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Dear readers,
Welcome to the Climate Weekly Digest by the Centre for Science and Environment’s Climate Change programme and Down to Earth.
On February 25, CSE and Down to Earth released their annual flagship publication, “State of India’s Environment 2026” at the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2026. The dialogue is an annual conclave of communicators and reporters from India working on environment and development. The latest iteration of the report draws attention to the breaching of planetary boundaries, or biophysical “safe zones”, that is putting humans and other species at risk. Out of nine planetary boundaries, seven have already been breached. This includes climate change, biosphere integrity, land system change, freshwater change, modification of biogeochemical flows, introduction of novel entities and ocean acidification.
The report highlights rising ocean acidification where surface ocean acidity has gone up by 30-40 per cent since the industrial era. In terms of biosphere integrity, the extinction rate of species is ranging above 100 extinctions per million species, way above the safe threshold of 10. Global forest cover has fallen well below the 75 per cent minimum threshold to 59 per cent, while novel entities such as plastics and synthetic materials remain a growing threat. The earth’s vital life support systems are collapsing, and human intervention remains the core driver.
In clean energy news, a new report has revealed that India’s clean electricity transition is gaining traction across most major states, though progress is uneven due to resource and institutional disparities. Down to Earth’s Puja Das, writing about the “Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET)” report, explains that a wide group of states is advancing along different dimensions of power sector reform, renewable energy expansion and increased electrification. Southern and Himalayan states lead in decarbonisation, with Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala being top performers in reducing power sector emissions intensity. Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are leading in policy-driven transition measures, such as green tariffs, promoting electric vehicles and energy storage. However, despite broad progress, states such as West Bengal, Telangana and Jharkhand remain in early stages of transitioning and require stronger institutions, improved utility finances and clear long-term policy frameworks.
Lastly, the latest episode of Carbon Politics was released on Saturday, February 28. Titled “Unpacking the Trade-Climate Nexus”, the episode features CSE Climate’s Trishant Dev in conversation with Dr. Rob Davies, Honorary Professor at Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and former Minister of Trade and Industry for South Africa. The pair discuss the evolving dynamics between trade and climate, and how developing countries can industrialise in a decarbonising world.
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By - Upamanyu Das
Climate Change, CSE
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India’s cold wave events shifting or expanding geographically, no longer confined to core winter months: DTE analysis, 24 February 2026
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CLIMATE NEWS | SCIENCE| IMPACTS| POLITICS |
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Carbon Politics: A Video Podcast by CSE |
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