'India is Leading the Climate Resilience Response'

At the Innovation for Resilience Summit, a flagship initiative of Delhi Climate Innovation Week (DCIW) 2026, Kaela Montgomery, Sustainability Program Manager, Google APAC, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting Google’s deepening commitment to AI-powered climate resilience in India — from flood early warning systems to agricultural models built in India for the world.

“Climate risks are no longer distant projections — heatwaves, floods, and shifting monsoons are already hitting us. India’s communities, food systems, and infrastructure must thrive despite these changes, and resilience has to be at the centre of our agenda. I truly believe that India is leading the response.

Our Flood Hub platform uses AI to provide riverine flood forecasts up to seven days in advance — a significant leap from the hours of warning we had before. Project GreenLight uses AI to model traffic patterns and reduce emissions. We’ve also deployed real-time air quality sensors across more than 150 Indian cities. These are products at scale, delivering real outcomes.

According to the Bharat AI Startup Report 2026, India’s AI market is projected to hit $126 billion by 2030. Crucially, about 47% of enterprises are already moving from pilots into production. As startups mature, the transition from a successful pilot into repeatable enterprise adoption becomes the defining challenge — one where access, trust, and go-to-market execution become increasingly important.

Google’s commitment to this mission is long term. We are investing $15 billion to build our largest AI hub outside the US, right here in India — the backbone that will allow India to lead the global South’s climate adaptation agenda.”

— Kaela Montgomery, Sustainability Program Manager, Google APAC