Integrating Carbon Handprint Assessments into City Planning for Promoting Urban Sustainable Growth by IRJET Journal

Integrating Carbon Handprint Assessments into City Planning for Promoting Urban Sustainable Growth

Neema. P. G1 , Ar. Bindu. C. A2

1PG Student, School of Architecture and Planning, Government Engineering College, Thrissur 2Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Planning, Government Engineering College, Thrissur

Abstract - Thisarticleexploreshowthecarbonhandprint approach can be implemented in urban planning, specifically focusing on exercising the carbon handprint at the city and regional levels. It aims to minimize the carbon footprint and support environmentally friendly practices as much as possible. The Espoo, Finland case study emphasizes four key components as pivotal to the research: creating environments conducive to climate-friendly operations, allowing local access to city-owned resources, encouraging the development of innovative urban projects, and building a sustainable business ecosystem. It also assesses the contribution of renewables and sustainable infrastructure, such as electric vehicle systems, to increase the carbon handprint. These findings illustrate the capacity of cities to do their share in mitigating climate change through deliberate actions that not only minimize the harmful effects but can also lead to scalable, low-enrichment pathways. This study informs and advises policymakers, planners, and regional authorities, presenting a strategic framework for the adoption of a carbon handprint mechanism to uplift climate-aligned urban settings when intertwined with sustainability and resilience plans and policies.

Key Words: Carbon handprint, Carbon footprint, Urban Planning, Sustainable Growth, Renewable Energy, Climate Change Mitigation

1. INTRODUCTION

Imagination our cities not only as contributors to climate change butasthelocations where positive environmental change is created. Right now, cities, accounting for more than 75% of global resource consumption and a big part ofgreenhousegasesaswell,arestillmajorcontributorsto climate change. In conclusion, with 68% of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050, these initiatives have never been more essential to ensure sustainable urban living. This is especially the case for countries such as India, which is the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world and where metropolitanareasdealwithhighpercapitaemissions.

What if we could change the narrative? Which is where thecarbonhandprintcomesin.Thispowerfulcounterpart tothebetter-knowncarbonfootprintcomestousfromthe mind of Gregory Norris [4]. While a carbon footprint

focuses on the amount of greenhouse gases we release into the atmosphere, a carbon handprint represents the positive steps we take toward the environment. Consider doing not only less harm, but also doing good for our planet.

This work investigates how cities can maximize their positive impact with the help of the strategies to uplift carbon handprint, laying a new paradigm for the field of urban planning. It answers the urgent call for cities not onlytomitigatetheirnegativecarbonfootprint,buttoalso support scalable, low-carbon solutions. Focusing on carbon handprints initiatives such as energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy sources, and green infrastructure allows cities to significantly ramp up their climate-impactful growth. The overall aim is to design and test strategies for producing and integrating carbon handprint assessments into urban plans, in order toprovidepolicymakersandurbanplannerswithrelevant information to design climate-positive urban systems aroundtheworld.It’screatingcitiesthatdon’tjustsustain, but makeourplanethealthier.

Table -1: Tableshowingthebasicdifferenceincarbon footprintandhandprintaspects

Aspect Carbon Footprint Carbon Handprint

Definition Totalgreenhousegas emissionscausedby anactivity,product,or organization.

Positive environmentalimpact byreducingor avoidingcarbon emissions.

Focus Measuresthenegative environmentalimpact. Measuresthepositive environmentalimpact orsolutionstoreduce harm.

Purpose Highlightstheamount ofcarbondioxide (CO2)releasedinto theatmosphere.

Approach Tracksandcalculates emissionsfrom production, transportation,energy use,etc.

Focusesonactions thatreduceCO2 emissionsorincrease carboncapture.

Tracksactivitiesthat mitigateemissions, suchassustainable practicesorrenewable energy.

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Common Examples Emissionsfrom transportation, manufacturing,energy consumption,etc.

Goal Toreducetheamount ofcarbonemissions.

Measure

ment Calculatedinunitsof CO2equivalent (CO2e).

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1

Handprint Concept

Usingrenewable energy,sustainable construction, reforestation,etc.

Toincreasethe positiveimpactby reducing environmentalharm.

RepresentsCO2e avoidedorreduced duetopositiveactions.

2.3 Carbon Handprint Approach for Cities and Regions

The carbon handprint approach is introduced as a complementary measure to the traditional carbon footprint. While the carbon footprint quantifies the total GHG emissions of a city, the carbon handprint focuses on the positive climate impacts that a city can facilitate through its actions, products, and services [2]. This approachallowscities tocommunicatetheircontributions toreducingthecarbonfootprintsofotherentities,suchas residentsandbusinesses.AccordingtoGrönmanet.al[2], three main mechanisms are considered through which citiescanachieveacarbonhandprint:

1. Ownership: Cities can own and operate projects thatreduceemissionsforothers.

The handprint concept was introduced to measure and communicate the positive changes and beneficial impacts of actions, in contrast to the footprint which measures negativeimpacts Ahandprintcanbecreatedbypreventing or avoiding negative impacts (footprints) or by creating positive benefits [1]. Handprints can take place anywhere in the world and be composed of multiple small impact reductions.Handprintthinkingfocusesonthegoodwedo, unlimited potential, recovering/restoring, influencing, educating or inspiring, appreciating/celebrating, advocating protection, and entrepreneurism according to K. Behm et. Al [1]. This contrasts with footprint thinking, which focuses on the harm we do, limited resources, reducing/reusing/recycling, admonishing, calculating, and resistingdestruction.

2.2 Handprint Methodology

Handprint and footprint methodologies utilize the same LCA-based approaches and frameworks, considering the full value chain. Some key guidelines andconcepts related tohandprintmethodologyinclude:

 Handprint calculation according to SHINE and G. Norris.

 Avoided emissions guidelines for the chemical industrybyWBCSDandICCA.

 TheGHGProtocol

 Carbonfootprintofproducts

However, common and widely accepted calculation guidelinesforhandprints,especially atthecityorregional level,arestillmissing.

2. Operating Environment: By creating a supportive environment for low-carbon initiatives, cities can enableotherstoreducetheirfootprints.

3. Innovative Solutions: Cities can pioneer new solutions that directly contribute to reducing emissions.

Urban areas significantly contribute to global climate change mitigation, with over half the world's population living in cities. Cities account for two-thirds of global energy consumption and over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve carbon neutrality, city-level inventories and voluntary frameworks are used, with carbonfootprintcalculationsbeingthemaintool.However, ambitiousregionaltargetscanhinderprogress.Thecarbon handprint framework provides a systematic approach to quantify and communicate the positive environmental impactsofactionsimplementedbycitiesandregions.This approach focuses on improving the performance of other actors and reducing their carbon footprint according to LauraLakanenetal.,2022[3].

Cities can influence private and public actors, promoting sustainability and mitigating life-cycle GHG emissions. L. Lakanen et.al [3] presentsa novel approachtorecognize and quantify innovative climate actions implemented by cities or regions, focusing on evaluating and quantifying emissionreductionpotentialofclimateactions. Itusesthe LCA-based carbon handprint approach, which focuses on thepositiveclimateimpactsaproductorservicemayyield compared to a business-as-usual solution. The approach has been modified to include projects, organizations, and other environmental categories beyond climate change. The regional carbon handprint approach is based on existing ISO standards and research from LUT University and VTT in Finland. Consequently, the use purpose of the city carbon handprint framework was built upon three mainpoints:

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

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1. Bringing the focus onto opportunities fora city to beabeneficialactorinclimaterelatedissues.

2. Unveilingthesignificantpotentialofcitiestoactas solution providers for actors such as citizens and organizations both within and outside the city’s boundaries.

3. Assisting a city to increase its handprint systematically so that benefits for the city can be maximized.

The methodology developed a four-stage framework for regional carbon handprint assessments, focusing on completeness,versatility,andaccuracy.

A case study of Espoo, Finland, demonstrates the carbon handprint approach for cities. As the second-largest Finnish city with a population of 300,000, Espoo has set ambitiousgoalsforreducingitsGHGemissionsby28%by 2020 and 80% by 2030. The city has implemented emission-free and carbon-neutral district heating projects, increased renewable energy use, and advanced smarthome solutions in collaboration with public and private organizations.

The carbon handprint framework helps cities recognize climate leadership initiatives, communicate current actions, and develop future climate actions, maximizing their positive impact both internally and externally. The frameworkconsistsoffourmainstages:

Stage1.Handprintrequirements; Stage2.AdditionalLCArequirements; Stage3.Quantification;and Stage4.Communication.

This approach provides a scientific framework for assessinganddevelopinglarge-scalemitigationactivitiesin cities,extendingexistingclimatework[3].However,italso contains uncertainties and may restrict climate change mitigation activities, necessitating widespread recognition and implementation. A carbon handprint can enhance climate change mitigation and serve as a communication tool in cities, attracting residents, businesses, and initiatives, promoting innovation-driven sustainable development and transitioning from resource-dependent industrialization.

2.4 Carbon Handprints in Buildings

Theintegrationofcarbonhandprintmethodologiesinto building assessments represents a transformative approach to achieving sustainability goals. While traditional life-cycle assessments (LCA) focus on quantifying the environmental impacts of buildings, including greenhouse gas emissions, they often fail to capture the full scope of positive environmental

contributions, such as carbon storage and reuse. This literature by L. C. Malabi Eberhardt et. al [7] review synthesizes existing research on the carbon handprint approach, its methodologies, applications in building projects,andchallengesinimplementation.

Carbon handprints are closely linked to mechanisms such as avoided emissions and absolute reductions in greenhouse gases through processes like carbon capture and storage. The notion of being "net positive" suggests that a building’s handprint should exceed its footprint overtime,aligningwithbroadergoalsofcarbonneutrality [7].

Life-cycle assessment (LCA), defined by international standards such as ISO 14040, ISO 14067, and EN 15978, serves as the primary method for evaluating the environmental impacts of buildings. However, LCA is not yet standardized to fully incorporate carbon handprints. Methodological frameworks for calculating handprints include defining alternative market scenarios for ecoinnovations and quantifying benefits caused to others. Challenges arise in effectively communicating shared handprintsamongsupplychainoperators.

Recentstudieshaveproposedmethodologiesforassessing building-relatedcarbonhandprints.Forinstance:

 Lakanen et al. (2022) [3] developed a framework for assessing the carbon handprint potential of cities and regions, emphasizing energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy systems, and green infrastructure.

 Xi et al.’s method calculates carbonation rates in cement-based products, highlighting the role of concrete rubble in long-term carbon sequestration.

Integrating carbon handprint assessments offers significant potential for enhancing sustainability in building projects, allowing structures to simultaneously reduce their footprints and amplify positive climate contributions through strategies like renewable energy implementation and material reuse. Overcoming existing challenges through refined methodologies and standardized frameworks will be crucial for scaling these practices and embedding them within sustainable urban planning. Ultimately, advancing carbon handprint methodologiesisessentialforrealizingthetransformative potential of buildings in achieving climate resilience and fosteringanet-positiveenvironmentalimpact.

3. CASE STUDY: ESPOO, FINLAND

The city of Espoo undertook a comprehensive study to explore potential contributors to its carbon handprint, aiming to identify actions that could significantly reduce

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thecarbonfootprintsofitsorganizationsandcitizens.The study focused on several key areas: fostering a climatefriendly operating environment, leveraging city-owned properties and companies to promote sustainable practices, developing innovative climate solutions through city-led projects, and creating green business ecosystems while providing low-carbon facilities. This initiative not only enabled Espoo to pinpoint impactful climate actions but also positioned the city as a leader in promoting sustainablesolutions,encouragingwidespreadadoptionto addressandmitigateclimatechangeeffectively[3]

Espoo's Commitment to Sustainability:

Espoo, Finland, has set ambitious sustainability goals, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, with a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to 1990 levels. The city has engaged in numerous initiatives, including the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), which outlines measures for GHG reductions across different sectors. These efforts include implementing emission-free district heating projects, increasing the use of renewable energy in city-owned buildings, and advancing smart-home solutions. The integration of carbon handprint assessments into these initiatives enables Espoo to highlight its positive climate actionsandenhanceitsurbanplanningstrategies.

Methodology for Assessing Carbon Handprints:

Carbon handprints are evaluated through a review of overview data across various urban projects and initiatives. VTT Technical Research Centre and LUT University's research states that comparing the positive action taken with the business-as-usual baseline scenario enables the calculation of the carbon handprint. The modelling enables the layering of the data to reveal our city's carbon handprint, detailing such local initiatives as renewable energy projects, energy-efficient buildings and transportation systems. The outcome framework created forEspooindicatesthattheongoingeffortsat establishing agreed-upon guidelines for carbon handprint calculation and reporting would benefit from standardized approaches.

Identifying Carbon Handprint Contributors:

In Espoo, various contributors to the carbon handprint havebeenidentifiedandcategorized.Theseinclude:

 Public Infrastructure Projects: Initiatives such as the development of green spaces, energy-efficient public buildings, and sustainable transportation networks contribute significantly to the city's carbon handprint bypromotinglow-carbonlifestyles.

 Engagement of Private Sector: When local businesses and organizations implement sustainable practices,

this magnifying factor adds to the overall carbon handprint. This includes companies offering renewable energy solutions or energy efficient technologies.

 Communityengagement:Residentscanalsobeactively involved in sustainability initiatives, like community gardens and energy conservation initiatives, which promote environmental awareness and increase the carbonhandprintinthecity.

Implications

for Urban Planning:

The inclusion of carbon handprint assessments in urban planninginEspoo hasmultipleimplications:

 Strategic Decision Making: Knowledge on the factors whichcontributetothecarbonhandprintguidesurban planners in selecting projects that will make the biggest positive impact for climate, ensuring effective use of resources and maximizing the positive carbon impact.

 Strengthened Communication: The carbon hand print actsasa uniquevehicle ofsharing thatallowsthecity to represent its sustainability effort and entice new residents and firms that want to adopt green practices.

 Benchmarking & Accountability: Conducting carbon handprint assessments allows Espoo to create a system for comparing its progress towards sustainability goals while promoting accountability withinandoutsidethecity.

Table -2: DetailedanalysisofEspoo,Finland

1. Handprint

Requirement

Establishing the foundational requirements forassessing thecarbon handprint. Thisincludes identifying thescopeand contextofthe assessment.

2. LCA Requirement

s Conductinga LifeCycle Assessment (LCA)to evaluatethe environment

-Define boundaries forthe assessment.

-Identify stakeholders andtheir roles.

-Set objectivesfor thecarbon handprint assessment.

-Clear framework forthe assessment.

-Stakeholder engagement established.

-Defined goalsaligned withcity climate initiatives.

-Collectdata onemissions fromcity operations (e.g., transportatioComprehensi ve understandin gof emissions

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alimpacts associated withcity operations and initiatives. Thisinvolves a comprehensi veanalysisof emissions across various sectors. n,energy use).

3. Quantificatio n Calculating theactual carbon handprint basedonthe data collectedin previous stages.This quantificatio nassesses thepositive impactsof initiatives aimedat reducing emissionsfor other stakeholders.

4. Communicati on Effectively communicati ngtheresults ofthecarbon handprint assessment to stakeholders andthe public.This includes marketing andbranding effortsto highlightthe city'sclimate leadership.

-Analyzelife cycleimpacts ofcity projectsand services.

-Compare withbaseline scenariosto identify potential reductions. sources.

-Calculate emissions reductions achieved throughcity initiatives.

-Assess benefits providedto residentsand businesses (e.g.,energy efficiency programs).

-Use comparative metricsto quantify handprints versus footprints.

-Develop communicati onstrategies toshare findingswith stakeholders.

-Create reportsand visualizations toillustrate impacts.

-Engagein public outreachto promote awareness and participation in sustainability initiatives.

Identification ofkeyareas for improvement .

-Data-driven insightsto support decisionmaking.

-Quantified metrics showing positive climate impacts.

-Evidencebasedresults to communicate successes.

Identification ofhighimpact initiativesfor futurefocus.

4. STRATEGIES TO INCORPORATE CARBON HANDPRINT ASSESSMENT INTO PLANNING

4.1 Development of Carbon Handprint Standards for Benchmarking Sustainability Initiatives in Indian Cities

Establishacomprehensiveframeworkfortheformulation of carbon handprint standards specifically tailored to the Indian context, aimed at creating benchmarks for comparative analysis among urban environments across the country. This should also include the standardization of carbon handprint calculation methods and emission factors for different activities and sectors in the Indian context. This framework should facilitate the recognition and quantification of positive sustainability initiatives undertaken by Indian municipalities, thereby enhancing their capacity to mitigate climate change impacts. Such standardswouldleverageestablishedmethodologiesfrom life-cycle assessment (LCA) and other relevant scientific approaches to ensure robust and scientifically sound metrics that accurately reflect the climate benefits associatedwithvariousurbansustainabilityactions.

-Enhanced visibilityof thecity's climate actions.

-Increased community engagement andsupport for sustainability efforts.

Strengthened reputationas aleaderin climate actionamong cities.

India urgently needs clear, standard rules for measuring the positive environmental impact of its cities. Right now, we're good at measuring the harm, but not so much at measuring the good. Setting these standards would make citiesmoreopenabouttheirprogressandencouragethem to adopt the best sustainability practices. It would also support important national goals, like the Smart Cities Mission and the National Action Plan on Climate Change, by giving us a better picture of how cities are tackling climate change. By getting everyone involved governments, schools, and local people we can make sustainability efforts more effective and help India reach itsclimatetargets.

4.2 Setting the Benchmark of Carbon Handprint to A Minimum 50% For the Urban Projects and Climate Change Solutions

Toeffectivelyanalyzethegreenhousegas(GHG)reduction potential of various urban solutions, projects, or business initiativeswithintheIndiancontext,itisrecommendedto establish a benchmark whereby the carbon handprint must exceed 50% of the baseline carbon footprint associated with the existing business-as-usual (BAU) conditions. Specifically, this means that for any proposed project, the carbon handprint generated by the new solution must be at least 50% greater than the overall carbonfootprintderivedfromcurrentBAUpractices.This requirement should be integrated into the decisionmaking and approval processes for urban development initiatives.

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Implementing this benchmark aligns with scientific methodologies for assessing climate impacts and fosters accountabilityinurban planning. The rationaleforsetting a 50% threshold is supported by studies indicating that significant emissions reductions are necessary to meet India'sambitiousclimatetargets,includingacommitment toreduceemissionsintensityby45%from2005levelsby 2030andachievenet-zeroemissionsby2070.

By ensuring that new projects demonstrate a substantial positive impact on sustainability, cities can accelerate their progress towards achieving climate resilience and adherencetonational policiessuchastheNational Action PlanonClimateChange(NAPCC).

Incorporatingthisbenchmarkwillnotonlyfacilitaterapid attainment of climate change prevention targets but also encourage innovative solutions that prioritize low-carbon technologies and practices. As urbanization continues to riseinIndia projectedtoincreaseby416millionpeople by2050 thisapproachwillhelpmanageenergydemand and associated emissions effectively. Ultimately, embedding such rigorous standards into city planning frameworks will enhance the overall efficacy of sustainability initiatives and contribute positively to India'sclimateagenda.

4.3 Introducing Residential and Commercial Building Level Carbon Handprint Assessment to Enhance the Sustainability Within the Neighbourhood

Implementing building-level carbon handprint assessments during construction and operation is crucial for sustainable urban planning in India. Large-scale projects like Surat Diamond Bourse and IT parks should undergo rigorous assessments to communicate climate impacts and enable informed decisions among stakeholders.

The carbon handprint framework quantifies positive climateimpactsfrombuildingprojects,focusingonenergy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and material reuse.Implementingthisapproachiscrucialforachieving carbon neutrality goals, especially in urbanizing regions like India, as buildings contribute 39% of global greenhousegasemissions.

Government organizations like the Ministry of Housing andUrbanAffairsshouldincentivizeprojectswithpositive climate impacts through financial incentives, streamlined approval processes, or recognition programs. This aligns with existing literature highlighting the need for standardized methodologies to quantify environmental harmsandbenefitsinbuildingprojects.

By integrating building-level carbon handprint assessments into urban planning processes, Indian cities

can enhance transparency regarding the environmental impacts of new developments while driving innovation in sustainableconstructionpractices.

4.4 Increasing Participation in Urban Forest Reclamation and CSS Capacity Building with The Help of Organizations

Urban forests are crucial for carbon sequestration and storage, acting as carbon sinks that absorb CO2 through photosynthesis and store it as biomass. Carbon capture and storage technologies generate positive carbon handprints, and public participation is vital for environmentalregenerativeprojectsaimingtorestoreand enhanceurbangreenspaces.

For instance, Handprint Tech is an organization committedto"empoweringtheeconomy’stransitionfrom extractive to regenerative" practices. A notable project undertaken by Handprint Tech is the restoration of mangroves in Situ Bondo, Indonesia, where over 30,000 mangrovetreeshavebeenplantedacrossa14-hectaresite in collaboration with the non-governmental organization ‘Yagasu’. This initiative is particularly significant as mangrove ecosystems are known to sequester carbon at rates up to 100 times faster than terrestrial forests, capturing5to10timesmorecarbonoverall.

Researchindicatesthaturbanforestscanstoresubstantial amounts of carbon; for example, studies conducted in Indian cities have demonstrated that urban green spaces contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, with Bengaluru estimated to sequester around 141.83 million tonnes of CO2 annually. To ensure transparency and accountability in these projects, Handprint Tech employs advancedmonitoringtechnologies,includingsoftwareand mobile applications, to track on-the-ground operations. This data is reported to partnering NGOs, enhancing financial transparency and demonstrating the project's environmentalimpact.

By leveraging innovative technologies and community engagement, cities can effectively contribute to global climate change mitigation while promoting ecological resilienceandsustainability.

4.5 Enhancing Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms for Carbon Handprint Assessments in Urban Planning

If cities are to embrace sustainable growth, they must measure and communicate their progress. That means puttinginplacestrongmonitoringandreporting systems for carbon handprint assessments. A big part of this is creatingstraightforwardmetricstotrack positiveimpacts suchashowmuchcarboniscapturedin cityparksorhow much energy is saved with green buildings. Of course, we can also leverage technology to do this more easily for

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example, using sensors to measure tree growth or solar paneloutputinrealtime,soourassessmentsarebasedon the mostcurrentinformation.

This requires that carbon handprint assessments are integrated in urban planning, where data needs to be collected in a transparent manner to ensure continuous improvement. The jury is still very much out when it comes to the impact of different types of projects on carbon reduction, and cities ought to adopt a more multidisciplinary approach to their data collection/analysis, drawing insights from disciplines ranging from environmental science to urban planning, and anything in between; only by taking a broader view will we ultimately stand a chance of making sense of our carbon handprint and its many facets. In addition, cities need to define clear reference points, or benchmarks, of their actual emissions levels to be sure that they can evaluate the impact of new projects over time. To effectivelydisseminatethisinformation,citieswillneedto establish standardized reporting protocols on carbon handprint data, aimed at communicating with relevant stakeholders beitthegeneralpublicorpolicymakers to ensure trust and accountability, while also enabling community involvement to bolster awareness and backing for unsustainability efforts. Finally, in order to keep the evaluations accurate and informative for future planning decisions, cities are constantly updating their assessments to reflect new data, technologies and lessons learnedfrompreviouswork.

Developing clear metrics, leveraging technology, engaging the community, and having a system of continuous improvement around assessment practices will further increase transparency and accountability. Finally, the cumulativeeffectoftheseactionsismoreclimate-resilient cities This format folds in the ideas of the previous contentbutrefreshes theflow

5. CONCLUSIONS

Overall, once urban planning embraces carbon handprint assessments, we can see a clear line of evolving to purposeful, all-around environmental management. Takingthispathgoesbeyondsimplereductionofnegative emissions, measured by the carbon footprint, to creating positive imprintsthroughcarefulandstrategicinitiatives. Shifting the focus to optimizing a city's carbon handprint alerts urban planners to the need for strong initiatives that both prioritize emissions and encourage the advancementofsustainablebehaviorinthosesectors.

This exploration reveals several key insights. First, urban projectswithhighpositiveimpactsontheclimate such as renewable energy installations, energy efficient infrastructure or green spaces should all be given priority.Aligningplanningacrosslevelsnotonlyadvances environmental goals, it also has significant co-benefits,

such as driving economic growth through green jobs, improving public health outcomes, and making communities more resilient to the growing climate crisis. Inthesecondplace,inclusivityinstakeholderengagement comprising governmental organizations, private sector actors,localresidentsandlobbygroupstoinvolvethemin urban development planning, thereby guaranteeing the effectiveness and viability of projects put in place. Third, as it allows to establish holistic and measurable frameworks for assessing carbon handprints thus enablingtheevaluationofsuccessofsustainabilityefforts.

Through robust progress monitoring from the start, cities can refine their approach as shown by data-driven insights, enabling continuous advances in environmental outcomes and capitalising on the benefits of local actions. This ability to adjust is especially important in fast urbanizing areas of the world, such as India, where development often outpaces the ability of traditional planning approaches to keep up. These cities can more holistically identify and implement innovative solutions that mitigate emissions and create opportunities for positive environmental change by incorporating carbon handprint assessments. This ultimately creates resilient urban environments that prioritize ecological health in a way that simultaneously promotes the well-being of the community while paving the way for a more sustainable futureforall.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am deeply thankful to all the authors mentioned in the reference section, whose methodologies and conceptual frameworks have guided a substantive portion of my research. I am greatly indebted to my research guide, senior faculty, and Head of the Department for their unending co-operation, guidance, and motivation in completingthisstudy

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