The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in partnership with Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) and C40 Cities, is advancing inclusive climate action. This work is part of the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP). Since 2024, over 530 frontline waste workers and senior officials across five zones have been trained. Using participatory approaches, the training led to a first-of-its-kind Social Dialogue with the city’s frontline climate workforce.
A model for inclusive climate action
Since 2022, Bengaluru has been leading the way in inclusive, city-led climate action. As a pilot city under C40’s Global Green New Deal, the city is showing how local, community-driven efforts can support just and climate-resilient systems.
The Inclusive Climate Action (ICA) pilot focuses on solid waste management, a key priority for reducing emissions, creating green jobs, improving public health, and supporting a circular economy.
Through sustained engagement and a strong equity focus, Bengaluru is improving how the city manages waste, while also improving the lives of those who do the work. The city’s participatory approach demonstrates that climate action can also drive social reform. When frontline workers are empowered and decisions are shaped by lived experience, systems become more inclusive and resilient. This model sets a precedent for embedding climate justice in governance and putting those most affected by climate impacts at the heart of decision-making.
A key feature of the pilot has been its multi-stakeholder engagement. More than 13 groups across the waste value chain took part, revealing major knowledge gaps and barriers among marginalized groups, including youth. These insights informed training that built awareness of worker conditions, promoted dialogue, and boosted frontline resilience.
In 2023, Phase I focused on Bulk Waste Generators, who produce nearly 40 percent of the city’s waste. These insights shaped Phase II in early 2024, which provided targeted training for 85 frontline workers, contractors, and officials. Phase III expanded across five zones, with over 530 personnel (289 men and 245 women) trained, reaching 8.5 million residents.
To address gaps in implementation, monitoring, and coordination across the bulk waste system, the training focused on:
- Climate change impacts
- Solid waste management practices
- The BCAP and BBMP by-laws
Hands-on modules helped build technical knowledge and align efforts with broader climate and waste goals.
Embedding participation in governance through social dialogue
From March to June 2025, the city ran a structured Social Dialogue process with 75 frontline workers. This included Marshals, Link Workers, and informal waste workers, who took part in listening sessions and zonal focus group discussions. These conversations surfaced ground-level challenges and helped co-create solutions to improve working conditions, service delivery, and resilience.
On 4 July 2025, the final city-level Social Dialogue brought together frontline groups with BBMP and BSWML leadership. It strengthened participatory governance by giving workers a platform to present solutions and shape reform efforts. Those most exposed to climate risks shared lived realities and co-developed actions for safer, more equitable work conditions.
Effective, sustainable solid waste management requires seamless collaboration among our frontline teams. This capacity-building process enabled Marshals, Junior Health Inspectors, and Link Workers to share field experiences and jointly refine strategies for decentralized waste systems.
Snehal Rayamane, I.A.S., Zonal Commissioner (West), BBMP
Leadership commitments for action
The Dialogue ended with firm commitments from BBMP and BSWML leadership, led by Mr. Tushar Giri Nath, I.A.S., ACS, UDD, Government of Karnataka, and Chairman of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited.
The immediate next steps include:
- Monthly meetings with frontline workers and zonal managers to promote open dialogue and joint problem-solving.
- Regular health camps for early detection and ongoing healthcare.
- Training and upskilling to build capacity, resilience, and performance.
- Safety gear for workers exposed to climate risks.
- Dedicated operational spaces for Marshals and Link Workers in zonal and ward offices.
- Transition of Link Workers to BSWML as awareness personnel under Swachh Bharat Mission.
- Support for informal workers through ID renewals, entrepreneurship initiatives, and capacity building.
These commitments align with five key actions under the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP), focused on reducing landfill waste and addressing other priority issues.
Towards a just and climate-resilient Bengaluru
Bengaluru’s approach shows that inclusive governance is a pathway to real, practical change. By centering waste workers, supporting local leadership and embedding participation in climate action, the city is building stronger, fairer systems that respond to people’s needs.
This work offers a compelling example for other cities, linking justice, resilience, and climate action through lived experience and collaboration.