Surat, a bustling Indian city of 7 million people, sits at the meeting point of the Tapti River and the Arabian Sea, and its identity has been shaped by water. But the same geography that for centuries has driven Surat's growth is now threatening its future. Increasingly heavy rainfalls and high tides at the mouth of the Tapi River, as well as the rising sea levels caused by climate change threaten the city with devastating floods.
Surat's history stretches back to 300 BCE. It flourished as a major seaport in the 16th century and has evolved into a modern industrial and trade powerhouse, with Oxford Economics projecting it to become the world's fastest-growing city between 2019 and 2035.
The city's vibrancy and its economic successes both past and future were possible thanks to its advantageous geographical location at the intersection of the river and the sea. Yet this location also exposes Surat to mounting risks.
The city has been flood-prone for centuries, but climate change is exacerbating this old threat. Last year, heavy rains submerged Surat's markets, damaged hundreds of shops and forced school closures. Local newspapers featured images of residents wading through chest-deep water.
In addition to increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, Surat faces the dual threats of rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Dumas Beach, a popular tourist destination, has already begun to lose its shoreline, with erosion threatening local ecosystems.
"Dumas is a popular tourist area that is extremely vulnerable to soil erosion because of strong tidal variations. These variations also cause the loss of marine life," says Mahesh Chawada, Executive at Surat Municipal Corporation, who oversees a major embankment project reshaping the coastline.
Tidal cycles naturally move soil along the shore, but intensified climate pressures accelerate the erosion. During low tide, newly exposed soil becomes more vulnerable to wind and runoff, especially in areas with sparse vegetation or weak protective barriers.
Recognizing the growing risks, Surat has been transitioning from reactive, short-term fixes to long-term climate-resilient urban planning. One of its flagship infrastructure upgrades is the Dumas Sea Wall Project. This ambitious development, part of the Sustainable Cities Integrated Programme, aims to protect vulnerable coastlines, boost tourism and create green spaces to improve the quality of life for local people.
The United Nations Environment Programme, working with the Asian Development Bank, is rolling out the Global Environment Facility-funded Sustainable Cities Integrated Programme in 50 cities across 17 countries. Designed to deliver climate resilience and socio-economic gains for communities vulnerable to environmental shocks, the initiative aims to cut more than 250 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, while restoring almost one million hectares of land.
In addition to strengthening the embankment, which will serve as the sea wall, the Dumas Sea Wall Project integrates a pedestrian promenade, a cycling track and green public spaces. In areas where the river meets the sea, it reinforces existing dikes and embankments to prevent both flooding and saltwater intrusion two growing concerns for low-lying coastal cities worldwide. The work began in 2022 and is expected to wrap up by late 2026.
"The Dumas Seafront Development initiative represents a forward-looking approach to coastal resilience, where engineered protection is combined with Nature-based Solutions to address the complex challenges of climate change, says Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in India. This initiative positions Surat as a lighthouse city, offering a replicable model for other Indian and global cities seeking resilient, low-impact, and people-centred coastal development pathways."
The region's mangroves play a crucial role, providing natural protection against storms and flooding, while supporting coastal biodiversity.
The programme is projected to improve the lives of 12.2 million urban residents, including 5.8 million women. By the projects end, it is set to deliver a cumulative reduction of 35.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, while restoring nearly 2,000 hectares of land.
Throughout the world, the extent of coastal flooding has increased over the past 20 years because of sea level rise, meaning that 14 million more people in coastal communities now live with a 1-in-20 annual chance of flooding. And projections show that by 2050, hundreds of highly populated coastal cities will be exposed to increased flood risk. Surats urban rejuvenation project seeks to pre-empt these threats by safeguarding its coastline and, at the same time, boost the local economy.
Surat's approach demonstrates how rapidly growing cities can solve the puzzle of aligning development with sustainability, says Asher Lessels, Head of GEF Mitigation and Transparency Unit at the Climate Change Mitigation Division. Combining nature-based solutions with climate-resilient infrastructure can spur economic growth, while protecting people and nature and creating public spaces that improve everyones quality of life.
