Ensure climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable WASH systems in vulnerable regions by strengthening infrastructure, improving operational resilience, and empowering communities to adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures, floods, and droughts.
Climate change is disrupting WASH systems that millions in India rely on.
India's average temperature has risen by 0.7 deg C between 1901 and 2018 and may rise by 4.4 deg C by 2100.
India experiences more than 17 major floods every year, with over 80% of the population at risk.
By 2025, 6% of India's districts could face extreme water scarcity. Already, 600 million people experience high to extreme water stress.
Poor WASH increases health burden from waterborne diseases, a leading cause for deaths of children below age five.
We help cities adopt data driven approach to understand the risks, identify gaps, engage communities, and take action for clean toilets, safe wastewater management, and reuse of treated wastewater.
Explore research, publications, and tools related to this program.
The Government of Kerala, recognising the growing risks posed by climate-induced and human-made disasters, has approved the Disaster Waste Management Protocol for Kerala vide G.O.(Rt) No.3007/2025/LSGD dated 19.12.2025, issued by the Local Self Government Department (LSGD). The protocol is applicable to all districts and Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) in the state and serves as a comprehensive framework for managing waste generated during and after disaster events in a scientific, safe, and coordinated manner.
The Conference on Building Climate-Resilient WASH Systems in India, held on 27th and 28th November 2024 in Thiruvananthapuram, brought together over 200 stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector to address the urgent need for climate-resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems. The Conference explored the intersection of climate change and WASH, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities and the need for inclusive, sustainable solutions. Over two days, participants engaged in thematic discussions, case studies, and workshops to identify actionable strategies for building resilience in WASH systems.
The CRA WASH Toolkit is a practical guide designed to empower smaller Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to implement effective climate change adaptation measures within the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector. It addresses the scarcity of national and state-level resources by translating high-level climate data into localized, actionable strategies. The toolkit adapts the CHVA methodology from WRI India, applying it to a simplified WASH value chain to help local stakeholders assess vulnerabilities and make informed decisions. The ultimate goal is to enhance the climate resilience of urban WASH systems and protect the most vulnerable residents.