Dr. Prajna Paramita Panda, Program Manager & Member, IUCN SSC AsESG, India and Mihir R. Bhatt, All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI), India

The path forward for South Asian cities is clear, but it demands urgency and ambition. The next decade will determine whether our cities become liveable, inclusive, and resilient—or continue turning into heat traps.

We see five priorities for action:

1. Mainstream NbS into city planning and codes: Urban bylaws must mandate green cover targets, permeable surfaces, and zoning norms that reduce heat stress. NbS should not remain pilot projects but must become standard practice in urban development.

2. Finance NbS at scale: Sustainable financing is critical. Blended models—linking public funds, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), international climate finance, and local enterprises—can provide long-term support for NbS projects, from mangrove regeneration to urban green corridors.
3. Empower communities as custodians: NbS succeed when they are owned locally. Women’s collectives, school eco-clubs, youth groups, and resident associations must be equipped and supported to design, implement, and monitor NbS.

4. Strengthen cross-sectoral governance: Departments of health, housing, water, and urban development must coordinate through NbS Task Forces, ensuring that cooling, biodiversity, and equity are pursued together – not in silos.
5. Align with national and global agendas: NbS must be firmly embedded within the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework, India’s National Cooling Action Plan, and National Biodiversity Action Plans. This alignment can unlock resources, credibility, and momentum.

Above all, we must see nature not as an add-on but as infrastructure—as vital to cities as roads, power, and housing. Investing in NbS means investing in public health, economic productivity, and climate justice.

The road ahead is both challenging and hopeful. If South Asian cities act decisively, they can turn the threat of extreme heat into an opportunity for innovation, equity, and sustainability. With collective ambition and collaboration, we can ensure our cities not only survive the age of climate extremes – but thrive in it: cooler, greener, and more resilient.