This World Bank report argues for urgent investment in climate-resilient cities as India’s urban population is set to nearly double by 2050, with much of its future infrastructure yet to be built. This presents, according to the Bank, a critical opportunity to shape urban growth in ways that can withstand rising climate risk-avoiding costly retrofits and major future losses. 

The report also states that climate change is already driving extreme heat, flooding, and water stress with storm water flooding alone projected to double economic losses under high emission scenarios full stop without intervention heat related death in cities could also double by mid-century. Given their dense populations and interconnected infrastructure,  Indian cities are especially vulnerable to cascading descriptions. The report calls for immediate large scale-action to integrate climate resilience into city planning and services, noting that the window to act is narrowing rapidly. 

Read the full report here.