Cooperative federalism may help India bridge its climate adaptation deficit
India has seen several transformative innovations in recent years. The development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), particularly the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, has made lives easier and worked in favour of the cause of financial inclusion. Similarly, the Public Distribution System (PDS) has ensured food security for the underprivileged and proved its mettle during the recent pandemic.
These achievements underscore India’s ability to solve complex problems through the implementation of ingenuity. However, if one were to look at our looming challenges, the scariest appears to be that not enough is being done to deal with climate change. Such inertia, which seems most evident in climate adaptation, poses a severe risk to India’s future, threatening to undermine all other progress.
With a vast and diverse geography, the impacts of climate change manifest in various devastating forms: erratic monsoons, extreme heatwaves, rising sea levels and increasing frequency of natural disasters like floods and cyclones. Not only do heat waves last longer and touch higher peaks, we also face the rising risk of wildfires in forest areas. Beyond economic concerns, climate change signifies an existential crisis for India, which is home to a sixth of humanity.
The majority of our population is vulnerable to climate change-induced disasters. Additionally, India still largely relies on agriculture for employment and food security; this is a sector that critically depends on favourable climatic conditions to thrive. Despite foreknowledge, India’s climate adaptation efforts seem largely reactive.
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