Hitesh Vaidya

Urban climate governance and institutional reform specialist with over 30 years of experience advancing climate-responsive urban transformation in India and internationally. Former Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and Country Manager, UN-Habitat India. Recognised for shaping national and international policy dialogues on urban climate resilience, mainstreaming climate considerations into planning and governance systems. Designing scalable institutional frameworks adopted by over 250 urban local bodies representing nearly 70% of India’s urban population. Provided strategic leadership in aligning India’s urban development agenda with global climate commitments, including the SDGs, New Urban Agenda, and Paris Agreement, and actively engaged in global platforms (G20–Urban 20, COP, World Urban Forum) to strengthen the role of cities in climate and sustainability transitions.