The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India head, Angela Lusigi, emphasized that future cities must be designed differently to combat rising extreme heat, rather than simply adding more cooling systems. She advocates for increased walkability, green spaces, mixed land use, climate-sensitive architecture, and public areas that reduce heat exposure and enhance quality of life. Lusigi highlighted that India's heat crisis is now an infrastructure, development, and equity challenge, requiring localized climate finance and practical solutions like cool roofs, shaded spaces, and heat refuge areas. Adaptation planning should be integrated into mainstream development, adopt a whole-of-government approach, and be grounded in local realities, incorporating traditional practices alongside modern solutions. Financing adaptation necessitates embedding resilience into all development finance, mobilizing diverse actors, and ensuring climate finance reaches vulnerable communities through local institutions and existing development programs.