RESILIENCE – Making Indian Cities Climate Smart

This fact sheet describes the India-UK Smart Cities for Growth partnership, focusing on enhancing the climate resilience and sustainability of Indian urban centers. It details various initiatives, including the 'Future Proofing Indian Cities' programme, disaster proofing of digital infrastructure, and the development of heat action plans to mitigate the risks of extreme temperatures.

• The 'Future Proofing Indian Cities' programme, developed by ATKINS and University College of London (UCL) with DFID UK, assessed 59 Indian cities for environmental risks. The analysis revealed that these cities face diverse risks from climate hazards and resource scarcities, which are exacerbated by unsustainable investments in water, building, and energy infrastructure.
• The India-UK partnership implemented specific future-proofing strategies in four cities: Mysore focused on reducing emission intensity and integrated urban planning; Madurai co-created a City Action Plan for blue-green infrastructure; Bangalore developed a plan for water and sanitation infrastructure; and Aluva created a 50-year masterplan covering solid waste, flooding proofing, and transport.
• To support the 'Smart Cities Mission', the partnership addressed the vulnerability of Digital Information Technology (DIT) systems. Because cities rely on DIT for critical emergency services during natural hazards, a guidance document was produced to help procurement and planning teams select DIT that can maintain functions during disasters.
• The document highlights the increasing threat of extreme heat in India, noting that annual mean temperatures are rising and heat waves are becoming more intense and frequent. This is exemplified by a record high of 51°C reached in Phalodi, Rajasthan, on 19 May 2016. In response, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), WHO, National Institute of Urban Affairs, and Rockefeller Foundation launched guidelines for Heat Action Plans based on CDKN's work.
• A Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2013 between the UK Government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation aims to make Kolkata India's first climate resilient city. The roadmap focuses on institutional capacity, stakeholder sensitisation, and pilot projects in areas such as roof-top solar, water conservation, and climate smart mobility.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (n.d.). RESILIENCE – Making Indian Cities Climate Smart. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/India-UK-Partnership-Climate-Smart-Cities-final-version-for-upload-v2.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. RESILIENCE – Making Indian Cities Climate Smart. n.d. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/India-UK-Partnership-Climate-Smart-Cities-final-version-for-upload-v2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=RESILIENCE – Making Indian Cities Climate Smart |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/India-UK-Partnership-Climate-Smart-Cities-final-version-for-upload-v2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetworkndresilience, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{RESILIENCE – Making Indian Cities Climate Smart}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/India-UK-Partnership-Climate-Smart-Cities-final-version-for-upload-v2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }