Catalysing the network in Rajasthan, Jaipur Roundtable

Rajasthan hosted its first-ever Climate Parliament’s State Roundtable on March 19, 2025, in Jaipur. The event brought together seven state legislators:  Anita Bhadel;  Deepti Kiran Maheshwari; Gopi Chand Meena; Dr. Kailash Chand Verma; Subhash Meel; Manish Yadav, and Ashok Kothari to craft region-specific strategies for climate and clean energy resilience. 

Rajasthan, among India’s most climate-vulnerable states, faces mounting threats from groundwater depletion, desertification, and extreme heat. Yet, its vast solar potential and dynamic MSME sector position it as a key player in India's green transition. 

The Roundtable spotlighted how national programs like PM-KUSUM, PM e-DRIVE, and energy-efficient building codes can be localized and scaled. A central focus was the development of Green Zones, integrated clusters aligning agriculture, transport, construction, and industry around low-carbon growth. The Jaipur gathering signals a shift in supporting state-level leadership on climate, setting the stage for bold, place-based solutions to India's environmental challenges. State legislators laid out a clear message: climate action must begin at the grassroots.  

There were some key insights from the meeting. State legislators recognised the need for hyper-local interventions, from rooftop solar and afforestation drives to water conservation; anchored in citizen engagement, to build long-term public support and addressing issues like urban heat and clean water. 

They also discussed the importance of Green Zones. These are geographically defined areas integrating clean energy, green buildings, sustainable industry, and e-mobility. These climate innovation hubs would serve as pilot clusters to showcase scalable, multi-sector climate solutions and attract green investment.  MSMEs form the economic backbone of the state, the roundtable highlighted the need to decarbonize sectors like stone quarrying and textiles. Cleaner technology, access to carbon markets, and green financing emerged as priority tools. 

At the roundtable, Rajasthan’s 2025–26 State Budget was applauded for its support of green infrastructure, while lawmakers called for a shift from one-off subsidies to scalable, investment-led solutions. 

The Jaipur Roundtable marks a pivotal moment in India’s climate strategy, elevating state legislators as key drivers of localised, on-the-ground action. 

To maintain momentum, the Climate Parliament will help develop region-specific agendas, with legislators committing to ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and periodic progress reviews. 

Abinav Gupta

Communications and Events Manager