Marking a pivotal milestone in mainstreaming climate action in Andhra Pradesh, the “Net Zero Climate Resilient City Action Plans” for the cities of Kakinada and Vijayawada, prepared by ICLEI South Asia, were launched by  Suresh Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, on 10 April 2025. 

The launch took place during a high-level, one day conference in Vijayawada that brought together representatives from 123 Urban Local Bodies across Andhra Pradesh to deliberate on key priorities for municipal service delivery. The plans were handed over to top city officials in the two cities to facilitate internal coordination and implementation of recommendations.

The Climate Action Plans include sectoral targets, scalable actions and investment estimates to support a low-carbon pathway towards net zero by 2047. This aligns with the state’s climate-first approach under the Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision Plan and 2047 net-zero goal outlined in the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy, 2024. 

The plans encompass interventions across critical urban sectors such as Water Supply, Wastewater Management, Solid Waste Management, Transportation, Built Environment and Energy, Health, Urban Greening and Biodiversity and Stormwater Management, that provide a blueprint for climate resilient urban development. They adopt an inclusive, data-driven approach, based on ward-level climate risk assessments, city-level greenhouse gas emissions inventories, net zero scenario modelling, and comprehensive stakeholder consultations. To aid implementation, Kakinada and Vijayawada have institutionalised multistakeholder Climate Core Teams and Stakeholder Committees to mobilise action on the ground.

Supported by C40, ICLEI South Asia provided technical assistance for pilot projects that integrate energy efficiency within municipal infrastructure, including low-carbon and heat-resilient municipal buildings and energy-efficient water pumping stations. 

Building on this landmark launch, ICLEI South Asia will continue to support Kakinada, Vijayawada, and other cities across Andhra Pradesh in strengthening institutional capacities and accelerating the transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development.