Small spaces, big impact: Terrace gardens for climate resilience

Centre for Science and Environment's Climate India 2024 report highlighted an urgent crisis: The country endured extreme weather event nearly every day in the first nine months of the year, claiming more than 3,000 lives and damaging over 3.2 million hectares of crops.

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India's cities could become leaders in adopting green spaces as a central strategy for climate adaptation. Supportive policies and incentives would help drive the adoption of green roofs and balcony gardens.

Updating building codes to encourage green rooftops in new construction and offering subsidies or tax breaks to households retrofitting their terraces with plants would make these green spaces more common across urban areas.

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With climate change posing serious threats, India's cities have an opportunity to adopt green spaces on rooftops and balconies as a straightforward, effective approach. By integrating greenery into urban planning, we can create cities that withstand climate extremes while supporting a sustainable and healthier environment.