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23 MoUs signed, over 1,000 urban climate projects announced at Mumbai Climate Week

Spread over three days, over 2,000 delegates and 500 speakers from over 30 countries convened at India's first climate week to hold discussions around three core themes of food systems, urban resilience and energy transition.

Mumbai Climate WeekMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis applauds as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) document that is signed during the Mumbai Climate Week event is shown to the audience, in the inaugural session, at BKC in Mumbai on 17 February 2026. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)

The government of Maharashtra signed at least 23 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) during the inaugural Mumbai Climate Week, which came to a close on Thursday. The climate event saw the announcement of over 1,000 urban climate projects across 44 AMRUT cities while the state also unveiled its Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation strategy dashboard.

Spread over three days, over 2,000 delegates and 500 speakers from over 30 countries convened at India’s first climate week to hold discussions around three core themes of food systems, urban resilience and energy transition. While panels around food systems delved into solutions for sustainable agriculture and agroecology, urban resilience panels focused on building liveable cities through blue-green infrastructure, tackling heat and air pollution. Energy transition saw experts and industry giants discuss renewable energy, developing circular supply change and decarbonisation.

On the sidelines of the event, the state signed 23 MoUs with at least five signed during the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday. These included MoUs between Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Resources Institute (WRI), C40, ICLEI and Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Among other MoUs signed include an agreement with Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages to reduce plastic use and build a food grade recycled PET ecosystem. The state also signed an MoU to facilitate dialogue and support for the Majhi Vasundhara initiative in the energy and environmental sectors.

During the course of summit, WRI India along with MahaSCAC and MITRA, launched an array of energy-economy modelling tools for the state.

Speaking at the closing event on Thursday, Pankaja Munde, Maharashtra environment minister, said that climate responsibility should become a way of life rather than a slogan or social media trend. “While laying emphasis on development and infrastructure, the environment was neglected. Today, the whole world is suffering the consequences. Climate change is not just a regional issue, it is a global one. Therefore, a global approach is needed,” said Munde.

Mumbai’s newly elected Mayor Ritu Tawde added that the city’s growth and development must be carried forward in synergy with climate responsibility without being isolated from each other.

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Meanwhile, Maharashtra state governor, Acharya Devvrat called environmentalists to shift focus on agriculture. “Indian culture is nature-worshipping. In the ancient education system, children were taught in close contact with nature. However, in modern times, the rise of materialistic tendencies has led to environmental degradation,” said the governor.

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

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