The 22nd edition of the annual flagship event of TERI—the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS)—is being held from February 22–24, 2023 in New Delhi. The Summit deliberations will focus on the umbrella theme: Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action.

Significantly, India is holding the Presidency of G20 in 2023. This is a golden opportunity to further the voice of the Global South on issues related to sustainable development and climate action. The year will also see the important process of global stocktake at the climate negotiations at COP28. It is against this background that TERI is bringing together leading representatives from international organizations, government, business and industries, research and academia, civil society, and youth to deliberate on the modus operandi required for mainstreaming sustainable development and climate resilience for collective action. The Summit deliberations will examine topics such as finance, science, technology and innovation, sustainable consumption, inclusive energy transitions, climate action, and the global commons. By playing a constructivist role, the Summit will seek to reinforce commitment at all levels to enhance ambition and action to create a more sustainable and equitable world for present and future generations.

Our cover story this month is on mainstreaming climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure for long-lasting effects. Building climate resilience, safeguarding health, and protecting lives through sustainable water management aids preserving ecosystems and lowering carbon emissions from the transportation and treatment of water and sewage. It reduces the negative impacts of climate change. The impacts of climate change on water supply, sewerage and sanitation infrastructure are long lasting and irreversible. Climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure would help in not only achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, but also towards social equity, environmentally just, and economically empowered society. It is now more imperative than ever to plan and construct infrastructure that is robust and adaptable to changing climatic conditions. India’s water consumption is dominated by agriculture, cities, and industry through 2050 and beyond. Participatory planning, sustainable development, climate change mitigation, and Water-Energy-Food-Climate nexus integration are all essential for these sectors. Climate-resilient infrastructure must be able to withstand both chronic stressors and severe shocks, as well as all other kinds of climate and non-climate threats. An integral part of a systemic, resilience-based approach to risk management is a multi-hazard perspective.

With this cover story and other articles of current interest, we hope that you enjoy reading this issue of TerraGreen. We do look forward to receiving your feedback and letters.