India needs $2.4 trillion for climate‑resilient cities by 2050

A joint FICCI‑EY report estimates that Indian cities will require about $2.4 trillion of investment by 2050 to become climate‑resilient and low‑carbon. The financing gap is stark: only 20 municipal corporations have accessed capital markets, raising roughly $476 million, while the country needs about $840 billion for urban infrastructure over the next 15 years (≈ $55 billion annually). Urban areas already generate over 60 % of India’s GDP and house a third of the population, with the urban share expected to rise to 75 % by 2050, underscoring the urgency of funding.

At the same time, India is re‑examining its compensatory afforestation approach. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has long required new forest land to be offset by planting trees elsewhere. Experts argue that simply planting saplings cannot replace the ecological functions of mature forests—such as water regulation, carbon storage, biodiversity support and livelihoods for forest‑dependent communities. The report calls for a shift from tree‑cover targets to true ecosystem restoration as the country pursues its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.