गर्मी की वजह से 67% तक बढ़ जा ती है बि जली खपत दिल्ली मेंगर्मी और उमस के चलतेबिजली की खपत में 67 फीसदी तक की बढ़ोतरी हो जाती है। विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केन्द्र द्वारा सोमवार को जारी रिपोर्ट मेंयह जानकारी दी गई।
Driven by high temperatures during the pre-monsoon months and a high heat index due to the rise in humid conditions during the monsoon months, power demand in the Capital is now reaching its peak earlier than before and persisting longer, a latest study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released on Monday showed. The study, titled ‘How Delhi is losing its cool: Heat and rising demand for cooling and electricity consumption’, has emphasised that a sharp increase in heat and humidity this summer led to a significant jump in electricity consumption in Delhi. “Heat and humidity stress increase active cooling demand and that has a direct bearing on electricity consumption,” the report stated, adding: “As much as 67 per cent of the daily peak electricity demand in Delhi can be explained by variations in heat index compounded by the lowering of adaptive comfort and changing lifestyles,which is increasing the city’s dependence on mechanical cooling systems.”
Delhi recorded unusually high heat index levels this monsoon, driven by elevated humidity despite relatively lower temperatures, leading to a surge in power demand, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released on Monday. The study found that 67% of the variation in Delhi’s daily peak electricity demand is now attributable to the combined impact of heat index and cooling needs. CSE’s executive director for research and advocacy, Anumita Roychowdhury, cautioned that the city is caught in a “deadly dilemma” as humid monsoon nights prove just as punishing as daytime heatwaves, forcing widespread use of cooling devices and straining the grid. “Our study shows how an increase in peak electricity demand is now happening earlier and persisting longer. But Delhi’s deadly dilemma is not only the high heat during the pre-monsoon months, but also the high humidity during monsoon months causing sharp increase in heat index (combination of heat and humidity). This is when the heat index goes beyond the threshold of thermal comfort to surge sharply as cooling devices are switched on across the city. This leads to sharper rise in electricity consumption, which strains grid reliability. Delhi has hit the second highest peak demand for electricity after 2024 summer,” she said.
What do we do with coal and the electricity it generates? This is the zillion-dollar question in the face of the twin challenges of climate change and the urgent need for energy to power homes, factories and shops across vast parts of the still-developing world. The world is fast running out of the carbon budget to keep temperature rises below 1.5°C— a guardrail against out-and-out devastation. We need solutions that can and must work in the interests of all. This is where the coal question becomes complicated. It is easy to say “keep it in the ground”—do not use coal for generating electricity, as it is more than certainly responsible for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions that have already filled our shared atmosphere. But how will that work in an energy-insecure world?
राष्ट्रीय राजधानी दिल्ली में गर्मी और उमस की वजह से इस बार बिजली की खपत बहुत ही ज्यादा बढ़ गई. प्री-मानसून महीनों के दौरान भीषण गर्मी और मानसून सीजन में उमस बढ़ने के कारण राजधानी में बिजली की मांग अब पहले की तुलना में अपने चरम पर पहुंच गई है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की एक स्टडी में बताया गया है कि इस साल 2025 में गर्मी और उमस बढ़ने से दिल्ली में बिजली की खपत में रिकॉर्ड स्तर पर बढ़ोत्तरी दर्ज की गई है. 'दिल्ली कैसे अपनी ठंडक खो रही है: गर्मी और शीतलन और बिजली की खपत की बढ़ती मांग' शीर्षक वाली स्टडी ने इस बात का जिक्र किया गया है कि गर्मी के सीजन में गर्मी और उमस में तेज बढ़ोत्तरी की वजह से दिल्ली में बिजली की खपत में उल्लेखनीय उछाल आया. रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि गर्मी और उमस के दबाव से ठंडक के लिए AC और कूलर का इस्तेमाल बढ़ने से इसका बिजली की खपत पर सीधा असर पड़ता है.'' 12 जून को दिल्ली की पावर डिमांड रिकॉर्ड स्तर पर रही CSE की रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि इस साल 12 जून को शहर की बिजली की मांग 8,442 मेगावाट तक पहुंच गई, जो राजधानी में अब तक का दूसरा सबसे अधिक रिकॉर्ड है. शहर की ऑल टाइम हाईएस्ट पीक डिमांड पिछले साल 19 जून को दर्ज की गई 8,656 मेगावाट से केवल 2.5 प्रतिशत अधिक थी. स्टडी में यह भी कहा गया है कि 2015 और 2025 के बीच, दिल्ली की पीक पावर डिमांड 5,846 मेगावाट से बढ़कर 8,442 मेगावाट हो गई है, जो केवल एक दशक में 44 फीसदी की वृद्धि दर्ज करती है. बिजली मांग का 67 % हिस्सा गर्मी और उमस के कारण इंडियन एक्सप्रेस की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक स्टडी के प्रमुख निष्कर्षों में शामिल है कि मार्च से मई के प्री-मानसून महीनों के दौरान हीट इंडेक्स 31-32°C रहा. इस दौरान बिजली की मांग स्थिर रही. जून से अगस्त के मानसून महीनों के दौरान हीट इंडेक्स तेजी से बढ़ी और 46-50°C से ऊपर रही. इसमें यह भी पाया गया कि दिल्ली की दैनिक अधिकतम बिजली मांग का 67 प्रतिशत हिस्सा गर्मी और उमस के कारण है. हीट आइलैंड प्रभाव से स्थिति और खराब इसके अलावा, शहर पर हीट आइलैंड प्रभाव के कारण स्थिति और भी खराब हो रही है, क्योंकि रातें गर्म रहती हैं और दिन की गर्मी जल्दी कम नहीं होती, जिससे जन स्वास्थ्य जोखिम बढ़ जाता है. सीएसई ने कहा, "अगस्त की पीक डिमांड के विश्लेषण से पता चलता है कि शहर में बिजली की कमी अब केवल मई-जून तक ही सीमित नहीं है, बल्कि अब मानसून के महीनों में भी गहराती जा रही है. इस साल ज्यादा बारिश के बावजूद, अगस्त 2025 में औसत पीक डिमांड अगस्त 2024 की तुलना में लगभग 2 फीसदी ज्यादा थी.
What is the Heatwave Index The heat index is the “feels-like” temperature shown on weather dashboards along with the actual temperature. It factors in both temperature and relative humidity. As conditions become hotter and more humid, the heat index rises, prompting people to switch on their cooling devices. Air conditioners and coolers are being extensively used to escape heat stress, which in turn is pushing up electricity demand. Monitoring this increase is crucial, as it has become a sensitive marker of the heat stress the region is facing. Even during Delhi’s monsoon season, when days are usually more comfortable, the heat index remained high, further driving cooling demand. The humid heat became even more unbearable this August compared to last year, leading to higher electricity consumption. According to a policy brief released by the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), “In August 2025, the average peak demand was about 2% higher compared to August 2024. Nearly half of the days in August 2025 (16 out of 31) recorded higher peak demand than the same days in 2024.”
सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दिल्ली में गर्मी और उमस के कारण बिजली की मांग रिकॉर्ड स्तर पर पहुँच गई है. 12 जून 2025 को रात 11:09 बजे बिजली की मांग 8442 मेगावॉट रही, जो पिछले 10 वर्षों में 44% की वृद्धि दर्शाती है. दिल्ली की रोजाना बिजली की मांग का 67% हिस्सा गर्मी और उमस से जुड़ा है. मानसून में भी रात का तापमान सामान्य से छह डिग्री ज्यादा रहा, जिससे डिहाइड्रेशन, थकान, सिरदर्द, चक्कर आना और लू जैसी स्वास्थ्य समस्याएं बढ़ी हैं.
Gurgaon: Every cloud has a silver lining? Bouts of heavy monsoon rain this season flooded streets and brought the city to a standstill but also washed away pollutants from the air. Data from Gurgaon's only functioning air quality station – Gwalpahari – recorded the cleanest air quality for the first week of Sept in six years. Average AQI dropped to 47.8 – firmly in the ‘good' category. AQI on Sept 1 was the best, at 39. The week's ‘worst' reading was on Sept 6, when 24-hour air quality index touched a high of 59. In 2024, average AQI for the city in the first week of Sept – calculated from data from four monitoring stations – was 76 (‘satisfactory'). In 2023, it was 167.7, or ‘moderate'. 2018's average AQI was relatively better, at 44, but data was only recorded for three days over the week. Record-keeping in Gurgaon began only in 2016. Experts said the reason for cleaner air so far this month was simple – 100mm of rainfall on Sept 1, followed by on and off showers in the days after. "Rain essentially pressure-washed the city's air. They scrubbed out PM2.5 and PM10 particles, improved visibility and reduced ozone formation by lowering surface temperatures," Shubhansh Tiwari, research associate with the Centre for Science and Environment, said on Sunday. The week's downpour also reduced vehicular movement and likely affected industrial operations for brief periods due to waterlogging. Gusty winds, too, helped disperse pollutants. Experts also cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions from limited data. Only one of Gurgaon's four continuous air monitoring stations remains functional, potentially skewing readings compared to the more comprehensive coverage previously available. With the approaching Oct-Nov period—characterised by stubble burning, festival fireworks, and winter smog — they warned that the improvement may prove fleeting. "Think of the recent rain as a temporary curtain drawn over a stage where the set is still broken. Once winter sets in, we will be back to the same reality. We must use this intermission to fundamentally change production, instead of presentation, of how we improve NCR's air quality through decisive, coordinated action," Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at think-tank Envirocatalysts. An official of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) acknowledged data limitations of one functional monitoring station, but said efforts were being taken to restore inactive stations. "Even with limited data, the downward AQI trend is evident. Rainfall played a significant role, but ongoing policy measures are also contributing to gradual improvement," the official said.
Experts have been raising alarms for years. In 2014, environmentalist Sunita Narain bluntly asked: “Was this a natural disaster—or could better planning have prevented it? The lakes that once buffered floods are now built over, and waterways are blocked.” Her warning was just one among many that went unheeded. The Associated Press provided a global perspective this year: “Human factors like rapid urbanisation, deforestation, and poor infrastructure worsen the damage. The South Asian region needs to better prepare for rain-related disasters.” Yet in Kashmir, “preparation” seems to involve more paperwork than actual progress. September 4, 2014, should have been a turning point for Kashmir. On that day, the Jhelum overflowed and flooded Srinagar and nearby areas. Hospitals were cut off, leaving newborns and patients without oxygen. Families huddled on rooftops, frantically signalling for help that never arrived. Shops were ruined by muddy water, and entire harvests were buried under silt. More than 200 lives were lost, and damage worth billions was recorded. For ordinary people, the emotional scars remain. Eleven years later, the same date has returned as a harsh reminder. Heavy rains, sudden floods, and rising river levels once again threaten Kashmir. People are watching the sky and river with the same dread. The state has had over a decade to prepare, yet nothing has changed. This is not just nature’s doing. This is a failure. Promises That Went Nowhere After 2014, leaders made grand promises. They pledged to dredge the Jhelum, strengthen embankments, restore wetlands like Hokersar and Wular to serve as natural buffers, modernise urban drainage systems, and install a real-time flood warning network. They promised fair compensation for families and long-term rehabilitation plans. But reality tells a different story. Embankments remain weak, repaired only when they fail. Dredging started with great enthusiasm but soon ground to a halt. Wetlands have shrunk even more due to construction and landfill. Srinagar still floods with every heavy rain. Warning systems are unreliable, and many residents learn about rising waters from neighbors rather than officials. Efforts for rehabilitation have been slow, inconsistent, and, in some cases, did not happen at all. Current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged this week: “It seems that 11 years have been wasted by previous governments. Questions need to be asked about what has been done in the last 11 years.” The people already know the answer: very little. Ignored Warnings This neglect is not due to ignorance. Experts have been raising alarms for years. In 2014, environmentalist Sunita Narain bluntly asked: “Was this a natural disaster—or could better planning have prevented it? The lakes that once buffered floods are now built over, and waterways are blocked.” Her warning was just one among many that went unheeded. The Associated Press provided a global perspective this year: “Human factors like rapid urbanisation, deforestation, and poor infrastructure worsen the damage. The South Asian region needs to better prepare for rain-related disasters.” Yet in Kashmir, “preparation” seems to involve more paperwork than actual progress. The Human Cost Statistics mask the real suffering. Reuters recently reported on a survivor of a cloudburst in Chasoti: “We heard a huge sound followed by a flash flood and mud.” Al Jazeera quoted Ruksana, whose home was destroyed: “My husband is handicapped. Everything else, including clothes, books, and food, has been lost.” These voices reflect the cries from 2014, when hospitals like Lal Ded and SMHS were isolated. Patients pleaded for evacuation. Families made rafts from doors. Young volunteers risked their lives in waist-deep water to save neighbors. Relief camps were chaotic, lacking medicine, lists, and facing a growing fear of disease. Even now, health experts warn of a second wave of crises after the waters subside. Health Policy Watch noted: “Disrupted medical care, contaminated water, and rises in mosquito-borne diseases turn floods into months-long disasters, not just days.” Mental health is another hidden toll. A young student in Srinagar shared: “My mental health medications were delayed. Without them, the flooding felt even more suffocating.” Studies Without Action Officials often cite new studies. The National Disaster Management Authority and the J&K State Disaster Management Authority, with support from ISRO, have launched surveys to map cloudbursts, glacial lakes, and flood paths. These efforts are important but do not replace the work that should have been done over the last eleven years. Science is ineffective if politics continues to delay action. Breaking the Cycle • It is no longer enough to blame nature. Kashmir deserves more than condolences and photo opportunities. It deserves: • A solid flood management plan with strict timelines and transparency. • Regular dredging and proper strengthening of embankments. • Legal protection for wetlands and floodplains, with penalties for encroachment. • Reliable urban drainage systems. • A real-time flood warning system that actually informs people. • Transparent, fast, and fair rehabilitation policies. • Community involvement in planning and monitoring. Eleven Years Wasted The fact that we are writing these words on September 4 again, eleven years later, is an indictment. Every year wasted has increased the risk. Every encroachment on wetlands, every neglected dredging plan, and every half-finished embankment has brought the valley closer to disaster. September 4 should have marked progress. Instead, it is a reminder of promises drowned in floodwaters. Eleven years have passed, yet Kashmir remains just as vulnerable, ignored, and exposed. This is no longer a natural disaster. It is a man-made failure. And it will stay that way until leaders stop delivering the same speeches and start building the protection that people need.
नगर निगम को शोधित पानी के सुरक्षित उपयोग को बढ़ावा देने के लिए व्यापक कार्ययोजना तैयार करने जिम्मेदारी सौंपी गई है। बृहस्पतिवार को स्टेकहोल्डर की दूसरी परामर्श बैठक के दौरान यह फैसला लिया गया। बैठक निगम के स्मार्ट सिटी हॉल में आयोजित हुई। अध्यक्षता करते हुए अपर नगर आयुक्त शिशिर कुमार ने कहा कि इस योजना को तैयार करने में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएससी) नई दिल्ली तकनीकी सहयोग कर रहा है। शोधित पानी के सुरक्षित उपयोग को बढ़ावा देने से यमुना नदी में प्रदूषण नियंत्रण एवं संरक्षण सुनिश्चित करने में मदद मिलेगी। उन्होंने विभागों के बीच समन्वय को मजबूत करने पर बल दिया। सीएससी के डिप्टी प्रोग्राम मैनेजर ज्योति प्रसाद दधीच ने प्रमुख निष्कर्षों और विश्लेषण को प्रस्तुत किया। डाॅ. सुमिता सिंघल ने विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में दोबारा पानी के उपयोग की संभावनाओं पर प्रकाश डाला। इस दौरान प्राप्त सुझावों को अंतिम मसौदे में शामिल करने के लिए राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ गंगा मिशन (एनएमसीजी) को प्रस्तुत किया जाएगा। बैठक के दौरान एडीए, जलकल, सिंचाई विभाग, सीपीसीबी, यूपीपीसीबी, समेत कई अन्य विभागों और संस्थानों के प्रतिनिधि शामिल हुए।
India roughly comprises about 20% of the carbon credits in the world based on a 2023 report from the Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). More than Rs. 5,525.65 crore (US$ 650 million) has been earned in revenues by the carbon credits. Agriculture in India has always been more than just a sector—it is the soul of the nation’s economy. Feeding more than a billion people, providing livelihood for almost 46% of the workforce and contributing 16% (FY24) to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), this industry has long been the backbone of India’s rural economy and national resilience. Today, this sector is rapidly emerging as a significant climate force, whether for better or worse. The voluntary carbon market in India was estimated to be worth over Rs. 10,201 crores (US$ 1.2 billion), as of May 2023, with 1,451 projects either registered or undergoing various stages of consideration through two leading global registries, Verra and Gold Standard. India roughly comprises about 20% of the carbon credits in the world based on a 2023 report from the Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). More than Rs. 5,525.65 crore (US$ 650 million) has been earned in revenues by the carbon credits. Thus, one can see that the country stands pivotal in the global carbon offset ecosystem and has a growing thrust on climate-conscious development. What does ‘low-carbon agriculture’ mean? Low-carbon agriculture actively minimises its contribution to global warming by reducing emissions. A low-carbon footprint for agriculture means low emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases due to all types of agricultural activities, such as fuel and other farm inputs, emissions from the field, livestock processes, etc. In broad terms, it means smart farming: implementing methods that minimise energy consumption and waste and improve the efficiency of every production stage. Why it matters for India’s future? India's agricultural sector, which is currently struggling with climate change and food security issues, will be the forerunner of the country's future. With agriculture playing an active part with approximately 13–14% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the country, it has become inevitable to adopt low-carbon pathways. These carbon emission reductions would not only help India achieve its national climate targets and a sustainable economy but secure the livelihoods of millions of farmers. How farming activities contribute to carbon emissions? Farming is essential for our food supply, but it simultaneously releases GHG emissions from several commonly adopted agricultural practices, contributing to global warming. Here are a few examples of how agriculture causes these emissions:
New Delhi: When the Yamuna was in spate in 2023, the city got an opportunity to recharge the aquifers in the floodplain and excess water to sustain the wetlands during water-scarce months. But the regularity with which the river can recharge groundwater is hampered by rapid and unplanned urbanisation, concretisation and encroachment of river zones. "We once did a calculation on the amount of water needed to recharge the aquifers and support the river, but realized concretization was a huge problem," said Sushmita Sengupta, programme manager (water), Centre for Science and Environment. "Wetland encroachment impedes the natural function of the river in its floodplain. Concretisation and urbanisation are killing the city." In 2023, the National Green Tribunal instructed Delhi Development Authority to demarcate the Yamuna's one-in-100-year floodplain, a crucial step in eco-conservation that remains to be done. Without such a demarcation, Delhi is unable to fully assess the impact of floods. Environmentalist Faiyaz A. Khudsar reiterated, "In Delhi, floodplain restoration must be the ultimate goal, and this is the right moment. We must identify the floodplain wetlands from Palla to Okhla, restore them and identify the floodplain grasslands that have been taken over by woody weed species." Ecologists note that the river's survival during dry months depends on interconnected wetlands and waterbodies and natural flora. If the floodplain is managed properly, the aquifers can augment potable water supply in the capital. Scientist Vikram Soni termed water the ‘blue gold' for Delhi, a DDA official did admit, "When you use concrete or stones, or select non-native grasses or lawn grasses for greening the active floodplain, how will the river interact with its components? A river cannot be healed without healing its floodplain." Time and again, the ground reports of several organisations tell of Delhi losing its biggest natural resource to unabated encroachments in ecologically sensitive zones. "In the past few decades, a large number of cross-sectional and linear projects including bridges, roads, metro train depots, Akshardham Temple and Commonwealth Games Village have greatly compromised the flooding pattern and flood carrying capacity of floodplain," pointed out Bhim Singh Rawat, associate coordinator, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People. "The beautification of riverbanks undertaken in the guise of riverfront development is concretising a natural resource, further compromising the flood absorption capacity of the floodplain."
Current pledges fell short, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment. It's time we focused on transitioning energy, industry and transport, protecting biodiversity, reforming food systems and building resilience, added Harjeet Singh, a global advocate for climate and social justice. Kolkata: The message was loud and clear: local climate shocks, the results of global warming, are now striking harder than the larger, slower-moving universal crisis. Climate experts, activists and NGOs on Wednesday met to present a ‘Climate emergency charter' at COP30, to be held in Brazil from Nov 10 to 21. Sujata Bose of EnGIO, a key organiser of the event, said, "From the cyclone-ravaged Sundarbans to Kolkata's overheated streets, Bengal is already living through the kind of climate disasters that the world hopes COP30 will act to prevent." The event is being organised also by CANSA and Press Club, Kolkata. The meeting was attended online by Ana Toni, CEO of COP30 and Brazil's national secretary for climate change, and in person by Pradeep Khemka, honorary consul of Brazil in Kolkata. Toni's participation underscored the urgency of linking Bengal's local climate vulnerabilities with the global negotiation table. Speakers stressed Bengal's struggles — the cyclone-battered Sundarbans to peri-urban Kolkata, reeling from urban heat spikes — demanded immediate recognition under COP's loss and damage financing, said Abhijit Chatterjee, a professor at Bose Institute. India's first climate assessment in 2020 had identified Bengal among the most vulnerable states. By 2050, the state is projected to be the 60th climate risk-prone region globally. Cyclone Amphan in 2020 claimed 99 lives in the Sundarbans, destroyed 29 lakh homes and caused a damage of Rs 1,02,442 crore. Cyclone Bulbul in 2019 had affected 35 lakh people there and led to losses of Rs 23,813 crore. In 2021, Cyclone Yaas had affected more than 5 crore people there and led to losses of Rs 21,535 crore, said Tuhin Ghosh, director of School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University. He pointed out the Sundarbans was as vulnerable as low-lying Pacific island nations, such as Tuvalu or Kiribati, in terms of population density and poverty. But unlike those island states, it supported 4.5 million people, many displaced or impoverished by storms, erosion and rising seas, he added. The core agenda for COP30 is to strengthen nationally determined contributions (NDCs 3.0) due in 2025, aligning them with Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal. Current pledges fell short, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment. It's time we focused on transitioning energy, industry and transport, protecting biodiversity, reforming food systems and building resilience, added Harjeet Singh, a global advocate for climate and social justice. Local experts urged Bengal's ground-level realities be folded into this global agenda as Kolkata's warming trend was among the steepest globally — a rise of 2.6°C between 1950 and 2018. Sea-level rise is another looming threat.
INDIA experienced extreme weather events on 322 out of the 366 days in 2024, surpassing the 318 days in 2023 and 314 days in 2022. Nearly 88 per cent of the previous year saw extreme weather in one or more parts of the country, up from 87 per cent in 2023 and 86 per cent in 2022. These extreme weather events have resulted in severe human and economic losses, with 3,472 fatalities in 2024, up from 3,287 in 2023 and 3,026 in 2022 – an increase of 15 per cent in three years. These figures are based on the data available with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE). According to the reports thus far this year, the situation is only escalating and if so, it surely points to a worrying trend. In August 2025 itself, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jammu & Kashmir have experienced unprecedented rains and floods, resulting in significant destruction, numerous fatalities, missing persons, and widespread infrastructure damage. In Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, severe flash floods struck primarily due to cloudbursts. Catastrophic rainfall and landslides occurred in Himachal Pradesh. 40 out of 55 districts in Madhya Pradesh have received above normal rainfall this monsoon season. Nearly 25 lakh people in low-lying areas of Bihar were affected by floods in 10 districts along river Ganga. Heavy rainfall, particularly in the border districts of Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, caused floods in Punjab. Jammu & Kashmir had their wettest monsoon spell since 1950. Frederick Engels had explained in his Dialectics of Nature, “at every step we are reminded that we by no means rule over nature like a conqueror over a foreign people, like someone standing outside nature – but that we, with flesh, blood, and brain, belong to nature, and exist in its midst, and that all our mastery of it consists in the fact that we have the advantage over all other beings of being able to know and correctly apply its laws.” He went on to say, “with every day that passes we are learning to understand these laws more correctly, and getting to know both the more immediate and the more remote consequences of our interference with the traditional course of nature.” However, our track record on conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) – which is an essential pre-requisite before any major project is conceived and implemented – point to the fact that we are yet to truly understand and apply ‘these laws’. EIA is mandatory for any project, especially in environmentally fragile areas. Unfortunately, in most cases, in our country this is either violated or compromised. Additionally, no information regarding projects labelled ‘strategic’ by the union government, is disclosed to the public. Most studies on environment and climate change also underline our lack of understanding and application of ‘these laws’. According to the Climate Risk Index (CRI) – one of the longest-running climate impact indices, being brought out since 2006 – published by Germanwatch, a non-profit advocating for sustainable development, India ranks 6th among the countries most affected by extreme weather events over the three decades from 1993 to 2023. We have experienced devastating floods in 1993, 1998, and 2013, along with severe heat waves in 2002, 2003, and 2015. Overall, more than 400 extreme events have hit India since 1993, causing $180 billion in losses and at least 80,000 fatalities. However, the effects of global warming and climate change induced by it, which often manifest as extreme weather events, are not restricted to India alone. They are now truly a global phenomenon. As per the annual report of the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) – part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the US Department of Commerce – 2024 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850. Earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.06°C per decade since 1850. However, the rate of warming since 1982 is more than three times as fast, 0.20° C per decade. 2024 was 1.18 °C warmer than the 20th century average of 13.9 °C. It was 1.35 °C warmer than the average of 13.7 °C, for the second half of the 19th century. The 10 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred in the past decade, 2015 to 2024. Yet, the very same United States that came up with this report, pulled out of its Paris Agreement commitments! Under such circumstances, there is a lot of attention on India, especially since we have set ambitious climate targets, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070 and a 50 per cent reduction in emissions intensity by 2030. However, this year’s union budget offered only a token acknowledgement of climate action. Though the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) did receive a modest increase in its budget allocation, funding for critical sectors such as industrial decarbonisation, climate adaptation, and ecosystem conservation remained grossly inadequate. The National Coastal Mission funding was reduced by 96 per cent, from Rs 50 crore to a mere Rs 2 crore. This would undoubtedly weaken efforts in coastal protection and resilience-building amidst growing sea-level rise and cyclone risks. The O-SMART programme, critical for modelling oceanic climate changes, received no allocation for the second consecutive year, limiting India’s ability to monitor changes in vulnerable coastal ecosystems. The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), and National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) were moved to the secretariat budget, earmarked as administrative expenses rather than key programmatic initiatives within the budget. All this was despite warnings from experts that if climate risks remain unmitigated, India faces the possibility of losing 24.7 per cent of its GDP by 2070, due to rising climate-induced disruptions. The union government’s utter lack of intent and concern is laid bare in the fact that they are yet to set up a dedicated Climate Disaster Relief Fund, aimed at providing non-repayable aid to states during emergencies and ensuring sustained support in the aftermath of disasters. With more and more states facing the vagaries of nature, the creation of such a fund needs immediate attention. In the backdrop of the union government refusing to extend loan waivers to the victims of natural calamities like the Wayanad landslides of 2024, state governments should have considerable say in the fund’s administration. It is high time that the union government wakes up from its slumber and addresses climate change – an issue which affects peoples lives and livelihoods – with due seriousness. On global warming and climate change, if we fail to act now, we risk being subjected to the recurrent crises that seek to restore “the equilibrium by destroying not only the means of life, enjoyment and development that have been produced, but also a great part of the productive forces themselves”, as warned by Engels. Therefore, “let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human conquest over nature. For each such conquest takes its revenge on us.”
When the Yamuna was in spate in 2023, the city got an opportunity to recharge th ..
