Inclusive City Climate Action Planning: Integrating Informal Settlements into Urban Climate Action

How can cities ensure that climate action reaches communities most vulnerable to its impacts? Developed through the University of Toronto School of Cities’ International Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Project (IMUCP), with support from the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF) and Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA), this research summary examines gaps in the inclusion of informal settlements and communities in urban climate planning. Drawing on an analysis of nine City Climate Action Plans across India and the Global South, alongside grassroots case studies, the report proposes a practical framework for more inclusive climate action. It highlights pathways for integrating community priorities, local knowledge and accountability into municipal planning, moving towards more equitable and participatory urban climate governance.