The convening brought together global experts & national representatives whose feedback was sought. Valuable insights were given on how such centres can support the implementation of the Montreal Protocol’s goals and foster regional collaboration on climate-friendly cooling solutions. (4/4)

Supported by @nrdc.org, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy & some other institutions, Akash presented some of his research findings including

🏛️ Potential governance structures

💸 Funding strategies

👨‍🏭 Core activities

(3/4)

Focused on sustainable cooling in developing countries,
@nrdcindia.bsky.social's Akash Goenka made a presentation based on his research prior to the discussion. The research draws from international efforts and ongoing initiatives to set up centres of excellence. (2/4)

Based on growth trends and cost feasibility, year-wise EV penetration targets were recommended for different commercial fleet segments. The entire report is available on the link below (3/3)

Fleet Electrification Report: www.nrdcindia.org/pdf/HYDERABA...

#TransportTransition #NetZero #Emissions

The comprehensive, data-driven methodology included

📝 In-depth assessment of the vehicle growth pattern in Hyderabad across various vehicle types
👨‍💻 Segment-wise analysis of EV adoption trends
💸 Total Cost of Ownership analysis for multiple vehicle categories and use cases (2/3)

#CleanMobility #EVs

Knowledge partners who supported the development of the Varanasi HAP include — Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar IIPHG, Mahila Housing Trust, and local stakeholders like the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust and Varanasi CMO Office. (4/4)

At the launch, Dipa Singh Bagai, Country Head, NRDC India, shared the opening remarks, followed by Bijal Brahmbhatt, Director, Mahila Housing Trust who discussed the pressing need to find cooling solutions in a warming world. This was followed by NRDC India's Ritika Kapoor presenting the HAP (3/4)

Launched by the Mayor of Varanasi, Shri Ashok Kumar Tiwari, the HAP is grounded in data-driven analysis and local community engagement, including:

🌡️ Climate projections from 2025 to 2050
🗺️ Ward-level heat vulnerability mapping
🎯 Targeted actions for high-risk populations

(2/4)

The aim is to implement and scale the Heat Action Plan and increase the responsiveness of Churu city administration to heat-related emergencies.

Shri Sumit Kumar Additional Municipal Commissioner of Ayodhya & Dr. Deepak B Saxena, Director, Indian Institute of Public Health - Gandhinagar were joined by Manish Bapna, President & CEO, NRDC & Dipa Singh Bagai, Country Head, NRDC India for the signing

Key takeaways from #GHCF2025:
Heat resilience must be prioritized across governance, finance & communities.
Cooling must be sustainable & equitable.
Nature-based & infrastructure solutions are key.

Dipa Bagai, NRDC India, highlighted the deepening heat divide, noting that many cooling solutions worsen the crisis instead of solving it. Archana Soreng, UN Youth Advisory Group, called for people-oriented, community-driven solutions for heat resilience.

Daniel P. Schrag, Harvard University, warned that we are reaching temperature limits for human viability & that the Paris Agreement targets may not hold as emissions continue to overshoot. He stressed that mitigation & adaptation must go hand in hand.

Vasudevan Rangarajan, Edelman, stressed that cooling isn’t a luxury—it’s an economic necessity. The takeaway? Clear, data-driven & solution-focused messaging is key to mobilizing investment & public action in sustainable cooling. #GHCF2025 #HeatResilience

Harvir Singh, Rural Voice, said media mostly covers extreme heat after disasters & called for continuous reporting from research to implementation. Pooja Haldea, Ashoka University, emphasized that relatable messaging drives real behavioral change.

Mihir Shah, CEEW, noted that climate messaging is still problem-focused, limiting large-scale adoption of solutions. Kartiki Negi, Climate Trends, stressed the need for localized, data-driven reporting to keep heat resilience in mainstream discussions.

Dr. Husamuddin Ahmadzai, UNDP, warned that carbon trading markets are volatile & long-term climate finance is unpredictable. The takeaway? Heat resilience needs diverse financing—philanthropy, private investment & government support. #GHCF2025 #ClimateFinance