Institutional Leadership in Climate Action

Climate risks in India rarely respect administrative boundaries. Cities draw water, food and energy from surrounding rural landscapes, while heat stress, flooding and resource scarcity in one area often cascade into another. Responding to these interconnected risks calls for institutions that can plan beyond their immediate mandates, align local action with state and national climate priorities and deliver at scale. Urban institutions shape this response through mobility, infrastructure and public service delivery, while rural institutions anchor it through natural resource conservation, climate-resilient agriculture, water management and community resilience.

The Institutional Leadership in Climate Action award recognises visionary and impactful initiatives led by institutions actively advancing climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience through effective governance, evidence-based planning and sustainable interventions. This category celebrates institutions that embed climate priorities into development plans, resource allocation and service delivery, overcoming administrative silos to deliver equitable environmental and social outcomes across urban and rural India.

Eligible efforts encompass a wide range of institution-led climate action, including but not limited to:

• Development and implementation of sustainable transport systems, green mobility solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Implementation of climate-smart water management, water conservation and sustainable waste management systems.
• Protection and restoration of ecosystems through nature-based solutions, green infrastructure and sustainable natural resource management.
• Promotion of climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable livelihoods and convergence of government schemes to strengthen rural climate resilience.
• Integration of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies into public infrastructure, institutional operations and community services.
• Mobilisation of climate finance and integration of climate priorities into institutional budgets, development plans and public investments.
• Implementation of climate risk management, disaster preparedness and resilience-building measures across urban and rural areas.
• Strengthening coordination across government departments, institutions and administrative levels to advance climate planning and implementation.
• Promotion of inclusive climate action through community participation, local governance and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Applications should demonstrate:

• Integration of climate priorities into institutional planning, governance and programme implementation.
• Evidence-based, innovative and scalable solutions addressing urban or rural climate challenges.
• Measurable environmental and social impacts, or credible potential for such outcomes.
• Effective mobilisation of institutional resources, partnerships and coordination mechanisms.
• Engagement with diverse community stakeholders to ensure inclusive and equitable outcomes.
• Potential to sustain, replicate or scale climate solutions across different contexts.

Sub-categories

1. Institutional Leadership in Urban Climate Action: Recognises urban institutions and local bodies that integrate climate priorities into planning, mobility, infrastructure and climate resilience, including water and waste management, across India’s cities and towns.

2. Institutional Leadership in Rural Climate Action: Open to Gram Panchayats and other rural institutions advancing climate action through natural resource management, climate-resilient agriculture, water conservation and community resilience.