Climate & Environment

Conservation, Adaptation & Co-creation

Climate Change threatens to undo decades of developmental progress and disproportionately affects those most marginalised. At the same time, we are also witnessing the sixth mass extinction and can see the anthropogenic impacts on our rich biodiversity and ecosystems. The complex web of interconnections between the biosphere and the economy are more apparent than ever before. This crisis affects our planet, people and nature alike. The foundation is focused on the twin goals of building the adaptive capacities of communities to make them more climate resilient, and nourish and conserve our biodiversity to enhance the ecosystem’s resilience.

 

OPPORTUNITIES

Being cognisant of the interconnectedness between developmental and climate-related challenges and recognising the distinct risks each of them poses, the Foundation applies a climate-sensitive development approach to its focus areas. Our areas of work include: 

  1. Conservation and Biodiversity: Within this focus area, we examine a rich mosaic of sub-themes that include, but are not limited to, human-wildlife interactions, species conservation and habitat loss, community engagement and livelihood generation, biodiversity loss, and protecting and restoring ecosystems.  
  2. Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation: Under this focus area, we look at building the capacity and resilience of communities to adjust and adapt their ecological, social and economic systems to climate-related shocks, while also balancing their developmental and livelihood needs. Our work prioritises disaster risk reduction and prevention, heat adaptation and investments in nature-based solutions and sustainable agricultural practices. 
2024-25 2023-24 2022-23

Resources in this field

January 13, 2026
Article

SSIR | Climate Adaptation Means Building Social Infrastructure

By Tanya Kak, Portfolio Lead – Climate & Environment  Picture a mangrove at low tide, its roots holding the shoreline together, sifting silt, breaking waves, and making a home for[...]

January 11, 2026
Article

ET | Why we should disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with Mother Nature

Almost every morning, from November to February, we can expect magic to happen outside our bedroom window in Koramangala, a leafy suburb in Bengaluru. A male Asian paradise flycatcher, with twin white[...]

September 7, 2025
Article

Hindustan Times | Where the Wild Things Are

On a private reserve, Rohini Nilekani comes safely face to face with elephants and rhinos. Can we find ways to coexist in India too, adapting to animals as they have[...]