ABSTRACT
The impact of climate change poses considerable risk to Indian cities. It is expected that impacts will include: a general increase in temperatures by 2-4°C, an increase of 7-20% in annual precipitation, with increased intensity, alongside increases in riverine flooding, cyclones, storm surges, and sea-level rise (SLR) (Revi 2008). A study on Low Elevation Coastal Zones estimates that India sees about 3% of its national area at risk of SLR (McGranahan et al. 2007). All of these impacts come with associated environmental health risks. Climate change impacts in Indian cities need to be considered in the context of significant demographic, rural to urban, and environmental transitions (Revi 2008). As per the Census of India Report 2011, the urban population of India has increased from 285 million in 2001 to 377.1 million in 2011. In 2011, the urban population was 31.15% of the country’s total, as compared to 27.8% in 2001. It is expected that 500 million people will move from rural to urban areas by 2060 (Revi 2008). Given that urban areas concentrate disaster risk, this continuing urban growth poses significant challenges for effective and adaptive urban management in Indian cities.
