The Earth’s climate is changing, with severe consequences on our daily lives and the resilience of our cities. India being the third highest emitter of carbon-dioxide is responsible for 6.0% of global emissions. However, the emissions intensity of India’s GDP reduced by 12% between 2005 and 2010. India is urbanising rapidly. Between 2001 and 2011, the country’s urban population had increased by 91 million. It is projected to add 416 million urban dwellers between 2018 and 2050. By 2030, India is expected to be home to seven mega-cities with populations above 10 million. 68% of the country’s total population live in rural areas, while 17% of the country’s urban population live in slums. In October 2015, India has made a commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 30-35% from its 2005 levels by 2030. A host of actions and programmes are in planning stages. Some of the targets identified matching with the global targets are as follows

1. Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
2. Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
3. Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
4. Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
5. Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management