050.

Introduction

The number of people living in cities is increasing worldwide. Currently, 55% of the global population lives in urban areas, and this is expected to rise to 60% by 2030. In India, 461 million people are living in cities, and this number is growing by 2.3% each year. We still need to build 70 to 80% of the infrastructure that will be required by 2050.

Bengaluru, which had a population of 1.2 million in 1960, now has thirteen million residents. This rapid urbanization places a lot of pressure on the city's environment. People are moving to cities in search of better opportunities, causing the city to expand outwards towards its boundaries. Many people are building new structures near lakes, reducing the amount of water bodies in the city. The number of private vehicles is increasing, leading to more air pollution from traditional building materials. Waste is being dumped into water bodies and open lands, causing water and land pollution. The city's excessive use of concrete reflects sunlight and creates an urban heat island effect, as well as increasing flooding. Urbanization in Indian cities makes them vulnerable to climate change.

This project aims to reduce the effects of climate change on Bengaluru through the use of an eco-friendly and efficient natural material: Bamboo. Bamboo is a great building material and absorbs carbon dioxide. Bamboo was recognized as a solution for climate change at COP 27. The project includes a plan to plant bamboo across the city and incorporate it into the construction sector through prototype buildings.

Various building types have been documented, and bamboo building codes will be updated soon. Suitable bamboo species have been identified for Bengaluru, and stakeholder surveys have been conducted. A master plan for bamboo plantations in both the CBD and peri-urban areas is being developed, along with an action and implementation plan.

Project Brief

Aim

Make Bengaluru a Carbon Neutral City by 2035 and Regenerative thereafter

  1. One bamboo plant per citizen in the city.

  2. The project proposes a 30 % inclusion of bamboo in the construction sector in the city

The project proposes:

SDG’s Addressed

Project Inception and Preparation

When C40 Cities launched the Women4Climate initiative in Bengaluru in 2022, Ar. Neelam Manjunath used the Bengaluru cohort as a platform to propose a city-scale project to tackle climate change. Drawing on over two decades of work in sustainability and in mainstreaming bamboo in construction, she shaped the Bamboo City concept as a nature-based, bamboo-led response to the city’s climate risks.

Under CGBMT, a dedicated team of advisors and researchers is now working to translate this vision into grounded action across Bengaluru.

Stakeholders

  • Citizens

  • Government Authorities

  • Bamboo Farmers, Suppliers and Entrepreneurs

  • Urban Planners

  • Architects, Designers, and Engineers

  • Construction Industry Professionals

  • Academic Institutions

  • Research Institutions

  • Non-Governmental/Not-For-Profit Organizations

  • Corporates

  • Bamboo Organizations (National and International)