‘Cities of the future cannot be more attractive versions of today’s cities’: UNDP India chief

He also stressed that as the risk of extreme heat increases in India, the focus should be on practical solutions with local distribution of climate finance. UNDP has worked with India to develop its National Adaptation Plan which incorporates some of these strategies.

Excerpts from the interview:

We are seeing severe heat crisis in some parts of India. What types of infrastructure interventions can help address this and protect the most vulnerable populations?

India’s heat crisis is no longer just a public health challenge. This is increasingly becoming an infrastructure, development and equity challenge. As extreme heat becomes more frequent and intense, the priority must be to reduce risk, protect essential services and target investments to communities most at risk. Especially those living in informal settlements, densely populated urban areas, schools, health facilities and workplaces that depend on external labour.

Many of the most effective solutions are practical and place-based, including cool roofs, shaded public spaces, reflective surfaces, urban forests, blue-green corridors, drinking water access points and heat shelter spaces in schools, anganwadi centers and health facilities.

Extreme heat also presents an opportunity to rethink how India’s cities grow. Cities of the future may not be hotter versions of today’s cities with more cooling systems. They need to be designed differently, with greater emphasis on walkability, green and blue spaces, mixed land use, climate-sensitive architecture and public spaces that reduce heat exposure while improving quality of life.

Urban innovation must focus not only on managing heat, but also on shaping healthier, more inclusive and more resilient cities.

There is also a deep connection between heat and air pollution. Rising temperatures may worsen air quality and increase health risks, especially for children, older persons and outdoor workers.

Urban planning solutions such as expanded tree cover, improved public transportation, clean energy systems, and nature-based infrastructure can help address both heat and pollution while providing broader health and environmental benefits.

We are already seeing promising examples of how data and planning can strengthen heat resilience. The Model Heat Action Plan for Patna District, developed by UNDP in partnership with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Patna and the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA), provides a strong example of how cities can prepare for extreme heat. The plan includes a decision support system that integrates infrastructure data, health facility information, heat analysis and vulnerable population mapping, enabling local authorities to identify hotspots and respond more effectively.

UNDP has worked with India on its National Adaptation Plan. What do you think should be at the core of adaptation planning in India? What strategies will be important?

At its core, adaptation planning must be about protecting people, livelihoods and development benefits. Climate change is already impacting water resources, agriculture, health, infrastructure, forests and local economies across India, with the greatest burden often falling on vulnerable communities.

First, adaptation cannot be considered as a stand-alone environmental issue. It should become an integral part of development planning, public investment and economic decision making. Climate resilience needs to be embedded across all sectors, from agriculture and water management to health, infrastructure and urban planning.

Second, India has an opportunity to move from project-based adaptation to a more systematic, whole-of-government approach through its upcoming National Adaptation Plan. This means ensuring that climate risks are considered across ministries, sectors and levels of government, while strengthening coordination between national, state and local institutions.

Third, adaptation planning should be based on local realities. Adaptation is not just about new technologies or infrastructure. In many parts of India, communities have long depended on locally available materials, traditional water systems and nature-based practices to help them live with climate variability. Restoring ponds, tanks, wetlands, traditional drainage systems and climate-friendly construction practices can complement modern solutions while strengthening resilience in a cost-effective and culturally appropriate manner.

How can India finance its adaptation strategy for effective implementation?

Financing adaptation at scale needs to move beyond standalone climate projects and incorporate resilience into mainstream development finance. Public finance will remain the foundation, but climate resilience needs to be integrated into regional budgets, infrastructure investments and development programs in agriculture, water, health and rural development.

Also, adaptation cannot be financed by governments alone. India will need to mobilize a broad ecosystem of actors including international climate finance, private sector investment, banks, microfinance institutions and cooperatives that are often closest to vulnerable communities. Strengthening the capacity of these institutions to assess climate risks and finance adaptation solutions will be critical to enhancing resilience at the grassroots level.

One of the biggest challenges is that many adaptation investments are still not considered bankable despite delivering significant economic and social benefits. Investments in resilient agriculture, water security, ecosystem restoration and climate resilient infrastructure can reduce future losses and strengthen long-term economic resilience, but these benefits are not always reflected in financing decisions.

This is an area where UNDP is working closely with governments and partners.

How can climate finance access or fund essential programs for the poor?

Climate finance will only reach the poorest and most vulnerable communities if it is designed for local delivery, simple access, and solutions that address everyday climate risks. Currently, much climate finance is concentrated in large projects, while informal settlements and low-income households often receive only a small portion of the available resources.

First, climate finance needs to reach the people through the institutions that are already closest to the communities. Municipalities, local governments, self-help groups (SHGs), microfinance institutions (MFIs), and community-based organizations often have the strongest understanding of local needs and vulnerabilities.

Channeling resources through these institutions can support practical interventions such as cool roofs, drinking water access points, shaded public spaces, drainage improvements, resilient schools and health centres, and preparedness measures for floods and extreme heat.

Second, we need to make better use of existing development programs that already have delivery systems and beneficiary networks in place. Initiatives like Vikas Bharat-Employment and Livelihood Mission (VB-GRAMG), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Jal Jeevan Mission and Guarantee for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) can play an important role in enhancing climate resilience.

Integrating climate-relevant investments such as watershed development, drought-resistant housing and crop insurance into these programs can help unlock both international climate finance and domestic financing opportunities.

Third, climate finance should be directed toward communities facing the greatest risks. Risk exposure and vulnerability assessments can help identify the most climate-exposed wards and settlements so that resources can reach those who need them most. This should be supported by dedicated funding windows for informal settlements, simplified grant processes and stronger convergence across housing, water, health and urban development programmes.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, philanthropy and leveraged capital also play an important role. These resources can help de-risk community projects and attract larger flows of public and private finance over time.

India is developing rapidly. There will be massive infrastructure development here in the coming years. How can India balance biodiversity conservation and forest protection with its development?

As India continues its rapid growth journey and invests in new infrastructure, the key will be to integrate climate and biodiversity considerations into planning and investment decisions right from the start rather than addressing them as an afterthought.

This means recognizing that nature itself is a form of critical infrastructure that supports communities, livelihoods and economies.

India’s development path also provides an opportunity to draw on both innovation and traditional ecological knowledge. Across the country, communities have managed forests, water bodies, pastures and agricultural landscapes for generations using locally adapted practices. Reviving and expanding some of these approaches, combining them with modern science, can help create development models that are both environmentally sustainable and economically viable.