Mumbai: In a major push to position Maharashtra at the centre of global climate leadership, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday inaugurated the first edition of Mumbai Climate Week at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra.
The three-day global climate gathering, scheduled from February 17 to 19, aims to move beyond discussions and focus on practical, implementable climate solutions. The event marks the government’s effort to project Mumbai as a climate leadership hub for the Global South.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Union Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi, Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde, newly elected Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and MMRDA Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, along with several senior officials.
Mumbai Climate Week is being led by Project Mumbai with support from the Government of Maharashtra, the state’s Environment and Climate Change Department, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Organisers described the initiative as an attempt to make Mumbai a “living test bed” for climate solutions that can be replicated in other rapidly growing cities across India and the Global South.
Delegations from over 30 countries are expected to participate, including policymakers, industry leaders, financial institutions, youth groups and civil society organisations. Organisers said the success of the summit will not be measured by attendance alone but by partnerships formed, funds mobilised, policies influenced and communities empowered after the event.
The summit features an impressive list of global leaders including Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates, Rajiv Shah, Imad Fakhoury, Amanda Leland and Clarisa De Franco. From India, senior leaders such as Bhupendra Yadav, S. Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal are expected to attend.
A special highlight of the summit will be a space-themed session on February 18 featuring Indian space icons Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla, who will engage with students and global leaders on the link between space science and climate responsibility.
