Aligning SAPCCs with local governance is essential, particularly in climate-vulnerable districts. Experience from states like Bihar, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh highlights two priorities: institutional integration and targeted financing. Decentralising SAPCC goals to existing district and panchayat committees—already responsible for water, forests, and environment—allows integration of climate risk and adaptation planning. However, these bodies often lack capacity, making investment in training, staffing, and technical support critical. Engagement with non-governmental actors—civil society, academia, and the private sector—also enhances implementation, as seen in Madhya Pradesh’s ‘hub and spoke’ model and city-level plans in Bengaluru and Mumbai.

On financing, Madhya Pradesh’s SAPCC demonstrates how scientific vulnerability assessments can inform project selection and funding, such as the revival of water harvesting systems in Indore and Burhanpur. NABARD’s climate-sensitive planning in Tamil Nadu similarly embeds risk assessments into rural lending strategies.This ensures that rural development financing also enhances climate resilience.

To scale impact, convergence of funding—from government schemes to CSR and philanthropic capital—is needed. A unified district-level plan can coordinate these resources effectively. We might also learn from international best practices, like Colombia’s dashboard to track climate finance flows vis-à-vis vulnerability maps. A similar tool in India could ensure that funds are directed where they’re needed most and inform adaptive policymaking.

Supporting MSMEs is vital because they are both economically significant and highly vulnerable to climate and regulatory shifts. Many operate in the informal sector and are often excluded from low-carbon development planning despite employing a large share of India’s workforce. Effective policy must therefore combine official data (e.g. Udyam portal) with local insights and actively engage MSME clusters. As participants in global value chains, MSMEs must adapt to both climate risks and shifting market demands.

Despite their resilience, MSMEs face barriers in adopting support schemes—such as the upfront costs of energy-efficient technologies. Our strategy focuses on four pillars:

1. Resilience Building – We provide information, awareness, and training to enhance climate resilience.

2. Decarbonization Opportunities – We engage MSMEs through industry associations and supply chain partners to promote cleaner energy use and energy efficient practices.

3. Reskilling for Just Transition – Reskilling both workers and owners is crucial. For example, MSMEs currently making components for internal combustion engine vehicles can pivot to electric vehicles or other sectors, such as energy efficient appliances. However, this requires overcoming fears of workforce attrition and changing business models. We address this by working closely with industry associations and larger companies.

4. Access to Finance – We help bridge the information gap regarding available financing schemes. Through formats like investor fairs or trade expos, we facilitate direct interaction between MSMEs and financial institutions like SIDBI or SBI to improve uptake of green financing options.

Additionally, we’ve partnered with organizations like the National Skill Development Corporation and the Skill Council for Green Jobs to scale successful models and embed them into skilling curricula. While reaching women workers remains a challenge, we’re seeing encouraging progress like a woman MSME owner who now leads a training of trainers program for women in the sector. We began our work in Tamil Nadu’s auto cluster and Gujarat’s textile cluster, and are now expanding to Maharashtra. The lessons learned are helping us build a scalable and inclusive ecosystem for climate resilient MSMEs.

Institutionalising nature-based solutions (NbS) in rapidly urbanising Indian cities requires embedding climate resilience into existing planning and governance systems.

1. City Planning Integration – NbS should be mainstreamed into city master plans. Cities in Madhya Pradesh, as well as metropolitan areas like Bengaluru and Mumbai, have developed climate action plans incorporating NbS through partnerships with local governments and organisations like C40. Initiatives such as identifying heat-resilient tree species or afforesting unused land demonstrate how existing institutions can implement NbS.

2. Private Sector Engagement and Regulations – Architects, developers, and housing societies must be included in NbS implementation. This calls for updated building codes that integrate climate risk and NbS principles, with strong enforcement and awareness across the infrastructure value chain.

3. Employment Schemes for Green Infrastructure – Rural schemes like MGNREGA, which has globally contributed most to NbS jobs, offer a model for urban adaptation. Similar public employment approaches could generate ecological assets and jobs in cities.

4. Equity and Inclusion – NbS must avoid marginalising vulnerable communities. Projects that revitalise public spaces must preserve their accessibility and function as inclusive public goods. Tools like the C40-WRI checklist can help ensure equitable outcomes.

5. Skill Development – NbS offer opportunities for job creation and upskilling. Studies on rural water management have identified training needs—insights that are equally relevant for urban NbS planning, which must include capacity building for implementation at scale.

Ulka: For early warning systems, there has been promising progress in cyclone prediction using machine learning models, which in some cases outperform traditional methods based on human interpretation of satellite data. AI enables more accurate forecasts, offering critical lead time for evacuation without unnecessary disruption. On infrastructure resilience, particularly electricity grids, digital technologies help anticipate extreme weather impacts—as illustrated by the severe disruption to Texas’s grid during a snowstorm. Improved predictive modelling can enhance preparedness and safeguard critical infrastructure. In the renewable energy sector, better forecasting of solar and wind patterns supports optimised energy storage and distribution, which is vital as we move towards a net zero future.

In land use planning, remote sensing plays a vital role. For example, studies on large-scale solar parks have used it to detect land use changes, including the displacement of agricultural and pastoral areas. Such insights help planners ensure renewable energy expansion does not come at the cost of ecosystems or local communities. In essence, digital technologies bring together early warning, land use planning, and infrastructure resilience by offering real-time, accurate data and predictive models that enable more informed and proactive climate adaptation.

Jasprit: That s a really interesting and relevant example. I can’t think of a better example that links all three. I also feel that since we are dealing with a very dynamic environment in India, it’s important to channel strategies for micro level implementation. Particularly for building capacity at the grassroots level to use this technology and these tools effectively. What are your thoughts on that?

Ulka: I’m quite optimistic about these technologies. They’re often easier to use than conventional tools and can empower laypeople to function almost like experts. Many are voice-enabled or offer simplified interfaces, allowing local officials to access synthesised data without navigating complex reports. A local official could access simplified and synthesized data without having to read complex reports. It’s a powerful way to increase local capabilities and access to knowledge. There are lots of opportunities to test these technologies at the local level, and I believe they can significantly enhance decision making, especially in remote areas.

This is a very comprehensive and significant question. I think regional cooperation, especially between South Asian countries and partners like Germany, plays a critical role in building climate resilient infrastructure and adaptive public services. I’ll discuss this from a few angles.

Firstly, climate resilience is greatly enhanced when countries collaborate within a region. For example, in the context of insurance, climate risk management works better when the scope of coverage spans a larger region. In South Asia, countries are closely interconnected, and a climate event in one country can have transboundary effects. For example, flash floods in Nepal can have a direct impact on Bihar, India. If early warning systems and data sharing are done across borders, they can become far more effective. The same applies to shared risks like glacier melt in Pakistan, or storm surges affecting both India and Sri Lanka. Regional cooperation allows for better data sharing, scientific expertise exchange, and coordinated responses. The SAARC Meteorological Centre used to play an important role in fostering such collaborations, although it hasn’t been very active recently. It could be worth revisiting such institutions under a broader regional cooperation framework. Moreover, Germany could be an essential partner in this regard, supporting such initiatives by providing technical expertise and financial resources. One existing regional organisation based in Kathmandu, which focuses on the Himalayan region and includes downstream countries like Bangladesh. However, no single organisation currently covers all regions, including coastal and riverine areas. A collaborative program could integrate different regional concerns, mountain, river, and coastal ecosystems, allowing for a holistic approach to climate resilience.

Secondly, looking further beyond South Asia, there is significant potential in renewable energy cooperation between South Asia and the Middle East. The Middle East has vast potential for solar energy, and South Asia can benefit from this energy via a shared regional grid. Such a network would allow for cross-border electricity trading and help energy security, especially for regions that have less renewable potential or inadequate infrastructure to harness it. On the issue of technology, there s a lot of scope for collaboration on customised technologies that suit South Asia s specific conditions, whether it’s for transportation, battery storage, or circular economy practices. For example, while scrap steel recycling in South Asia could reduce emissions, there isn’t yet enough scrap steel for widespread use. Regional cooperation can focus on research and development of low-carbon technologies, adapting them for local needs. Additionally, financial collaboration between Germany and South Asia could help meet the specific needs of these countries. For instance, in renewable energy, countries like Denmark are already partnering with India on offshore wind, while Sweden is focused on industrial decarbonisation. Germany has been very active in supporting solar energy initiatives in India, and there is significant room for more tailored financial support. The cost of capital is often high in South Asia, and regulatory risks can further complicate investments. Germany and other countries with experience in market and regulatory reforms can share lessons learned in scaling up renewable energy deployment. For example, India’s long-term power purchase agreements, while useful for traditional energy sectors, may not be flexible enough to accommodate the intermittency of renewable energy. Germany’s experience in adjusting these frameworks could provide valuable insights.

Ulka: I contributed significantly to the Indian G20 Presidency, and while not directly focused on adaptation, it opened important avenues. For instance, my work with the Global Commission on Adaptation highlighted the economic value of adaptation—often undervalued because its benefits are less immediate and largely accrue to vulnerable communities. The Commission demonstrated that many adaptation measures, particularly nature-based solutions, deliver returns of two to seven times their cost. This “triple dividend” approach—protecting assets, creating jobs, and driving broader development—makes a compelling case for investment.

Global platforms like the G20 have embraced ambitious goals—India’s Presidency, for instance, committed to tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency. But such commitments must translate into local action. Initiatives like Race to Zero, with their focus on sectoral and city-level implementation, help ground these ambitions. Capacity building is critical—programmes like RAMP in Africa, and similar efforts in India, are equipping urban officials to mainstream adaptation. Organisations like WRI play a key role in distilling local insights into accessible knowledge, enabling their application across diverse contexts.

Jasprit: So, to summarize, advancing global best practices should focus on sharing local best practices. It’s about scaling up what works in different contexts while being mindful of the unique challenges each region faces. By making information accessible and ensuring knowledge exchange between stakeholders, we can foster more inclusive, locally relevant climate action.

Ulka: Exactly. Making knowledge accessible is crucial. We use data dashboards, webinars, and research papers to make the information available to the right people at the right time. It’s all about transparency and effective knowledge sharing. This way, we can make the best practices work on the ground.