India Faces Increasing Exposure to Harsh Climate Conditions
Heatwaves, floods, and cyclones are throwing India's climate a curveball.
India is witnessing an increase in extreme weather events, causing widespread problems like health issues, slow economic growth, and disruptions in development. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based research organization, recently released a report, painting a grim picture of the impact such events have on the country's populace.
In 20XX, nearly 3,000 lives were lost, 2 million hectares of crops were destroyed, and around 80,000 homes were ravaged due to extreme weather-related events. According to the report, extreme weather struck India on 88% of days in 2024. CSE director Sunita Narain calls this report a "harsh reality check" for policy-makers.
"This report is a cry for urgent action. It emphasizes the urgent need for stricter environmental governance, improved healthcare infrastructure, and aggressive climate policy to tackle these interconnected crises," Narain said.
Air Pollution, a breath of desperation
The quality of air in major Indian cities is downright terrible. Residents of 13 cities, including Delhi, have been breathing toxic air for one-third of their days since 2021. Studies suggest that living in Delhi results in a nearly eight-year reduction in life expectancy due to air pollution.
Dealing with the effects of extreme weather - A greener India
While India swelters during the summer months, temperatures have become more extreme over the past decade, and flood intensity has increased. Nearly 80% of India's population resides in disaster-prone areas such as those vulnerable to heatwaves or severe flooding. Abinash Mohanty, head of climate change and sustainability at IPE Global, an international development organization, believes the CSE report throws into stark relief the "perfect storm" India is facing, with climate chaos, health crises, and development shortfalls intersecting.
Mohanty's sentiments are echoed by scientists like Akshay Deoras, a climate scientist at the University of Reading, who urges Indian policymakers, industries, and citizens to abandon complacency about climate change's impacts.
"Climate resilience is no longer a luxury -- it's a matter of survival," Deoras said.
Adapting to hotter temperatures, biodiversity loss, and water emergencies will necessitate a "radical reimagining" of India's development model, as per Mohanty.
"The consequences of inaction today will make tomorrow's realities irreversible," he added.
What steps can the Indian government take?
Narain of the CSE emphasizes that the Indian government can spur change by investing in data collection for better analysis and more informed decision-making.
"The report highlights the significant progress India has made in various sectors, but it also points out areas where we need to refocus and double down on efforts to counter the trends we're witnessing," Narain said.
As per climate scientist Deoras, the CSE report must serve as a wake-up call for the Indian government, industries, and citizens to realize that "climate change is not some far-off problem, but a pressing, daily threat." Deoras advocates for moving from reactive relief to proactive planning and from talk to tangible, scalable action via climate risk observatories.
"We're running out of time -- this report is proof India is in the eye of a perfect storm caused by climate chaos, health crises, and development shortfalls," Deoras said.
"Without immediate investment in adaptation, early warning systems, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, we are heading towards a destabilized climate future, especially for future generations," he added.
Can villages play a role in India's struggle against climate change?
The Indian government, armed with the CSE report, now has a clear picture of the climate challenges it faces and must act decisively to provide policy frameworks, technological innovation, state-led initiatives, and economic incentives to address the situation. Ultimately, it's about striking the delicate balance between economic development and ecological preservation for a sustainable tomorrow.
- The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) calls for urgent action from policy-makers to combat climate change and its impacts on India's populace, as extreme weather events are threatening the country's economy, health, and development.
- The CSE report indicates that climate change, health crises, and development shortfalls are intersecting to create a "perfect storm" in India, emphasizing the need for stricter environmental governance, improved healthcare infrastructure, and aggressive climate policy.
- The quality of air in major Indian cities is poor, with residents in 13 cities, including Delhi, experiencing toxic air for one-third of their days since 2021, shortening life expectancy by nearly eight years due to air pollution.
- In order to adapt to hotter temperatures, biodiversity loss, and water emergencies, India needs a "radical reimagining" of its development model that prioritizes climate resilience and adjusts to the climate-related challenges facing the nation.
- The Indian government should invest in data collection for better analysis and decision-making to counter the trends of extreme weather events and climate change effectively.
- Climate scientist Akshay Deoras urges the Indian government, industries, and citizens to view climate change as a pressing, daily threat and to prioritize adaptation, early warning systems, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for a sustainable future.
