New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- India's climate future is being forged in its states and districts. From Odisha's climate-budget tagging to Maharashtra's drought-resilient farming, subnational initiatives are turning ambition into action. Yet, this progress remains a patchwork of excellence.

To weave these successes into a coherent national fabric, India needs a federal framework that links state innovation and local participation with fiscal accountability across the federation.

State innovation led by fiscal and policy leadership: States are pioneering fiscal tools that integrate climate into public financial management. Odisha has institutionalized climate-budget tagging and annual statements, which has made its coastal-resilience spending tra...