Chennai: The Cities of Care Conference was inaugurated today at the IIT Madras Research Park, bringing together global researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and funders to examine India’s energy transition and urban climate challenges.
The conference is being organised by the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF) in collaboration with IIT Madras’ School of Sustainability and the University of Toronto’s School of Cities.
The Cities of Care Conference aims to advance climate action and reimagine sustainable urban development for Indian cities, with a strong focus on translating research into real-world policy and implementation outcomes.
The gathering reflects the growing urgency for India to move from climate ambition to climate delivery, particularly across energy transition, waste management, and urban resilience.
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Cities of Care Conference Highlights India’s Energy Transition Imperatives
During the conference, global sustainability platform REVOLVE released its latest country report, Sustainable India 2025, which outlines the critical phase India has entered in its energy transition journey.
While renewable energy capacity has expanded significantly, the report highlights that the next phase must prioritise industrial decarbonisation, enhanced energy efficiency, and the scaling of decentralised clean energy solutions.
The report cautions that increasing pressure on Indian industries to adopt green practices risks becoming symbolic unless supported by practical compliance mechanisms, accessible financing, and robust monitoring frameworks.
Cities of Care Conference Explores Water–Food–Waste Systems Approach
The Cities of Care Conference convened over 90 global participants to explore climate action through a Water–Food–Waste systems lens.
The programme featured plenary sessions, three thematic research tracks, 15 research presentations, and a cross-sector panel discussion connecting Indian and global perspectives on urban complexity.
As part of the conference agenda, UTIF, in partnership with REVOLVE, presented Sustainable India 2025, a comprehensive overview of sustainability and climate action initiatives across Indian cities, states, and sectors.
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Cities of Care Conference Emphasises Cross-Sector Collaboration
Speaking at the event, Prof Indumathi M. Nambi, Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and School of Sustainability at IIT Madras, highlighted the importance of collaboration across academia, government, industry, and investors.
She noted that the lab-to-market journey for sustainability solutions remains long and complex, underscoring the need for platforms that connect research with policy, funding, and implementation while valuing impact metrics alongside financial returns.
About the Sustainable India 2025 Report
The 2025 edition of REVOLVE’s Sustainable India report documents on-the-ground sustainability developments across India, covering national, state, and city-level climate action.
It includes in-depth stories, expert interviews, photo essays, and curated data highlighting projects, ideas, and individuals shaping India’s sustainability trajectory.
The report reflects the influence of India’s eight national climate missions and captures progress across climate resilience, energy transition, ecosystems, water systems, sustainable mobility, and inclusive development.
Combining narrative storytelling with evidence-based insights, the report serves as a knowledge resource for policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and institutions working on climate-resilient urban development.
The publication features a foreword by Gauravi Lobo, Country Head, UTIF, titled “No City Stands Alone: Reimagining Collaborative Urbanism,” emphasising the importance of cross-sectoral and cross-border collaboration in addressing complex urban challenges.
Global and Indian Leaders Engage at Cities of Care Conference
The Cities of Care Conference features speakers from leading Indian and global institutions, including Prof Joseph Wong, Vice President (International), University of Toronto; Dr Supriya Sahu, IAS, Secretary, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Tamil Nadu; Prof Isha Ray from the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley; Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India; and Veena Srinivasan, Executive Director, WELL Labs Mission.
Discussions throughout the conference focus on converting research insights into policy-relevant outcomes, strengthening collaboration between academia, government, and practitioners, and advancing integrated approaches to urban challenges through the Water–Food–Waste Nexus framework.
