The emerging markets of India, Brazil, and China in particular, have been the story of the century so far, with rapid economic development driving poverty reduction and rising prosperity on an unprecedented scale. Meanwhile, having recovered from a profound financial crisis, most of the developed world is starting to return to solid growth.

The weekly digest of important reports, research, policy documents, regulations, studies, court cases, protests,conflicts, initiatives, photos, data, statistics, infographics, presentations on the India Environment Portal, 19 - 26 April 2014 .

Urban Sustainable Index (USI) 2013 builds upon the work carried out in USI 2011. USI 2013 has expanded and upgraded the indicators used in USI 2011. The analysis deploys 23 metrics, which cover four categories: economy, society, resources and environment.

Bhopal is leaving a huge carbon footprint on the environment due to its energy consumption pattern and continuous depletion of green cover. There is a rapid increase in energy consumption by the urban population. And with the recent depletion in city's green cover in the name of development, the city is not far from becoming an arid zone.

This document considers how the nature of urban space and of urban populations influences disasters in cities; it discusses the question of urban disasters in comparison with rural disasters and factors that can decrease the risk and potential impact of disasters in urban areas.

This short literature review provides initial reflections on conditions shaping climate policy at the city level in developing countries. The key message is that a city needs the following in order to effectively advance climate compatible development.