Developing an EbA Feasibility Tool (DEFT) for Climate Adaptation in Indian Cities: A study of Bengaluru, Karnataka

The project aims to develop a comprehensive tool to guide climate adaptation efforts in urban India, with a focus on Bengaluru, Karnataka. Led by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), the project seeks to assist urban stakeholders, including city planners, policymakers, and grassroot organisations, in implementing ecosystem-based solutions to address the city’s climate vulnerabilities. Bengaluru, or the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, is increasingly being affected by alternating floods and heatwaves, a consequence of unchecked urbanisation that has led to the degradation of its once-abundant blue–green infrastructure—lakes and green spaces. This loss, along with the livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems, calls for urgent, nature-based solutions rather than traditional grey infrastructure.

The Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Feasibility Tool, developed under this project, will enable stakeholders to visualise and assess risks to Bengaluru’s blue–green systems and prioritise adaptation strategies based on land suitability, ecosystem service valuation, and cost–benefit analysis. By providing a framework for integrating ecosystem-based approaches, the tool will not only support climate resilience in Bengaluru but also serve as a model for other rapidly urbanising regions in the Global South. The project aims to catalyse collaboration among civil society, the private sector, and government stakeholders to implement nature-based infrastructure solutions, paving the way for a resilient urban future.