Delhi joins UN-backed campaign for climate resilience commits to 25% green cover

Delhi has joined the “Race to Resilience”, a UN-backed campaign to catalyse a step-change in the global ambition for climate resilience, with pledges including achieving a 25 per cent green cover within the next five years.
Delhi’s participation in the “Race to Resilience”, announced during an event at Climate Week NYC on Wednesday, comes with a set of commitments aimed at enhancing climate resilience while fostering sustainable development.
These include investments in the circular economy to re-purpose and reduce waste and in decentralised renewable energy sources to enhance access to clean and sustainable energy.
As part of the campaign, the Delhi government has also committed to increasing green space and tree planting, aiming to achieve 25 per cent green cover in the next five years.
According to the India State of Forest Report, Delhi’s green cover currently stands at 23.06 per cent.
The government said initiatives, such as the Delhi City of Lakes project, will rejuvenate water bodies, improve water quality, and reduce flooding.
Delhi is one of the hottest cities in India and ranks among the most susceptible to heat waves due to its large population and a significant concentration of lower-income groups. Extreme heat is hurting local productivity, putting vulnerable populations at risk, and contributing to the rapidly rising energy demand.
Heat waves are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change.
Delhi’s draft action plan on climate change says the city is projected to suffer losses of Rs 2.75 lakh crore by 2050 due to the impacts of climate change, with changes in precipitation and temperature patterns posing significant threats to the most vulnerable populations.