Explore/Key Announcement/Announcement Details
ProClime is pleased to announce that Dr. Heera Lal, IAS, will serve as an Advisor in an honorary, pro bono capacity. In this role, Dr. Lal will provide strategic guidance to support and strengthen ProClime's climate initiatives across Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh sits on the front line of India's climate challenge. Home to over 240 million people, the state endured a brutal heatwave in 2026, with Banda recording 48.2°C, the hottest place in the country. Building climate resilience in UP is both imperative and urgent.
Throughout his administrative career, Dr. Heera Lal has played an active role in advancing community-led environmental and development initiatives in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Currently serving as Secretary, National Integration Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Lal previously served as District Magistrate (DM) of Banda, where he mobilised communities across 470 Gram Panchayats to revive wells, build farm ponds and recharge depleted groundwater. His work earned him recognition in the Limca Book of Records and the title "The Water Man of Banda." He is also the author of the book "Dynamic D.M.", which chronicles his approach to participatory governance.
Dr. Lal is the architect of the Green Election model, a first-of-its-kind effort aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of elections by cutting single-use plastics, promoting biodegradable materials and encouraging large-scale tree plantation. First piloted in his district of Banda, the model has now been implemented across five elections, from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab to the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. He is also the founder-mentor of Model Gaon, a non-profit initiative working towards the holistic transformation of Indian villages.
"Dr. Heera Lal's extensive experience in environmental stewardship and community-led development will be invaluable to our mission in Uttar Pradesh. We are honoured to have his guidance as we scale climate solutions in the state." – Mr. Vijayakumar Rangaraju, Chief Mission Officer, ProClime
"Dr. Heera Lal's expertise in community mobilisation aligns with ProClime's approach to delivering high-integrity climate solutions. We look forward to drawing on his experience as we deepen our work in Uttar Pradesh and support sustainable, community-led climate action." - Kavin Kumar Kandasamy, Founder & CEO, ProClime
With Dr. Lal's guidance, ProClime aims to further strengthen its climate interventions in Uttar Pradesh and support scalable, community-led solutions that benefit both people and ecosystems. This association adds to the diverse group of advisors and thought leaders who support ProClime's mission of delivering high-impact climate solutions rooted in science, including former Executive Director of UNEP and Global Climate Champion Erik Solheim.
