Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s capital and one of India’s largest metropolises, participates in the GEF-7 UrbanShift program implemented by UNEP and ADB. The city faces recurrent floods, droughts, and urban sprawl, intensified by climate change and fragmented governance. UrbanShift supports the Greater Chennai Corporation in restoring and conserving Kadapakkam Lake within the Kosasthalaiyar Basin through a nature-based approach that enhances flood protection, improves biodiversity, and strengthens urban resilience. The initiative serves as a scalable model for managing Chennai’s network of lakes and wetlands, demonstrating how ecological restoration can deliver both climate and community benefits.