Last summer, Chennai became the world’s first major city in which there was no water for residents to drink. But, as climate change makes flooding and drought more common, the city of 8 million is unlikely to be the last to run dry.
Despite partisan rancor over climate change at the national level, state energy officials recognize the need to be proactive in developing and implementing plans to address it.
Proponents see eased barriers for big construction projects, but others say environmental review cutbacks will create climate change risk and be tied up in lawsuits.