To: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), India

From: Mariam Faisal, New York University Abu Dhabi

Date: 10/18/2023

Subject: Urban Climate Crisis In India - Initiatives for Sustainable Cities

Executive Summary:
India's rapid economic growth has fueled urbanization, resulting in an increase in tall buildings
and a decline in green spaces. This has led to elevated temperatures and reduced air humidity
causing increased flooding, infrastructure damage, and loss of livelihoods in urban areas due to
these disasters. To tackle this issue, this policy memo proposes recommendations starting with
encouraging the MoEFCC of India to focus on modifying rooftops in urban development by
incorporating plants and soil to create Green Roofs (GR). Focus on Research and development
and ways to incentivise these installations are also advised. GRs contribute to the creation of
more sustainable, resilient, and livable cities. While some may raise concerns about costs and
maintenance, GRs are recognized as essential for urban development to combat climate change
[1].

Background:
The urban climate crisis in India encompasses a series of interrelated challenges, including
coastal surges and cyclones due to rising sea levels [6], irregular precipitation patterns leading to
water stress and flooding [7], more frequent and intense heatwaves [8], a higher incidence of
diseases like malaria [9], elevated air pollution levels, and vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure.
These challenges collectively contribute to the urban climate crisis, posing a significant threat to
the sustainability of Indian cities. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, urban areas in India are highly vulnerable to climate change,
with increasing temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and a heightened risk of flooding
and heat stress exacerbating urban challenges [3]. Studies conducted by the Center for Science
and Environment (CSE) highlight the influence of climate change on air quality, the formation of
Urban Heat Islands, and the exacerbation of water shortages within Indian cities, thereby
amplifying the urban climate crisis [10].

It is imperative to address this issue for several reasons. The urban climate crisis results in
natural disasters that not only affect the health and livelihoods of urban populations but also
inflict substantial infrastructure damage, with severe consequences for productivity. According
to India's Reserve Bank, India faces the risk of losing 4.5% of its GDP due to the repercussions
of the urban climate crisis. Furthermore, India's urban population is projected to double by 2050,
leading to a substantial increase in urban infrastructure [4]. This will contribute to the building of
a significant portion of India's infrastructure, as indicated by Kumar and colleagues in 2010 [7].
This, in turn, will expose more people and infrastructure to climate risks, heightening future
urban energy demand and exacerbating urban pollution to worsen the urban climate crisis. India
currently hosts some of the world's most polluted cities, with limited prospects for improvement
[5].

Various policy initiatives have been introduced to address the urban climate crisis, including
India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) released on June 30, 2008, which
focuses on renewable energy sources, pollution reduction, reducing deforestation, sustainable
practices, and water conservation. However, the effectiveness of these policies has been limited,
with some experts criticizing them for lacking depth and vision. Sudhirendar Sharma, a water
expert and Director of the Delhi-based Ecological Foundation, finds the plan lacks inspiring
ideas, depth, vision, and urgency. Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement aiming for climate-
conscious urbanization in India, the State of the Global Climate 2022 report from the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated that the agreement fell short of its objectives.
While there have been successful strategies such as the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, the
policies aimed at addressing urban climate change have primarily connected climate concerns
with immediate local development priorities [11]. This approach has been driven by the urgent
need to address housing, transportation, sanitation, security, employment, water, and energy
infrastructure deficiencies, reflecting city governments' institutional and electoral motivations to
meet immediate developmental needs [2].

Recommendations:
In light of these pressing issues, we propose three long-term strategies to enhance urban
sustainability in India:

1. Green Roof Adoption: Enforce regulations mandating Green Roofs (GR) in new
construction and major renovations, collaborating with architects, builders, and property
developers to integrate GRs into new urban development plans and renovations. This will
promote better stormwater management, lower energy consumption, improved water and
air quality, noise reduction, longer roof lifespan, reduced heat island effect, and increased
urban green space [1]. This approach may initially incur steep costs for property
developers, but it is essential to raise awareness of its long-term savings and
environmental benefits. Property developers can benefit from increased property value
and reduced operational costs.

2. Research and Development (R&D) on Green Roofs: Tailor R&D and expenditures to
support India-focus green roof research to suit the nation's unique climate conditions,
landscape and architecture. Grants provision, and equity investments to local firms to
allow them to leverage research to develop bespoke products for the Indian market.
 Collaborate with think tanks and experts to integrate their research and policies into
urban planning to enhance the effectiveness of this strategy.

3. Incentivize Green Roof Adoption: Utilize fiscal measures such as grants, tax credits,
subsidized credit, loan guarantees, and insurance to incentivize and fast-track property
developers’ adoption of GRs. Strengthen institutions to foster the required coordination
between government bodies, financial institutions, and property owners. Despite
pressures on the government’s fiscal position induced by these policies, they lower
upfront costs and make switching to GRs attractive. This generates outsized returns by
resiling the economy, spearheading a green industrial revolution and constructing nascent
global industry leaders in green tech and manufacturing. The fiscal burden can be
alleviated with attractive external financing through green, social and sustainability bonds
and syndication of loan commitment. The social benefits also justify the costs and make
the investment attractive. The ability to save millions of people and reduce damage to
vulnerable communities is priceless. It will save millions of dollars in terms of
infrastructure damage and aid to people affected by natural disasters in urban areas.

Word Count: 997

Citations and Sources:

1. Green roofs for a greener world. (2006, February 17). Financial Times.
https://www.ft.com/content/bfda6fc8-9ee9-11da-ba48-0000779e2340?
accessToken=zwAGB-
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zoF5PMC5fOYFPpMdOgfG9TD&sharetype=gift&token=fe638006-4077-4df0-90f2-
15653d9fccba
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5. World Health Organization (WHO). 2016. ‘WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution
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Fight. Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-07/why-
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