Boosting climate action in Tamil Nadu

A new political mandate in Tamil Nadu arrives at a time when climate risks are no longer distant projections but lived realities. From rising heat to coastal vulnerability, the urgency to embed climate action into governance has never been clearer. This political transition offers an opportunity to accelerate the State’s climate action response. Tamil Nadu is among the most climate vulnerable States of India. Increasing sea-levels, frequent cyclones, heatwaves, water stress and rapid urbanisation exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, making the transition of climate action into policy and implementation an absolute necessity. In the past, Tamil Nadu has actioned several policies to manage climate risks. The government has introduced various programmes such as the Climate Change mission, Coastal Restoration Mission and the Green Tamil Nadu mission, in addition to the creation of institutions such as the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC) and the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation. Further, the Governing Council on Climate Change, a high-level body with experts headed by the CM, is a first-of-its-kind State-level body designed to provide strategic policy direction, and accelerate climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Some of the key initiatives under the Climate Change Mission have been the establishment of climate resilient villages as a pilot in 11 districts; district-level decarbonisation plans; carbon-neutral hubs; bio-fencing; climate-resilient green temples; green schools; and the Green Fellows programme. The role of the State Planning Commission cannot be ignored here for it was instrumental in conceiving many targeted studies across a spectrum of priority areas, which fed into both policy and implementation processes. On the financial side, Tamil Nadu pioneered the launch of the first State-owned Green Climate Fund with a corpus of ₹1,000 crore to support clean energy transition, mobility and water security. Besides this, the State has been successful in acquiring significant funding from the World Bank and other multilateral agencies to execute the TN-Shore Mission focused on building coastal resilience. The next step All these measures have placed Tamil Nadu as a forerunner in climate action. Furthermore, institutions such as the TNGCC can be leveraged to attract private capital to achieve climate action goals. It could translate ambition into opportunity at scale and create the next generation of industrial winners. The new regime should not only look to sustain current initiatives to shape better outcomes but also be innovative in putting together forward-looking policies. It must also ensure inclusive decision making in order to create an enabling environment. As Tamil Nadu is one of the most industrialised States, the scope for emission mitigation programmes is wide and pertinent. The new government’s environment mandate has an organic link with the past government’s climate actions and ambitions. It aspires to come out with a dedicated climate budget plan to the tune of ₹3,000 crore, achieve 100% renewable energy through the Vetri Solar Mission, install 20,000 EV fast charging stations by 2031, and electrify 5,000 State-owned buses. And while mitigation-related priorities are important, the new government should not lose sight of adaptation actions, which include measures to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the poor and the vulnerable. A separate framework and plan of action for adaptation strategies would not only help the State’s climate-resilient policies but also strengthen its contributions to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Adaptation Plan (NAP) and other existing international mechanisms. Further, investments in research, training, and capacity-building would enhance the value of climate action. The new government should strive to mobilise funds, both domestically and internationally. Tamil Nadu enters its next phase of governance at a time when the climate action platform is well-positioned for accelerated implementation. There is no time to lose. Hope rests in action. The new government guided by its grand social agenda must ensure that every rupee spent on development is also an investment towards a cleaner and resilient future. Arivudai Nambi Appadurai is Director of the Climate Resilience Practice at the World Resources Institute India. Views expressed are personal.