World Bank report highlights need for more investment in resilient and green Urban Infrastructure

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Report, titled ‘Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India’, estimates that the total investment needs for new resilient and green urban infrastructure and services are $2.4 trillion by 2050.

India’s Urban Landscape

Urban population: In 2020, cities hosted over one-third of the national population – around 480 million people.
Expansion in unsafe areas: Between 1985 and 2015, settlement extent in high flood-risk areas grew by 102%.
Future projections: Urban population is likely to double to 951 million by 2050.
- By 2030, cities will account for 70 % of all new employment generated and contributing 75% to GDP by 2050.

Climate risks to Indian Cities

Flooding: Forecasted increase in risk of 3.6 to 7 times of pluvial flooding (surface water floods) by 2070 due to increasingly uncertain and intense rainfall associated with climate change and increase in areas of impervious surfaces.
Extreme Heat: 1/5th of working hours in major Indian cities could be under high heat stress conditions by 2050.

City Climate Action Plan for Climate Resilient Urban Development

Climate and disaster risk assessment: Develop local hazard specific investment plan, integrate disaster risk information in land use plan, etc.
Prioritize more vulnerable including urban poor: Develop and strengthen local programs to support informal settlements, identify high-risk residents based on climate and disaster risk mapping, etc.
Invest in green city expansion: Enable compact city through transit-oriented development, promote LED and other energy efficient technologies for street lighting, forbid construction in risk-prone areas, etc.
Efficient, resilient and green municipal services: City-level analysis of water sector to improve energy efficiency, invest in efficient and low-carbon Solid Waste Management (SWM), etc.
Others: Climate-sensitive new urban development, facilitate the private sector’s role in risk transfer and resilience, etc.