Chandigarh expands carbon audit to entire UT, targets net-zero by 2030

Chandigarh is widening its greenhouse gas assessment to cover the entire 140 sq km union territory, including urban areas, forests, and the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. The audit will measure emissions from seven sectors and also assess carbon stored in trees, roots, and soil, providing a baseline for tracking progress toward the city's net-zero goal by 2030. The administration has invited proposals from research institutions with at least a decade of experience. Funding comes from the Environmental Improvement and Climate Change Action Plan. The exercise aims to identify emission hotspots in traffic, industry, and waste, and to inform interventions like electric mobility and better waste management. Rooftop solar on government buildings already cuts about 57,960 tonnes of CO2 annually, and EV savings reached nearly 150 kilotonnes in 2025.