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This technical briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the impact of India's transition to electric vehicles (EVs) on micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within the auto-component manufacturing (ACM) sector. While the shift threatens traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) component markets, it creates opportunities for MSMEs to diversify into high-value EV parts. The report identifies critical barriers—including financing gaps, technical skill shortages, and policy exclusions—and proposes the establishment of an Automotive Component Technology Upgradation Financing Facility (AC-TUFF) to support MSMEs in this transition.

This briefing note by the Global Resilience Partnership and Transitions Research examines the landscape of urban resilience solutions in informal contexts across the Global South. Based on a review of approximately 130 solutions, the report identifies a significant gap in urban climate investment—where only 1.2% of urban climate finance flows to adaptation and resilience—and highlights that most non-governmental solutions are still in early development stages. It provides recommendations for municipalities, funders, and policymakers to scale these innovations through better coordination, hybrid financing, and the integration of informal settlements into city planning.

This case study describes the construction of a climate-resilient home for Dipika ben Malik, a seamstress living in the Bhagwatinagar slum of Ahmedabad, India. Through a partnership between the Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) and the Selco Foundation, her previous housing—which suffered from extreme heat and flooding—was replaced with a structure featuring PUF panel roofing, a raised plinth, and solarized appliances to protect her livelihood and reduce costs.

This briefing by RMI argues that integrating urban nature—such as forests, street trees, and bodies of water—into city planning reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers energy costs, and improves equity. The document highlights that the global value of urban nature's benefits is nine times the costs, and it calls for a significant increase in annual investment to reach a potential $2 trillion in annual net benefits by 2030.

This research paper by Aditya Nigam analyzes the Indian government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that the state used the health crisis to further a Hindu supremacist agenda, suppress political dissent, and benefit corporate interests while neglecting the welfare of millions of migrant workers.

A case study on the city of Ahmedabad's use of municipal bonds to finance climate-resilient urban development and green infrastructure.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation successfully raised 200 crore INR in January 2019 through green municipal bonds for projects like waste management and the cleaning of the Sabarmati River. This success was attributed to the city's AA+ credit rating and supportive national frameworks, including the AMRUT programme and regulatory easing by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

This report synthesizes the results of ten projects funded under Round 1 (R1) of the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), which were supported by USAID. The projects focused on transforming risks from climate shocks and stresses into opportunities across sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia. The synthesis evaluates progress across four Impact Pathways: policy influencing, finance and investment, innovation and scaling, and knowledge and partnership. Key outcomes include the support of over 5 million beneficiaries, the development of innovative digital and financial tools, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups, including women and people with disabilities.

This working paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) proposes a practical framework for implementing climate action in cities, particularly in developing countries. Based on an analysis of seven urban projects across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the paper identifies five critical levers—power and leadership, communication and engagement, capacity building, financing implementation, and the demonstration effect—that practitioners can use to overcome barriers and embed climate compatibility into urban planning and investment.

This working paper describes the experience of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in becoming a learning organisation to better address the complex challenges of integrating climate change into development action. It outlines six models and frameworks—levels of learning, complexity models, adaptive and generative learning, action-reflection cycles, design principles, and core building blocks—that CDKN has used to systematise its approach to capturing and applying knowledge.

This CDKN Essentials fact sheet outlines the importance of building climate resilience in cities, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It highlights the role of local authorities as leaders in innovation and the challenges they face regarding resources and decision-making power, while showcasing specific CDKN initiatives in India, Colombia, and other regions to support climate-compatible development.

This guide by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) provides six strategic tips for research funders who use a competitive call model to influence policy, planning, and practice in climate compatible development.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines its activities and strategic approach to promoting climate compatible development in India. It details the use of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to align Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with sustainable development, the implementation of urban Heat Action Plans, and the promotion of private sector financing for rural renewable energy. The document emphasizes the integration of climate resilience into disaster risk management and the importance of gender-sensitive planning.

This paper pilots the use of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to identify the combinations of factors that lead to the uptake of development research by policy-makers. Analyzing 20 projects from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the study finds that while high research credibility is a necessary 'gatekeeper' condition, uptake typically occurs through three distinct causal pathways. The most common pathway (80% of cases) combines credibility, strong communication, stakeholder engagement, explicit demand, and influence on discourse. The authors suggest QCA is a powerful tool for testing Theory of Change assumptions but note it is resource-intensive and requires specific technical expertise.

This research paper describes the development and implementation of the Heat Action Plan in Ahmedabad, India, the first such comprehensive effort in South Asia. The plan focuses on reducing heat-related morbidity and mortality through an early warning system, public awareness campaigns, and capacity building for healthcare professionals, driven by a coalition of local government, academic, and international partners.

This policy brief describes a study titled 'Heat-Related Mortality in India: Excess All-Cause Mortality Associated with the 2010 Ahmedabad Heat Wave,' which analyzed deaths during the May 2010 heat wave in Ahmedabad to determine if extreme heat leads to excess mortality. The brief highlights that while India has national climate change programs, it has lacked specific strategies to adapt to increasing heat, leading the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to develop the first comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat in an Indian city.

This research paper describes a cross-sectional household survey conducted in summer 2011 to assess the factors driving heat vulnerability among slum dwellers in Ahmedabad, India. The study utilized randomized multistage cluster sampling and multivariate logistic regression to identify associations between vulnerability factors and self-reported heat illness.

This policy brief provides recommendations to government officials in Ahmedabad, India, regarding disaster relief and adaptation initiatives to build resilience against extreme heat events.

This policy brief introduces a report on the vulnerability of outdoor workers, particularly construction workers, to extreme heat in Ahmedabad. It notes that Ahmedabad is the first Indian city to implement a comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for heat events, filling a gap in India's national climate adaptation strategies. The document advocates for coordinated action among government, employers, and health providers to reduce heat stress through educational and policy interventions.

This policy brief examines the heightened vulnerability of slum communities in Ahmedabad to extreme heat events, noting that nearly two million residents in these areas face increased exposure and fewer adaptation options compared to other city residents.