Why in 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.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Highlights from the Report
• Financial and Population Projections
• Best Practices Cited in India
• Recommendations of the Report
• Conclusion

Key Highlights from the Report:

• Need for urban autonomy in climate governance:
  • World Bank India 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.

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.