#Opinion | As rising temperatures, water scarcity, and growing urban demand put increasing pressure on India’s cities, a critical question emerges: what can our parched cities do differently? Writing in @IndianExpress, @paramiyer_, @GhoshArunabha, and @NitinBassiN argue that one intervention with immense—and still unrealised—potential is the reuse of treated used water, especially for non-potable purposes such as irrigation, construction, industrial use, lake rejuvenation, and urban landscaping. The authors outline four priorities: 👉 Develop city-specific water reuse plans 👉 Unlock private finance for reuse projects 👉 Improve the performance of sewage treatment plants 👉 Launch a national circular water mission A circular water economy can reduce freshwater stress, improve water quality, and secure water for all. India has the political leadership, will, and proof of concept. What it needs now is action: at scale, at speed, and with urgency. Read more 👇

#Opinion | Energy security cannot be planned in silos As global uncertainty sharpens concerns around imported #energy dependence, Akanksha Tyagi and @NitinBassiN argue that India’s transition must integrate energy, land, water, and infrastructure planning. The next phase of #CleanEnergy expansion will be more resource-intensive and complex, requiring coordinated systems-level thinking rather than isolated sectoral responses. ✍️ In today’s Moneycontrol 👇 moneycontrol.com/news/opinio…

We had the pleasure of meeting Dr Giriraj Amarnath (@AmarnathGiriraj), Research Group Leader for Water Data for Climate Resilience @IWMI_ to shape a strategic collaboration on water and climate action. The discussion focused on co-developing impactful knowledge products, and aligning efforts for major international water and climate convenings. A key focus area is the Climate Data Hub, aimed at strengthening the use of climate and water data for informed decision-making and building climate resilience. The collaboration will focus on advancing work across green water, urban flood and heat resilience, and the water, energy and food nexus as key pillars of integrated water and climate action. Dedicated working groups will be formed to take this forward, with further internal deliberations and roundtables planned to refine priorities and scale impact. @GhoshArunabha @NitinBassiN @vishchi @Shravanverse

India has 18% of the world’s people but only 4% of its freshwater. My new book Water, Nature, Progress, with Parameswaran Iyer & Richard Damania, explores how India can turn water from a binding constraint into a driver of resilience, #innovation, #productivity, new business models, long-term prosperity, and improved quality of life. Launching on 22 March (#WorldWaterDay). Stay tuned for more details Pre-order: amazon.in/dp/9373077902 @paramiyer_ @HarperCollinsIN @DoWRRDGR_MoJS @MoRD_GoI @AgriGoI @WorldBankGroup @WorldBankIndia

We were pleased to host Octavian Stamate, International Relations Officer at Regional & Bilateral Environmental Cooperation (Directorate-General for the Environment, @EU_Commission) along with Bartosz Przywara, Counsellor at Energy, Climate Action and Environment (Delegation of @EU_in_India) at the CEEW headquarters in Delhi. The discussion centred on the pivotal role of the circular economy in building resilient societies, and the evolving initiatives underway in both India and the European Union. We explored potential avenues to deepen India–EU cooperation across management of treated used water, solid waste systems, solar and battery waste management, sustainable finance, and resilience-building through inclusive, multi-stakeholder processes. We also exchanged perspectives on leveraging global platforms to forge impactful partnerships and scale circular economy solutions. @NitinBassiN

The study finds that while water resources in half of the sub-basins in the area face high climate risk, the basin can significantly reduce future unmet water demand through three practical shifts: mainstreaming interdisciplinary climate risk assessments, scaling micro-irrigation and expanding treated used water reuse. Sub-basin-level modelling shows that increasing reuse to 40% and expanding micro-irrigation to 13% could reduce the basin’s projected water gap by nearly two-thirds by 2050—especially critical as #ClimateRisks intensify. The report calls for hyperlocal climate-risk and water-balance assessments, stronger sub-basin level datasets, and targeted interventions in high-risk areas to build long-term climate resilience and ensure #WaterSecurity. 📘 Read Toward Climate-resilient River Systems in Chennai at ceew.in/publications/chennai… ✍️ By Ekansha Khanduja, Yashita Singhi, Clark Kovacs, Thirumurugan Perumal, Soorya K K, Pratha Mishra, Ayushi Kashyap, Trisha Ravindranath, Alifshah N, Saiba Gupta, and Nitin Bassi @NitinBassiN

What does climate resilience look like within our defence infrastructure? We were honoured to host Col Praveen Nair, Commander Works Engineers (CWE) Utilities, Delhi Cantt, to explore strategic collaborations for a #climate-resilient, water-secure future. Our dialogue focused on advancing circular water management across cantonments, scaling treated water reuse and strengthening #WASH climate risk assessments. This exchange feeds into practical solutions aligned with the #IndianArmy’s sustainability priorities. @NitinBassiN @KhandujaEkansha @adgpi

How do we build future-proof WASH systems? 💧 Earlier this week, we hosted Alejandro Jimenez, Head of the WASH Governance Group at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, and Vinitha Murukesan from its India chapter at our Delhi office. During the discussion we deliberated over collaborations to strengthen #ClimateResilience in India’s WASH sector, aligning with the enablers to accelerate the delivery of #SDG6. Our dialogue paves a way for prospective climate-resilient services, stronger data systems, capacity building, innovative technologies, and inclusive governance, reinforcing #WaterSecurity and sustainable outcomes for communities. @NitinBassiN

As #UnionBudget2026 approaches, India has an opportunity to decide what kind of cities it wants to build for its citizens. In today's @htTweets, @GhoshArunabha argues that this Budget must signal a clear shift: from constructing cities to enabling quality of life. Over the past decade, governments have rightly invested in the hard arteries of growth: highways, metros, power grids, and digital rails. But infrastructure alone does not make great cities. The cities of the future will be defined by #CleanAir and safe #water, efficient and low-emission mobility, circular systems for waste and wastewater, climate resilience in the face of #heat and #floods, responsive digital governance, and thriving green-blue commons, each recognised not just as a public good but an economic asset. The column lays out a practical agenda for this transition. Read more 👇

Over the past decade, governments have rightly invested in the hard arteries of growth: highways, metros, power grids, and digital rails. But infrastructure alone does not make great cities. #Budget2026 must signal a clear shift: from constructing cities to enabling quality of life. The cities of the future will be defined by clean air and safe water, efficient and low-emission mobility, circular systems for waste and wastewater, climate resilience in the face of heat and floods, responsive digital governance, and thriving green-blue commons, each recognised not just as a public good but an economic asset. My op-ed in today's @htTweets lays out a practical agenda for this transition 👇 hindustantimes.com/opinion/m…

#NewBlog | How climate risks shape women's access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in India Climate extremes are widening gaps in access to safe water and sanitation (#WASH), with #women often bearing the cost through longer hours collecting water, compromised safety and dignity, and lost income opportunities. CEEW’s analysis shows this burden is set to grow: over 40% of Indian districts already face high to very high climate-induced risks to WASH, with gendered impacts cutting across access, time, and wellbeing. The answer lies in making WASH planning both climate-aware and #gender-responsive. Drawing on a pan-India risk index built from 53 indicators, this blog by Soorya K K and Ekansha Khanduja argues for hyper-local risk assessments, stronger gender-disaggregated data, and women’s leadership in decision-making. Read: ceew.in/blogs/how-does-clima…

In ADSW 2026 Perspectives: The World in Motion, global leaders share real-world insights on how systems must work together to navigate complexity and unlock long-term value, from technology and finance to energy and nature. Read the full publication here: abudhabisustainabilityweek.c… Don’t miss out register now for #ADSW2026 abudhabisustainabilityweek.c… 🗓️ 13–14 Jan 📍 ADNEC, Abu Dhabi #ADSW2026 #TheNexusOfNext #AllSystemsGo

We recently conducted a training session at the Gujarat Jalseva Training Institute, Gandhinagar, in collaboration with the Gujarat Water Supply Sewerage Board. Bringing together 50 water supply engineers, the session delivered incremental learning sessions focussing on: - Planning for #climate resilient water supply - Safely managed drinking #water services - Climate risk assessment for water sector, with a focus on WASH - Water budget, water balance, water accounts and water audit - Water security planning, with a hands-on exercise on preparing the same As part of this initiative, CEEW is supporting @GoGGWSSB in developing guiding documents for ensuring water security in the state and advancing sustainable water management solutions. @NitinBassiN

We're delighted to partner with @NITIAayog through a new Statement of Intent, signed in the presence of Dr. VK Paul, Member, NITI Aayog. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to evidence-based policy research for sustainable water management. Together, we will undertake joint research to develop strategies in vital areas, including: • Strategic water action planning for Viksit Bharat • Enhancing water use efficiency across sectors • Promoting reuse of treated wastewater • Improving water service sustainability through better operations and maintenance • Developing whole-of-government frameworks for water governance This partnership aims to deliver actionable and scalable solutions that will have a significant on-the-ground impact, moving us closer to a water-secure India. #WaterSecurity #WaterManagement #PolicyResearch #Collaboration #SustainableDevelopment #WaterGovernance @YUGALJOSHI @KaygeeAtWork @NitinBassiN

This #monsoon, India’s cities are logging out before citizens can log in! With smarter drains, timely early warnings, and resilient urban design, #flood risk action plans can keep hospitals accessible, schools open, transport running, and livelihoods secure. Next stop: climate-ready cities. Don’t miss the bus! Check out more cartoons👇 ceew.in/what-on-earth #WhatOnEarth #PaleBlueDot

By integrating a #CircularEconomy approach, the framework can help cities: 🌊 Reduce freshwater dependence 🔄 Reuse treated water 🌱 Build climate resilience 📘 Read more at ceew.in/publications/perform… ✍️ Saiba Gupta, Kartikey Chaturvedi, Ayushi Kashyap & @NitinBassiN

#WATCH | Delhi: On COP30, Fellow for the Sustainable Water Team, CEEW, Nitin Bassi says, "... This time the focus is also going to be on climatic resilience. The situation we saw in India in August was that due to heavy rains, landslides occurred in many places, and in some areas, so much water came that villages were destroyed. COP30 provides a platform to talk about such resilient interventions and ensure that in the future, our cities are better prepared to handle such situations..." (02.09)

Hear from @NitinBassiN (@CEEWIndia ) on ward-level planning in Thane and Hymavathi P (@atree_org ) on catchment-scale modelling in Bengaluru. Join us to see how green roofs, wetlands and recharge wells are shaping #UrbanFloodManagement 🌱💧 #UrbanFloodResilience

#Opinion | Treat, price, restore, and invest: A water agenda for Indian cities Indian cities can no longer treat water scarcity as a seasonal issue. Writing for @rpbreakingnews, Saiba Gupta and @NitinBassiN lay out a four-point agenda to build water-secure cities: 💧Treat used water 💧Invest in blue-green infra 💧Price water smartly 💧Mobilise private capital Read more👇 🔗 epaper.patrika.com/article/J… #UrbanWater #ClimateResilience #India

#Opinion | Tackling heat: Planning to beat the invisible disaster ‘Unlike floods or cyclones, extreme heat leaves no visible trail of destruction the next day. It creeps up on us — through restless nights, breathless afternoons, drained workers, silent hospital admissions, and wilting yields on farms.’ Climate change is rewriting India's summers. The erratic swings of 2025 are a preview of what's to come. But the science is clear: we're entering an era of prolonged heat and rising humidity. Here, @GhoshArunabha writes in his column in @htTweets on three immediate priorities to tackle the rising heat. 🔗 Read now hindustantimes.com/opinion/t… #Heat #ClimateResilience #India #Heatwaves #Weather #Disaster