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The document evaluates the feasibility of fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) and hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks in India. It finds that while FCETs could be more cost-competitive than diesel trucks in long-haul, heavy-duty applications by 2040, they currently struggle to reach cost parity with battery electric trucks (BETs) due to high hydrogen fuel costs. These costs are driven by production, refueling infrastructure, and an 18% GST. The brief argues that hydrogen trucks are a critical complement to BETs for use cases requiring high payload and minimal downtime. It recommends a coordinated pathway involving capital subsidies, tax rationalization (reducing GST to 5%), and the development of public hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) to unlock the market.

The document addresses the financing gap for urban Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in India, where investment remains heavily dependent on public funds. It proposes a three-step guidance framework: identifying the enabling policy environment, leveraging financial and business mechanisms, and applying a nine-factor project evaluation framework. The guide maps existing Indian national and sub-national policies—including forestry, water, and infrastructure schemes—that can be leveraged for NbS. It also catalogues various financial instruments (such as municipal bonds, green bonds, and blended finance) and business models (including carbon credits and user-pay systems) to improve project bankability. A repository of nine global and domestic case studies, such as Chennai's municipal bonds for stormwater drainage and Chicago's Tax Increment Financing for green roofs, illustrates replicable approaches for Indian urban contexts.

The report examines how secondary cities in the Global South navigate sustainability transitions using a multi-level governance framework. Through eight case studies, it analyzes the roles of national, provincial, and local governments, private sector actors, and community-based organizations. The findings highlight that while disasters often trigger local action, a lack of financial autonomy and institutional coordination frequently hinders the scaling of pilot projects. The report argues for a shift from purely participative to collaborative governance to improve inclusivity and sustainability outcomes.

This research paper proposes a 'solar municipal bond model' (SMB) to help India reach its 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022. The model suggests using municipal entities as finance aggregators to provide project developers with access to debt capital markets, potentially reducing rooftop solar costs by up to 12%.

The report argues that India's 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022 requires an estimated USD 39 billion in investment, but growth is hindered by high upfront costs and limited access to debt capital. It proposes a Solar Municipal Bond (SMB) model where municipal entities act as finance aggregators, issuing bonds to provide low-cost, long-term debt to private developers via capital lease arrangements. This model could reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for rooftop solar by up to 12%. Case studies in Surat and New Delhi suggest that while the model is promising, significant barriers exist, including a lack of statutory mandates for municipalities to promote power generation and the need for high credit ratings to attract institutional investors.

The report argues that India's 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022 requires an estimated USD 39 billion in investment, but growth is hindered by high upfront costs and limited access to debt capital. It proposes a Solar Municipal Bond (SMB) model where municipal entities act as finance aggregators, issuing bonds to provide low-cost, long-term debt to private developers via capital lease arrangements. This model could reduce rooftop solar costs by up to 12%. Case studies in Surat and New Delhi indicate that SMBs could make rooftop solar more competitive against grid tariffs, particularly for commercial and industrial sectors. However, significant barriers exist, including the lack of a statutory mandate for municipalities to promote power generation and SEBI regulations requiring a 20% equity contribution.

The December 2015 extreme rainfall event in Chennai, India, which saw a record 494 mm of rain in 24 hours, was determined by climate attribution studies to be a 1 in 600–2,500 year event not caused by anthropogenic global warming. While the event's rarity would have overwhelmed most cities, its impact was exacerbated by poor land-use planning, including the encroachment of wetlands and riverbeds, and a clogged drainage system. The document recommends that Indian cities integrate wetland protection, river basin approaches, and vulnerability-focused disaster action plans into their urban development to build resilience against increasing extreme weather trends.

The document outlines the challenges of rapid urbanization in the Global South, where a growing proportion of the poor live in cities with limited financial resources. It proposes a framework to categorize cities by economic productivity and population growth, focusing on 'struggling' and 'emerging' cities. The authors argue that prioritizing equitable access to core services—housing, water, sanitation, energy, and transportation—is a critical entry point for transformative urban change, citing the examples of Medellín and Surat as cities that achieved broad transformation through targeted reforms and strong political coalitions.

The document argues that the current trajectory of urbanization in the Global South—characterized by rapid population growth outpacing economic growth and the 'urbanization of poverty'—risks locking cities into unsustainable patterns. It proposes a new categorization of cities based on economic productivity and population growth, focusing on 'struggling' and 'emerging' cities. The authors contend that providing equitable access to core services (housing, water, sanitation, energy, and transport) is the essential entry point for broader transformative urban change. Using case studies from Medellín and Surat, the paper illustrates how solving a 'seminal problem' can trigger a virtuous cycle of improvement across governance, finance, and planning, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

The report examines the role of South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) in fostering sustainable urban development and climate resilience in the Global South. It highlights the importance of the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda, arguing that traditional North-South cooperation is insufficient. Through various case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the document demonstrates how cities share knowledge on green transportation, water management, and urban planning. Key examples include Shenzhen's carbon trading, India's water resilience efforts, and Mexico City's green bonds. The report concludes that while cities are critical to the 'climate battle,' they often face institutional and financial barriers that SSTC can help overcome through peer-to-peer learning and innovative financing.

The study analyzes the impact of urbanization on natural infrastructure in 10 major Indian cities from 2000 to 2015, finding significant increases in built-up areas and a corresponding loss of surface water and groundwater recharge potential. It advocates for an integrated urban blue-green approach to planning to mitigate risks like urban flooding and water scarcity.

The World Resources Report (WRR) is being developed around seven working papers focusing on urban issues in the global south, specifically targeting the needs of the lower half of the income distribution to achieve economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social equity. The report's framing emphasizes preventing "unsustainable urban lock-in" and addressing the "urbanization of poverty." Key thematic areas include urban expansion, affordable shelter, urban energy services, regional water risk, and sustainable transportation, with a proposed "40:40:40 strategy" for transport mode split by 2040. The project involves a core team and lead authors conducting literature reviews and stakeholder engagement, with planned city-level case studies in Medellín, Surat, and a city in Africa.

The Urban Community Resilience Assessment (UCRA) is a bottom-up planning tool that integrates local neighborhood knowledge with city-wide resilience strategies. Piloted in Rio de Janeiro, Surat, and Semarang, the tool uses three dimensions—city-level vulnerability, neighborhood resilience potential, and household capacities—to identify infrastructure gaps and social needs. While the UCRA promotes inclusive planning and provides detailed local baselines, pilot results highlighted challenges including high costs, time-intensive methodology, and a lack of political leadership.

The World Resources Institute developed the Urban Community Resilience Assessment (UCRA) to help city planners identify specific resilience needs among urban populations, particularly the urban poor. Piloted in Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, the tool evaluates vulnerability context, community resilience, and individual capacity. Findings indicate that physical infrastructure, such as early warning systems, does not automatically result in individual behavior change or increased personal resilience. The paper argues that effective urban planning requires participatory engagement with residents to avoid exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and to foster social capital and positive resilience habits.