This page provides a comprehensive overview of the Climate Action in Cities Fellowship, a flagship programme of Monsoon Academy. It is intended for learners, public officials, guest faculty, facilitators, partners, and stakeholders seeking to understand the purpose, design, and relevance of the fellowship in the context of India’s evolving climate governance landscape. It serves both as a practical guide for participants and as a reference document for collaborators and institutions interested in engaging with the programme.
Cities are both contributors to the climate crisis and acutely exposed to its consequences. They occupy less than 3% of the Earth’s surface but are responsible for over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, they are disproportionately vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change.
Recognising this, the Government of India has launched several city-level programmes addressing climate change, from Smart Cities and AMRUT to State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs). However, the country’s pathway to this goal faces a significant skills and capacity gap, particularly within the public sector, which is pivotal to implementing transformative climate action.
Without targeted support, these gaps risk undermining the effectiveness of India’s climate initiatives, and holding back critical sustainability transitions.
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At the frontline of climate impacts, cities play an essential role in mitigating these risks, positioning city governments as critical actors in the climate transition***.***
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City officials and urban policymakers are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful climate action. Their decisions shape infrastructure, mobility, housing, energy systems, and community resilience. The role of urban policymakers and officials, therefore, is both urgent and indispensable.
However, the complexity of climate governance demands specialised skills, up-to-date knowledge, and the ability to navigate cross-sectoral challenges.
Most city officials have had limited opportunities to build these skills in a structured, practical way. Their core training rarely includes climate-specific knowledge or the tools needed to address emerging challenges. One-off, resource-heavy in-person workshops fail to provide continuous, applied learning. Content often lags behind the latest climate science, tools, and governance practices. Importantly, there is little ongoing support for officials tasked with designing and implementing climate action plans in real time.
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In response to these challenges, the Climate Action in Cities Fellowship, is envisioned as a dynamic, immersive, cohort-based, online learning experience, purpose-built to close this skills gap.
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The Climate Action in Cities Fellowship, aims to upskill city officials in the practical aspects of implementing city-level climate action plans for low-carbon, resilient urban futures across diverse Indian states.
By providing a dynamic, immersive online learning experience, the fellowship equips city officials with: