Empowering Urban India for Climate Resilience

Need for Urban Climate Resilience Latest News

• India’s urban landscape is rapidly expanding, posing significant challenges in adapting to climate change. 
• A World Bank report (“Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India”), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), highlights the urgent need for urban climate resilience.
• It advocates for greater autonomy for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and suggests a $2.4 trillion investment requirement by 2050.

Key Highlights from the Report

• Need for urban autonomy in climate governance:
  • World Bank India Country Director Auguste Tano Kouame emphasized that cities with decision-making autonomy perform better in climate resilience.
  • Advocated for the implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, based on local conditions.
  • Decentralization leads to better resource mobilization, asset monetization, revenue generation, and accountability.
• Urban climate risks and economic costs: 
  • Urban India will experience two major shocks – 
    • Pluvial flooding (urban flooding due to poor drainage and excessive concretization).
    • Extreme heat stress, worsened by the urban heat island effect.
  • Estimated annual flood-related losses are $5 billion by 2030 and $30 billion by 2070.
  • Heat-related fatalities could double to over 3 lakh per year by 2050.

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Financial and Population Projections

• Investment needs:
  • $2.4 trillion required by 2050 for building resilient infrastructure and services.
  • At least $150 billion needed to build flood resilience in 60% of high-risk cities over the next 15 years.
• Urban growth trajectory:
  • Urban population to nearly double to 951 million by 2050.
  • By 2030, cities will generate 70% of new employment in India.

Best Practices Cited in India

• Ahmedabad has developed a Heat Action Plan model which aims to strengthen early warning systems, improve healthcare readiness, increase green cover and shift work schedules for outdoor laborers. 
• Kolkata has adopted a city-level flood forecasting and warning system. 
• Indore has invested in a modern solid waste management system, improving cleanliness and supporting green jobs. 
• Chennai has adopted a climate action plan based on thorough risk assessment and targeting both adaptation and low-carbon growth.

Recommendations of the Report

• For national and state governments:
  • Create a financing roadmap.
  • Set standards and frameworks to boost municipal capacity.
  • Engage the private sector in climate-resilient infrastructure.
• For cities and ULBs:
  • Evaluate climate risks at the local level.
  • Mobilise capital (including private investments) for adaptation and mitigation.
  • Adopt strategies such as –
  • Cool roofs, early warning systems, urban greening, and shifted working hours to mitigate heat stress.
  • Urban planning that reduces impervious surfaces and improves stormwater management.

Conclusion

The World Bank–MoHUA report highlights that empowering cities through greater autonomy, targeted investments, and institutional reforms is crucial for making India’s urban future climate-resilient, economically productive, and socially inclusive.

Source: TH | IE