ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), is advancing efforts to strengthen urban climate resilience in Gujarat through stakeholder consultations and collaborative workshops in Ahmedabad and Surat. These engagements focused on raising awareness and operationalising frameworks to assess climate-induced Loss and Damage (L&D) at the city level.
On 10 March 2026, ICLEI South Asia participated in the “Shaping Surat: A Workshop on Urban Liveability,” organised by Surat Municipal Corporation in partnership with the Urban Health and Climate Resilience Centre of Excellence (UHCRCE). The workshop brought together municipal officials, academic institutions, and development organisations to deliberate on climate risks and urban resilience pathways.
During the session, ICLEI South Asia presented preliminary findings from the L&D project in Surat, titled “Assessing and Managing Loss and Damage: Local Level Evidence to Inform Global Level Action in Gujarat, India.” The presentation highlighted key risks such as heat stress and flooding, and their implications for vulnerable populations and urban systems
The proposed L&D framework was introduced, emphasising structured methodologies for assessing economic and non-economic losses, alongside the need for robust data systems and institutional arrangements. In addition to the workshop, ICLEI South Asia conducted targeted consultations with district administration officials to identify data gaps, understand sectoral interdependencies, and explore pathways for integrating the framework into local governance structures.
The Surat workshop saw active participation from senior leadership, including the Municipal Commissioner and department heads, as well as technical and development partners. These discussions fostered cross-sectoral collaboration and laid the foundation for future steps towards operationalising the L&D framework in the city.
Building on similar objectives, ICLEI South Asia convened a multi-stakeholder consultation on 11 March 2026 in Ahmedabad, bringing together officials from the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), including the Mamlatdar and District Project Officer, representatives from UNICEF Regional Office and the Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management (IITRAM). Similar to the Surat Workshop, the consultation in Ahmedabad served as a platform to present findings from the L&D project, initiate dialogue on emerging urban climate risks, and strengthen institutional collaboration across sectors.
Discussions highlighted the increasing severity of climate risks in Ahmedabad, particularly heat stress and urban flooding, and their disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure. ICLEI South Asia introduced a proposed framework to assess both economic and non-economic losses and damages, emphasising the need for systematic data collection, long-term monitoring mechanisms, and evidence-based decision-making.
Stakeholders underscored the importance of integrating the L&D assessment methodology into local governance systems, including the proposed Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA). The consultation also revealed the need for stronger inter-departmental coordination, development of a roster of technical experts across sectors such as health and engineering, and alignment of ongoing city initiatives—such as WASH, solid waste management, and nature-based solutions—with broader disaster risk reduction strategies. Participants noted that operationalising such institutional mechanisms would require formal mandates from state and national authorities.
Across both Ahmedabad and Surat, these engagements underscored the critical importance of building awareness around Loss and Damage, strengthening institutional coordination, and embedding structured assessment frameworks within urban governance systems. They also highlighted the need for integrated approaches that connect climate resilience, disaster risk management, and urban development initiatives.
ICLEI South Asia remains committed to supporting cities in advancing climate-resilient and liveable urban futures through continued collaboration, technical support, and knowledge exchange.
