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India's Net-Zero Villages Lead Climate Action
20 Feb
Summary
- Bela Gram became India's first net-zero panchayat.
- Villages implement climate action through tree planting and waste management.
- Panchayat leadership is vital for localized climate change solutions.
Bela Gram in Maharashtra's Bhandara district, India's first net-zero panchayat, gained prominence at Mumbai Climate Week 2026 on February 19, 2026. Panchayat leadership is vital for driving localized climate action. "Climate action begins at home," stated Sarpanch Sharada Gaydhane, emphasizing community participation.
Bela Gram planted over 90,000 trees and facilitated a transition from smoky chulhas to LPG. Solar panels were installed in homes, anganwadis, and Panchayat offices, alongside promoting waste segregation and achieving the elimination of single-use plastics. The village received the 2024 Rashtriya Panchayat Puraskar for its net-zero status.
The discussion "From the frontline: Panchayats leading India's climate change" at the event highlighted similar efforts from six states. Kerala's Perinjanam became a "Solar Gramam" with 850 households as rooftop prosumers, reducing bills and emissions. Jharkhand's Siyari conserved water and introduced solar irrigation and electricity.
Other initiatives included Odisha's Indigenous women transforming unused land through extensive sapling plantations and Bihar's community building check dams and ponds to combat water scarcity and erratic rainfall. Karnataka's Kolar region also focused on lake revival and reduced chemical fertilizer use.
