india.mongabay.com-A path to climate resilience through city-level research and planning
Cities lie at the forefront of the climate crisis, contributing heavily to greenhouse gas emissions while also reeling from impacts like heat islands, floods, droughts and public health risks. At the same time, India’s urban population continues to swell – rising about from 32% in 2013 to 36.3% in 2023. By 2050, India’s urban population is projected to reach 53%, adding 416 million people, according to a UN report.
Beyond climate risk, a large percentage of urban settlements are ill-equipped with basic services, too. As of 2019, one in six urban dwellers lived in slums officially considered ‘unfit for human habitation.’ A report by the Asian Development Bank emphasises building resilience against environmental stresses in cities where underprivileged urban communities live.
