The India Civic Summit 2025, held on 8th February 2025, brought together over 150 civic leaders, urban practitioners, grassroots changemakers, and engaged citizens to explore solutions for climate-resilient cities. Unlike a conventional conference, this was a convening of practitioners, where real-world civic action took centre stage.
With the theme “Citizen Action for Climate-Resilient Cities”, this year’s summit focused on community-driven solutions to urban climate challenges. Sessions went beyond policy conversations to highlight real, on-the-ground efforts—from local movements and waste reduction initiatives to grassroots environmental advocacy and data-driven governance, and sparking new collaborations for collective impact.
Offering perspectives and inspiration
Kanchi Kohli’s opening address set the tone for the summit with thought-provoking perspectives: She challenged us to think beyond warming temperatures and melting glaciers. She asked: Why do cities need climate resilience? What are the connections that citizen advocates and activists must make to drive real change? Kailash Nadh shared a personal reflection on why he cares about climate action and how he integrates it into his life and work.
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan painted a stark picture of the crisis staring Indian cities in the face today and highlighted the crucial role of participatory governance and collaboration in mitigating these challenges.
The panel: Climate Commitments: Plan to Action critically examined the effectiveness of our cities’ Climate Action Plans (CAPs). How can collaborative or participatory models be framed to make the plans effective in terms of mitigating climate challenges? Experts including Jaya Dhindaw (WRI India), Rajendran Prabhakar (MAARGA), Vetri Selvan (Poovulagin Nanbargal), and Kanchi Kohli (Researcher and Educator), along with moderator Kavitha Muralidharan (Journalist and Author), explored strategies to sustain civic movements and integrate citizen voices into governance.
Structured networking sessions, interactive workshops
The summit also introduced structured Networking Sessions, designed to foster collaborations and help participants connect with like-minded changemakers—a direct response to participant feedback from the previous edition.
Attendees participated in hands-on sessions that provided practical tools for civic action: Talk the Walk by Arun Pai was a deep dive into strategic civic messaging and how to mobilise public support. How to Win Civic Friends and Influence the State by Tara Krishnaswamy and Charu Govindan brought practical tactics for engaging with government systems and influencing policy.
Jayaram Venkatesan’s masterclass: Find, Utilise, and Make a Difference with Information – focused on various strategies for obtaining public information and shared examples of driving impact. In Understanding Carbon Footprints, Vivek Gilani explored how personal choices impact the planet and how policy decisions shape our national environmental footprint. It provided a framework for informed decision-making on the changes citizens need to demand and prioritise.
Key takeaways
The summit underscored a critical truth—citizens are already at the forefront of climate resilience. The event reinforced the need to document, amplify, and scale these initiatives while building stronger collaborations across sectors.
- New Collaborations – Several organizations and individuals committed to future partnerships, reinforcing the summit as a launchpad for civic action.
- Growing Interest in Open Data – The increasing demand for Open City Datajams showed a rising need for data-driven governance and citizen-led urban problem-solving.
Spotlight on change initiatives
The summit concluded with the CM Spotlight session, highlighting grassroots civic projects and acknowledging the diversity and richness of active citizenship in various cities.
Speakers and facilitators brought not just knowledge and insight but also energy and enthusiasm—we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Special thanks to Preeti Gehlot, IAS, the head of Bengaluru’s Climate Action Cell, for enabling Bengaluru Climate Action Fellows to participate in the event.
The convening was supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Rainmatter Foundation. RNP’s commitment has helped strengthen our capacity-building programme, ensuring that engaged citizens acquire the skills and resources needed for changemaking. Rainmatter Foundation’s support has given us valuable insights into how environmental concerns intersect with every aspect of life—from economy to health to poverty. Sustainability remains at the core of our work, allowing us to better serve civic communities.
Looking ahead
The enthusiastic participation at the convening shows how much people care about learning, connecting, and collaborating to make our cities better. The India Civic Summit 2025 was not just an event—it was a momentum-building platform for citizen-led climate action.
As we look toward India Civic Summit 2026, one thing is clear: the future of our cities is being shaped by engaged citizens. The question isn’t whether change is possible—it’s how we scale and sustain it together.