A High-Level Policy Dialogue on Climate
Risk Reduction, Climate Cooling, and National Resilience

India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 4 August 2026

Invitation-Only Summit & Coalition-Building Reception

PROGRAM AGENDA

Note: This is a working draft agenda. Speaker participation is being finalized. Names marked
“Invited” indicate individuals who have been formally invited but not yet confirmed. Session
titles, timings, and speaker assignments remain subject to refinement.

OPENING SESSION

The Climate Imperative: Why India Must Prepare for a Hotter, More Uncertain Future

08:00 – 09:00 | Networking Tea & Welcome Reception

Arrival, registration, and informal networking

09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome Address

Welcome Address: Summit Chair

09:20 – 9:35 | Opening Address

Climate Science, Extreme Climate Risks and National Preparedness

Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India (Invited)

Purpose: To present India’s evolving climate risk profile, national preparedness priorities, and the role of climate science in informing risk assessment, planning, and institutional readiness for extreme climate events.

09:40 – 9:55 | Special Plenary Address

Himalayan Climate Risks and Regional Resilience in a 2–3°C World

Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD

Purpose: To examine the implications of accelerating climate change for the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, including glacier loss, disaster risk, water stress, livelihoods, regional cooperation, and long-term resilience. The address will highlight why India and the wider region must strengthen scientific, institutional, and policy capacity to prepare for escalating climate risks in a 2–3°C world.

10:00 – 10:20 | Opening Plenary

The Evolving Climate Risk Landscape: Implications for India

Sir David King, Founder and Chair, Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge;
Former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government

Purpose: To establish a clear, science-based shared understanding of the accelerating climate emergency, the catastrophic risks facing India in the next 10–30 years, and why responsible climate cooling and near-term climate risk reduction options must be explored. This session frames the strategic rationale for the Summit.

10:25 – 10:45 | Keynote Address

Oceans, Shipping, and Climate Risk in a Warming World

Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Invited)

Purpose: To examine how climate change is reshaping India’s maritime environment, coastal infrastructure, trade networks, and blue economy, and to discuss the implications of evolving international maritime regulations, including the IMO’s clean shipping transition. The session will explore opportunities for innovation, resilience, and international cooperation in addressing emerging ocean-related climate risks and supporting research into potential ocean-based climate risk reduction approaches.

10:45 – 11:15 | Tea & Networking Break

INDIA’S CLIMATE RISK LANDSCAPE

Understanding systemic risks across water, food, health, and national stability.

11:15 – 12:15 | Parallel Deep-Dive Panels

Track A —Himalayan Glaciers, Floods & Water Security

Panel: Dr. Farooq Azam (Chair), Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Dr. Vimal Mishra, Dr. Mahendra Bhutiyani

This panel explores the impacts of glacier loss on India’s water security under a 2–3°C warming scenario, with a focus on flood risks, water stress, and downstream economic and geopolitical implications.

Track B — Heat, Health & Human Survivability

Panel: Dr. Sagnik Dey (Chair), Dr. Payodhi Dhar, Dr. Vidya Venugopal, Dr. Manish Kumar

This panel explores the implications of extreme heat and climate change on human survivability in India under a 2–3°C warming scenario, with a focus on lethal wet-bulb thresholds, heat mortality, productivity loss, disease spread, and climate migration.

Track C — Climate, National Security & Geopolitical Stability

Panel: Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Arun Sahni (Chair), Dr. Ashok Khosla, Air Vice Marshall (Dr.) Ajit Tyagi, TBD

This panel explores how climate change acts as a threat multiplier for India’s national security and geopolitical stability under a 2–3°C warming scenario, with a focus on resource stress, regional tensions, infrastructure vulnerability, and climate-driven migration.

Track D — Monsoon Disruption, Agriculture & Rural Vulnerability

Panel: Dr. M. N. Rajeevan (Chair), Dr. U.C. Mohanty, Dr. Karthikeyan Lanka, Mr. Madhav Pai

This panel explores the impacts of monsoon disruption on India’s agriculture and rural systems under a 2–3°C warming scenario, with a focus on rainfall variability, crop stress, farmer livelihoods, and food security risks.

12:15 – 13:15 | Networking Lunch

CLIMATE RISK REDUCTION PATHWAYS

Exploring science-based pathways for moderating near-term climate risks.

13:15 – 13:35 | Special Policy Address

Managing Climate Risks: Policy Pathways for a Resilient India

Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC),
Government of India (Invited)

Purpose: To discuss how India can integrate climate risk reduction into its broader climate and development agenda through effective policy, governance, innovation, and international collaboration.

13:40 – 14:00 | Special Policy & Science Address

Research, Innovation, and Emerging Options for Climate Risk Reduction

Senior Representative, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (Invited)

Purpose: To examine the role of science, innovation, and responsible research in strengthening India’s ability to manage extreme climate risks, including the assessment of emerging climate risk reduction approaches and the scientific capabilities required to support evidence-based decision-making.

14:05 – 14:25 | Strategic Overview

Climate Risk Reduction Pathways: A Portfolio Approach

Mr. Janos Pasztor, Former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change;
Former Executive Director, Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G)

Purpose: To provide policymakers and stakeholders with a structured framework for understanding climate risk reduction options across different time horizons, including localized cooling approaches, Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB), and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI). The session will examine the potential role, scale, limitations, risks, and governance considerations associated with each approach, and explore how a portfolio of complementary strategies may contribute to reducing climate risks in a warming world.

14:30 – 14:50 | Special Policy Keynote

Climate Risk Reduction, Emerging Cooling Options, and India’s Policy Choices

Senior Representative, NITI Aayog / Government of India (Invited)

Purpose: To examine India’s policy choices in assessing emerging climate risk reduction and cooling options, including research priorities, governance safeguards, institutional capacity, international cooperation, and the role of evidence-based decision-making in preparing for escalating climate risks.

14:55 – 15:55 | Science Based Climate Cooling Options

An evidence-based overview of emerging rapid climate cooling approaches, focusing on scientific understanding, uncertainties, research needs, and governance implications.

Track A — Localized Cooling & Glacier Protection

Panel: Dr. Aparna Shukla (Chair), Dr. Farooq Azam, Ms. Arti Khosla, Dr. Vishal Garg (Invited)

● Scientific basis and current state of research
● Potential benefits, risks, and uncertainties
● Scalability, feasibility, and implementation pathways
● Near-term deployment readiness and policy integration
● Research gaps and implementation challenges

Track B — Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB)

Proposed Panel: Dr. Brian von Herzen, Dr. Alan Gadian, Dr. Ambuj Sagar (Invited), Dr. Thara Prabhakaran

● Scientific basis and current state of research
● Potential benefits, risks, and uncertainties
● Scalability, feasibility, and implementation challenges
● Indicative timelines for research maturity, decision-making, and potential deployment
readiness
● Research gaps and governance considerations

Track C — Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI)

Panel: Mr. Janos Pasztor, Dr. Suvarna Fadnavis, Dr. Asutosh Acharya, Mr. Paul Gambill, Senior Representative, NITI Aayog / Government of India, (Invited)

● Scientific basis and current state of research
● Potential benefits, risks, and uncertainties
● Feasibility and governance-driven implementation considerations
● Indicative timelines for research maturity, decision-making, and potential deployment
readiness
● Research gaps and governance considerations

Outcome

Develop a clear, evidence-based understanding of the capabilities, limitations, and risks of key climate cooling approaches, while highlighting priorities for responsible research, governance, and international coordination.

16:00 – 17:00 | Roundtable Dialogues

Closed-door, facilitated discussions (~15 participants per group)

Themes:

●Principles for Responsible Governance of Climate Interventions, Chair: Prof. Somnath
Badya Roy, IIT Delhi
● Integrating Near-Term Extreme Climate Risk Reduction into Existing Frameworks,
Chair: TBD
● Funding, Private Sector Engagement, and Philanthropic Mobilization, Chair: Mr.
Manomohan Parkash, Former Deputy Director General of Asian Development Bank
● Civil Society and Media Engagement, Chair: Mr. Aditya Pundir, Director India and South Asia for The Climate Reality Project India
● International Cooperation and Climate Diplomacy, Chair: Dr. Dennis Garrity, UN
Drylands Ambassador and Senior Fellow, The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF);
Steering Circle Member, Healthy Climate Action Coalition (HPAC)
● Building Capacity to Address Near-Term Climate Risks in India and the Global South,
Chair: Prof. Ambuj Sagar, IIT Delhi 

Outcomes:

● Key insights and considerations
● Areas for further study and collaboration
● Inputs for the Summit Summary and Way Forward

17:00 – 17:30 | Coffee & Networking Break

WAY FORWARD

This session synthesizes key insights from the Summit discussions, identifies priority areas for continued dialogue and research, and outlines pathways for strengthening cooperation on climate cooling and near-term risk management.

17:30 – 18:30 | Closing Plenary — The Road Ahead

● Rapporteur Synthesis of Roundtable Discussions
● Key recommendation
● Call for Coalition Formation and Continued Engagement
● Closing Remarks by the Summit Chair
● Vote of Thanks and Invitation to Evening Reception by the Convenor

18:30 – 19:00 | Group Photograph & Media Engagement

20:00 – 22:00 | Coalition-Building Dinner Reception

An informal setting for partnership development, strategic dialogue, and international collaboration.

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