Monthly Archives: March 2023

Global warming has been a well-debatable topic for many years, and many believe it is a myth, while others believe it is a reality. So, let us discuss global warming and what it means for our planet.

Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, predominantly burning fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat in the atmosphere and cause a warming effect.

Scientists and researchers have found that global warming is indeed a reality. They have studied the Earth’s temperature records and found that its temperature has risen consistently since the late 1800s. In fact, according to NASA, the 20 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1981, with the hottest being 2016, 2019, and 2020.

The evidence shows that this warming trend is primarily due to human activities. Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which long-term affects the Earth’s climate. In addition to burning fossil fuels, other human activities, such as deforestation and agricultural practices, also contribute to global warming.

The effects of global warming are already being felt around the world. One of the most visible effects is melting polar ice caps, leading to rising sea levels. According to NASA, sea levels have been increased by about 8 inches (21 cm) since 1880, and this rise is accelerating.

Another impact of global warming is more frequent and severe heat waves. Heat waves become more common and dangerous as the planet’s temperature rises, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children.

Global warming can also lead to changes in precipitation patterns, which can cause droughts in some areas and floods in others. These changes in weather patterns can significantly impact agriculture, food production, and water availability.

Despite the overwhelming evidence for global warming, some argue it is a myth and often points to isolated incidents of extreme weather, such as a freezing winter or a late snowfall, as evidence that global warming is not occurring. However, it is essential to note that these extreme weather events are just that – extreme events – and do not negate the overall warming trend scientists observe.

Furthermore, many of these individuals point to natural factors such as solar activity or volcanic eruptions as the cause of global warming rather than human activities. However, scientific research has shown that biological factors alone cannot account for the observed warming trend and that human activities are the primary cause.

We must take action to mitigate the effects of global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable and clean energy system. However, the above means reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and increasing the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Individuals can also take action by reducing their carbon footprint by driving less, using energy-efficient appliances, and reducing meat consumption. Governments can implement policies such as carbon taxes and incentives for renewable energy to encourage a transition to a low-carbon economy.

In conclusion, global warming is a reality, and the evidence overwhelmingly supports this. The effects of global warming are already being felt worldwide, and we must take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition.

Sustainability and the inclusive community may not seem to have much in common at first glance, but both share a common goal: creating an equitable, just, and inclusive world for all people. Sustainability is the practice of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is a complex issue that requires a holistic approach to address environmental, social, and economic factors.

The LGBTQ community, which has been a recipient of issues like marginalization and social exclusion, faces systemic discrimination, exclusion, and violence, affecting their health, safety, and well-being. These two issues may seem unrelated, but they intersect in several ways:

One of the most significant is the concept of environmental justice. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Further, environmental justice includes ensuring that all communities have access to clean air, water, and land and are not unfairly burdened by pollution or other environmental hazards.

While sexual and gender identities or disabilities do not directly affect the environment, the social and cultural norms surrounding them do. For instance, heteronormativity, the assumption that everyone is heterosexual and cisgender, promotes a binary view of gender and reinforces harmful stereotypes and expectations. The same leads to a lack of diversity and inclusion in various fields, including environmental activism and sustainability. When environmental solutions are developed without considering the needs and perspectives of LGBTQ people, they may fail to address their unique challenges and priorities, such as access to healthcare, safe housing, or legal protections.

Moreover, LGBTQ people may face environmental injustices, such as pollution, climate change, or natural disasters, that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. For example, LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness are likelier to live in hazardous conditions and lack access to essential resources, including food, water, and shelter. Transgender people may also face barriers to healthcare and face, discrimination and violence when seeking medical treatment or accessing public spaces, which can impact their physical and mental health.

In addition to environmental justice, sustainability and the LGBTQ+ community intersect through issues such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and waste reduction. Many LGBTQ+ people are passionate about sustainable living and reducing their environmental impact, and many organizations and initiatives are working to promote sustainable living within the LGBTQ+ community.

Furthermore, sustainability can benefit the LGBTQ community by creating more inclusive and equitable societies. By promoting green infrastructure, clean energy, and sustainable transportation, we can reduce our carbon footprint and create more liveable and resilient cities that prioritize public health and safety. Sustainable practices can also help to reduce poverty, inequality, and social exclusion, which are often linked to environmental degradation and resource depletion. By engaging and empowering diverse communities, including LGBTQ people, in environmental decision-making, we can foster a sense of ownership and accountability towards our planet and each other.

Furthermore, sustainability and LGBTQ share common values, such as social justice, human rights, and intergenerational equity. Both movements aim to challenge and transform dominant norms and systems perpetuating inequality and exploitation and to build more sustainable and resilient alternatives prioritizing collective well-being and dignity. By recognizing and embracing diversity, intersectionality, and inclusivity, a more robust and effective sustainability movement that addresses the root causes of environmental and social problems can be created.

In conclusion, sustainability and LGBTQ are not separate issues but interconnected dimensions of our human experience and the efforts to achieve sustainability must include LGBTQ+ people. By working together to promote environmental justice, sustainable living, and inclusive sustainability initiatives, we can create a more equitable, just, and sustainable world for all people.

Thoughts compiled by: Gayatri Chadwa

Carbon offsetting is a means of balancing or negating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities, such as transportation or energy generation, by investing in projects that reduce or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon offsetting has become an increasingly popular way for individuals and companies to take responsibility for their carbon footprint and contribute to mitigating climate change.

Carbon offsetting reduces greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that reduce carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The projects funded by carbon offsetting can be any activity that removes or reduces carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as reforestation, renewable energy projects, or implementing energy-efficient technologies.

Individuals, companies, or governments can do carbon offsetting. Individuals can offset their carbon footprint by calculating the amount of greenhouse gas emissions they produce and investing in a carbon offset project that reduces or removes an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Companies can offset their carbon footprint by investing in carbon offset projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions associated with their operations or supply chain. Governments can implement carbon offsetting as part of their climate change policy by setting a carbon price or implementing a cap-and-trade system that allows companies to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits.

The objectives of carbon offsetting are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. By investing in carbon offset projects, individuals, companies, and governments can support the development of renewable energy projects, reforestation, and other initiatives that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.

Carbon offsetting is an essential tool in the fight against climate change. It allows individuals, companies, and governments to take responsibility for their carbon footprint and support the development of projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. Carbon offsetting can also be cost-effective for companies to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their sustainability goals.

Since carbon offsetting is vital in the fight against climate change, it is an essential element that corporates must consider. In addition to the above, another significant advantage of carbon offsetting is that it allows companies to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their sustainability goals without significantly changing their operations.

Carbon offsetting can also provide economic benefits by supporting the development of renewable energy projects and other initiatives that create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Additionally, carbon offsetting can help to raise awareness about the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change.

Amongst so many benefits, the concept suffers from some disadvantages; one of the primary disadvantages of carbon offsetting is that it can be challenging to accurately measure and verify the impact of carbon offset projects.

Additionally, there is the risk of greenwashing, where companies invest in carbon offset projects to appear environmentally responsible without making significant changes to their operations.

Lastly, carbon offsetting can create a moral hazard by allowing companies to continue emitting greenhouse gases without significantly reducing their emissions.

We have understood the concept of carbon offsetting, but how do corporates worldwide embrace the concept?

Carbon offsetting has become essential for companies to reduce their carbon footprint and take responsibility for their environmental impact. Many corporations are embracing Carbon offsetting as part of their sustainability efforts worldwide. Here are some examples of how companies are approaching carbon offsetting:

· Microsoft: In 2020, Microsoft announced that it would become Carbon negative by 2030, meaning it would remove more Carbon from the atmosphere than it emits. To achieve this, the company has committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2025 and investing in carbon offset projects to address its remaining emissions.

Microsoft has also created an internal carbon fee that charges business units for their emissions and uses the funds to invest in carbon reduction and removal projects.

· Amazon: In 2019, Amazon pledged to become Carbon neutral by 2040 and launched a $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund to invest in carbon reduction technologies and renewable energy projects. The company has also invested in several carbon offset projects, including a Texas wind farm and a Costa Rica reforestation project.

· Apple: Apple has committed to becoming Carbon neutral across its entire supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030. The company has already achieved carbon neutrality for its global corporate operations and is now focusing on reducing emissions from its manufacturing and supply chain. Apple has also invested in several carbon offset projects, including a mangrove restoration project in Colombia and a renewable energy project in China.

After understanding the global perspective, it is necessary to understand how India and Indian companies embrace Carbon Offsetting. India is home to many companies embracing Carbon offsetting as part of their sustainability efforts. Here are some examples of how Indian companies are approaching carbon offsetting:

• Infosys: In 2020, Infosys became Carbon neutral by offsetting its emissions by purchasing carbon credits from renewable energy projects. The company has also committed to sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2022.
• Tata Motors: Tata Motors has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 30% by 2025 and becoming Carbon neutral by 2030. The company has invested in several renewable energy projects and is also exploring Carbon offsetting options to address its remaining emissions.
• Mahindra Group: Mahindra Group has committed to becoming Carbon neutral by 2040 and has invested in several renewable energy projects. The company is also exploring Carbon offsetting options, including investing in renewable energy projects and reforestation initiatives.

However, the above are just a handful of examples of how Indian companies embrace carbon offsetting; there are plenty more to follow.

According to a report by CDP India, 34 Indian companies disclosed information on their Carbon offsetting activities in 2020, up from 30 in 2019. The report also found that Indian companies purchased 5.8 million carbon credits in 2020, up from 3.8 million in 2019, representing a 53% increase.

However, the report noted that while Indian companies increase their use of carbon offsets, they must prioritize reducing their emissions first. The report found that only 12% of Indian companies have set a science-based emissions reduction target, aligning with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

Therefore, carbon offsetting is an essential tool for corporations to take responsibility for their carbon footprint and contribute to mitigating the impact of climate change. However, it is crucial for companies to prioritize reducing their emissions first and to carefully vet carbon offset projects to ensure they are credible and compelling.

Every year, the people of Planet Earth produce 2.1B metric tons of solid waste; 16% of the same gets recycled, thus, saving 700M metric tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere. However, 46% of trash, enough to fill 368,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, is disposed of unsustainably, i.e., they are either landfilled, incinerated, littered, or illegally dumped in the environment.

Therefore, a 16% recycling rate is not enough, and we need education, legislation, and action to combat this growing environmental and humanitarian crisis. Global Recycling Day, celebrated annually on March 18th, is a launchpad for businesses and individuals looking to make an impact.

Being in its fourth year, Global Recycling Day is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the importance that recycling plays in preserving our natural resources and securing the future of our planet.

While there is some debate about the top six, most count water, air, oil, natural gas, coal, and minerals among the most important (and exploitable) natural resources. The Global Recycling Foundation names recyclables as “the Seventh Resource,” as recyclables supply 40% of the world’s raw material needs.

There is an abundance of a manufactured resource called “Plastic”, which produces more than 380M metric tons of virgin plastic, and a devastating 91% of it is never recycled. An even more adverse fact is that between 4.8M and 12.7M tons of plastic annually enter the oceans.

Another concern is deforestation; our world’s forests are logged for paper and pulp to create cardboard packaging and building materials. With the world overreaching in the name of economics, an estimated two-thirds of the world’s tropical rainforests have been destroyed or degraded to date. Such exploitation of resources has sparked concerns annually, leading to the launch of “Global Recycling Day.”

On March 18th, 2018, Global Recycling Day was established. People throughout the globe were encouraged to recycle, and the same has been encouraged through thousands of events worldwide. Social media campaigns have been a highlight to raise awareness and encourage recycling. All the efforts have created a discussion on a global level on recycling routines among everyone, from global leaders to companies to individual citizens.

The theme of Global Recycling Day 2023 is Creative Innovation, and the idea is to be creative and think out of the box to bring out new ways of recycling and reduce the burden on the environment. It is essential to highlight that putting recyclables in the bin is insufficient, and we need to be proactive and find new ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

History and Evolution

Since becoming an U.N.-recognized day in 2018, millions of people and businesses have joined hands to boost awareness about recycling through the Global Recycling Day initiatives.

Annual reports by various research and other government agencies estimate that the Earth might not live in the next decade if we do not curb our litter. Natural resources are threatened as pollution closes in on climate change as well. The previous decade has seen the most extreme temperatures in history, which causes not only natural devastation but also economic.

We all acknowledge that we must make significant changes to save our planet and lives, and this is precisely why Global Recycling Day was created in 2018. The holiday emphasizes the importance of recycling and conservation by educating the world about the status of our essential resources. The Global Recycling Foundation sets out the explicit goals of Global Recycling Day.

The foundation communicates directly with world leaders to combat the issue as a global team. Approximately 700 million tons of CO2 emissions were saved by recycling this year, and this will increase to one billion tons by the year 2030. Many other people, organizations, and governments directly endorse the global green agenda, facilitating higher recyclable numbers.

We have the power to make lasting changes to combat the climate crisis, and recycling is one essential goal recognized in the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

The Global Recycling Day timeline is as follows:

The Earth produces billions of tons of natural resources each year, but eventually, those resources will run out shortly. Global Recycling Day aims to combat this. The circular economy places a strong emphasis on recycling, which helps to safeguard our natural resources. Recycling prevents more than 700 million tonnes of CO2 emissions yearly, which is anticipated to reach one billion tonnes by 2030. Recycling is undoubtedly a front-line strategy in the battle for the survival of both people and the Earth.

Newspapers, plastic water bottles, soda cans, cereal boxes, and milk cartons are common everyday recyclable items. If we put effort into recycling items we usually throw away, we can impact the Earth and our lives more profoundly.

Carbon credits are a vital tool in the fight against climate change. The concept of carbon credits revolves around creating a market-based incentive for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Carbon credits are tradable permits that allow individuals and organizations to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases. Each credit represents a tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. The idea behind carbon credits is to incentivize the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by giving companies a financial incentive to reduce their carbon footprint. On the other hand, carbon offsetting involves investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to offset one’s emissions.

There are two main types of carbon credits:

· Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)

· Verified Emission Reductions (VERs)

CERs are carbon credits issued under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. Developing countries earn them for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through clean energy projects or other sustainable development initiatives. CERs are considered high quality and subject to rigorous standards and verification processes.

VERs, on the other hand, are carbon credits that are not issued under the CDM but are instead issued by third-party organizations to companies that have reduced their emissions through voluntary action. VERs are considered lower quality than CERs, as they are not subject to the same rigorous standards and verification processes.

The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding international agreement that requires developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by a certain amount. Under the Kyoto Protocol, developed countries can offset their emissions by investing in CERs issued by developing countries that have reduced their emissions through clean energy projects or other sustainable development initiatives.

The Paris Agreement, which replaced the Kyoto Protocol, is a global agreement that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement uses carbon credits as a way to reduce emissions. However, the Paris Agreement allows for a broader range of carbon credit mechanisms, including VERs, as long as they meet specific standards and are subject to rigorous verification processes.

India is one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases but is also a significant player in the global carbon market. The country has set ambitious targets for reducing its emissions, including increasing its share of renewable energy to 40% by 2030. India has several carbon credit projects, including the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the National Clean Energy Fund. These projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable development in the country. India’s carbon credit projects have successfully reduced emissions and promoted sustainable development. The country will likely play a crucial role in the global carbon market in the coming years.

The Government of India has passed an amendment to the Energy Conservation Act 2001, which leads to establishing a carbon credit market in India (The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022).

The amendment provides a legal framework for a carbon market with the objective of incentivizing actions for emission reduction. Under the amendment, the entities can register as “Registered Entities” for the carbon credit trading scheme. The central government or any authorized agency will issue the carbon credit certificate, and any other person or entity may also purchase ESCerts or carbon credit certificates voluntarily.

Section 2 of the amendment introduces alternative forms of carbon markets and their key characteristics. Section 3 is a brief history of carbon markets under the United Nations. Section 4 describes the existing emission mitigation market-based instruments in India and the details of the carbon credit market in the proposed amendment to the Energy Conservation Act 2001. Section 5 outlines the key takeaways from a stakeholder consultation meeting with industry representatives at CEEW and the proposed recommendations. Section 6 is our recommendation for the way forward.

The Government of India’s announcement of setting up a carbon credit trading scheme is path-breaking. Based on stakeholder discussions, the key recommendation is that India must align the initial phase of the transition process with developing an ETS similar to other ETSs prevalent in Asia and worldwide, like the EU-ETS and Korean ETS.

The Indian government should not intervene in the voluntary offset carbon market and let it function efficiently and independently. However, India’s compliance market, i.e., the ETS, should reflect its national circumstances and economic structure while learning from the experiences of other ETS systems worldwide.

Furthermore, Indian stakeholders should view the domestic ETS as an instrument for decarbonization and domestic climate finance rather than international climate finance. Ideally, the process for setting up the same should be clean and straightforward and avoid the pitfalls of fungibility-related issues that could confuse market participants. Enough time should be given to market participants and regulators to understand the operational nature of the ETS through a pilot phase. To achieve success, we must start by clarifying all necessary concepts and bring all the stakeholders to par with an evolved understanding of alternative forms of the market, which is also the motivation behind this issue brief.

Because of the shared responsibilities that India has agreed to and its own Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals determined as per the Paris Agreement, India remains committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 45% while aiming at generating 50% of its power from renewable energy sources and reaching net zero emissions by 2070. The market for carbon credits in recent times has increased by 164% globally, according to 2021 estimates. The market valuation for carbon credits globally is also anticipated to reach $100 billion by the end of 2030.

The position India is in right now stands to profit from the trade in carbon credits. However, for now, the Indian government intends to restrict international trade to an extent to meet the targets envisioned under the Paris Agreement. The government’s recent steps towards promulgating an indigenous carbon credits market and its focus on developing domestic trade on carbon offsets should be seen as a long-term strategic advantage for the country.

Carbon credits are a vital tool in the fight against climate change. They provide a market-based incentive for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and successfully promote sustainable development in developing countries.

The two main types of carbon credits, CERs and VERs, have different standards and verification processes, with CERs generally of higher quality. Carbon credits are regulated by international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, which set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and provide a framework for using carbon credits. Using carbon credits will likely continue to be an essential tool in the fight against climate change in India and worldwide.

Climate change impacts the water balance of our planet, and depending on the region and the time of year, the climate crisis influences the amount of water in rivers, potentially resulting in flooding or drought.

River flow is an essential indicator of water resources available to humans and the environment. The amount of available further depends on factors like direct interventions in the water cycle or land use change. For example, if water is diverted for irrigation or is regulated via reservoirs or forests are cleared, and monocultures grow in their place, this can impact river flow.

Researchers, over the years, have successfully broken down the influence of factors like climate change impact, natural factors, geographical locations of rivers and many more. The researchers have analyzed data from 7,250 measuring stations worldwide, and the study published in the journal Science demonstrated that river flow changed systematically between 1971 and 2010. The study further revealed complex patterns in regions such as the Mediterranean and north-eastern Brazil, which had become drier, while the volume of water increased in Scandinavia.

Climate change is one of the most significant threats to the health and well-being of rivers worldwide. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events contribute to the decline of river ecosystems and the services they provide. This essay will explore the devastating impact of the climate crisis on rivers worldwide, present facts and figures, and provide solutions to the problem.

The primary question is to understand the cause of the decline in the river ecosystem and the overall climate crisis. To understand the answer to the above question, researchers have conducted multiple computer simulations that use global hydrological models fed with observed climate data from the period studied (1971 to 2010).

The model calculation results closely matched the observed river flow analysis and explained that climatic conditions could explain the observed trends in the flow volumes. Additionally, the researchers included water and land management in their simulations to study the influence of the above factors.

Interestingly, during both simulations, the results remained the same: “Changes in water and land management are not the cause of global changes in rivers.”

Impact of the climate crisis on rivers worldwide

Some of the impacts of the climate crisis on the river ecosystem can be summarised as follows:

· Reduced water availability

The climate crisis is causing a decrease in river water availability due to reduced precipitation and increased evaporation, resulting in a water scarcity crisis in many regions worldwide.

· Increased frequency of floods and droughts

The climate crisis is leading to increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. These events can devastate river ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

· Alteration of river flows

Climate change is causing changes in the flow of rivers, as melting glaciers and snowpacks alter the timing and quantity of river flows. The above can significantly impact river ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them.

· Pollution

The climate crisis is exacerbating water pollution problems by increasing the likelihood of algal blooms and harmful pathogens in rivers. Changes in precipitation patterns can cause an increase in nutrient runoff from agricultural lands, leading to more significant pollution of rivers.

According to the United Nations, people who live in areas that face water scarcity are expected to increase from 1.9 billion in 2019 to 3 billion by 2050. The Colorado River Basin, which provides water to 40 million people in seven US states, is experiencing its worst drought in more than 1,200 years due to climate change. Furthermore, a study by the US National Academy of Sciences found that global warming could cause a 10-30% decline in the flow of the Amazon River over the next century. In many developing countries, women and children are responsible for collecting water, and the time and energy required for this task can prevent them from pursuing education or economic opportunities.

Solutions to the problem

To solve the climate crisis impact on rivers, it becomes critical to integrate climate and development objectives and continue to identify and finance projects at the country level that tackle mitigation and adaptation while channelling appropriate sources and structures of financing toward the projects for maximum impact. Some of the solutions to solve the drying rivers problems are:

· Reducing GHG emissions

By reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy sources, we can slow the pace of climate change and mitigate its impacts on rivers worldwide.

· Encouraging efficient use of water

By implementing more efficient irrigation techniques, reducing water waste, and increasing water-saving technologies, we can reduce water demand and ensure it is used more efficiently.

· Protect and restore river ecosystems

Protecting and restoring river ecosystems can help ensure they remain healthy and resilient in the face of climate change. The same include reducing pollution, controlling invasive species, and protecting riparian zones.

· Increase public awareness

By increasing public awareness of the impacts of climate change on rivers and the importance of protecting them, we can build support for action and help to drive policy changes that can make a difference.

The devastating impact of the climate crisis on rivers worldwide is a significant threat to human well-being and the planet’s health. However, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing water use efficiency, protecting and restoring river ecosystems, and increasing public awareness, we can help mitigate these impacts and ensure that rivers remain healthy and resilient to climate change. We must act now to protect our precious rivers and ensure a sustainable future for all.

The reality of climate change is seriously changing the whole arena for policy, governance, and research on river and river basin management. Almost all the stakeholders are feeling the impacts of the disruptive effects of climate change. Nevertheless, most countries’ policy strategies barely consider climate change’s direct and cascading effects.

This inaction hampers adequate adaptation to climate change and progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Addressing the various categories of action like the disruption of water and sediment flows, pollution, flood risk, water abstraction, and nature conservation, along with climate adaptation as just one more distant issue, will rarely be a good strategy.

It carries the risk of high cumulative costs, maladaptation, the need for repeated interventions and an increase in conflicting interests. How soon and practical is the question we all need to answer?