State-level green pathways need a national roadmap

India's climate future is being forged in its states and districts. From Odisha's climate-budget tagging to Maharashtra's drought-resilient farming, subnational initiatives are turning ambition into action. Yet, this progress remains a patchwork of excellence. To weave these successes into a coherent national fabric, India needs a federal framework that links state innovation and local participation with fiscal accountability across the federation.

- ANOOP SINGH

State innovation led by fiscal and policy leadership: States are pioneering fiscal tools that integrate climate into public financial management. Odisha has institutionalized climate-budget tagging and annual statements, which has made its coastal-resilience spending transparent. Tamil Nadu coordinates action through the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company, bridging renewables and water management. Kerala's budget has rolled in climate and sustainable development goal (SDG)-tagging, even as the state screens major projects for related risks.

Meanwhile, industrial states like Gujarat and Maharashtra are coupling advanced renewable energy portfolios with decarbonization initiatives. Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are advancing electric vehicle infrastructure, hydropower and also payments for ecological services. These examples show that climate governance is getting embedded in state-level planning.