Indian cities are at the forefront of climate change, grappling with rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and deteriorating air quality. WRI India works closely with governments, businesses, and communities to integrate both climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into urban development.  
 
Through initiatives such as the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP), Bengaluru Climate Action Plan (BCAP), India Forum for Nature-based Solutions (NbS4India), Accelerating Climate Action in 43 Cities Across Maharashtra, and the Cities4Forests initiative, WRI India helps cities strengthen governance, implement nature-based solutions, develop climate action frameworks, and unlock access to climate finance. These efforts aim to integrate resilience into urban infrastructure and systems. Our work focuses on: 

  • Strengthening climate action planning by helping cities set emissions targets and identify sector-specific climate risks.
  • Scaling nature-based solutions for urban greening, flood management, and wetland restoration.
  • Enhancing water resilience by promoting water-sensitive urban design and integrated urban water management.
  • Enabling climate finance through public-private partnerships, green bonds, and climate-oriented municipal budgets.
  • Improving urban governance by integrating climate and water risk into policy and planning.
  • Empowering community-led adaptation to ensure that resilience strategies are inclusive and equity-focused. 

By embedding climate and water resilience into urban planning, Indian cities can not only reduce their vulnerability but also drive sustainable growth, improve public health, and create more inclusive, livable environments.