State-Level Policy Dialogue on Mainstreaming Climate-Sensitive Urban Planning in Cities of Tamil Nadu

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with GIZ and the Government of Tamil Nadu, is organizing a State-Level Policy Dialogue on Mainstreaming Climate-Sensitive Urban Planning in Cities of Tamil Nadu. This dialogue will bring together key stakeholders to explore how urban planning frameworks—such as masterplans and local area planning processes—can effectively integrate climate resilience and low-carbon development.

The dialogue is part of the 'Urban-Act: Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon & Resilient Cities' project, which supports national, state, and local authorities in integrating climate change perspectives into urban planning. Funded under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the project is being implemented in India by GIZ, with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, along with TERI and NIUA as its key partners. The project’s work spans the cities of Coimbatore, Shimla, and Panaji, along with their respective state governments.

Objectives of the Policy Dialogue

The policy dialogue aims to facilitate discussions among national, state, and local government officials, urban practitioners, academia, and civil society organizations to explore:

• Strengthening climate-sensitive urban planning through state and city-level policy frameworks.
• Advancing spatial planning approaches to integrate climate resilience and low-carbon development into master plans, local area plans, and zoning regulations.
• Enhancing governance and institutional mechanisms to mainstream resilience and low-carbon urban development.
• Leveraging innovative and data-driven approaches, including digital tools, geospatial data, and system-based solutions, for informed urban planning and decision-making.
• Bridging finance and policy for climate-responsive urban transformation, exploring sustainable funding mechanisms.
• Fostering participatory and inclusive urban governance, ensuring community engagement in climate-sensitive planning.