India is gearing up for the COP 21 to be held next month. Recently, we submitted to the UN climate secretariat a detailed plan to cut carbon emissions. Around 150 countries representing about 90% of the world’s carbon emissions have now filed pledges to curb them and, in so doing, dramatically increasing the chances of a deal at the Paris climate summit in December (Guardian, October 2015). The role of cities has become very important in minimising these carbon emissions, largely due to their critical position as emitters, as well as their capacity to implement solutions for a cleaner environment.