We are in a state of climate emergency. The past year was witness to some of the worst floods in Pakistan, extreme heatwaves in the United Kingdom, and devastating hurricanes in the United States. Climate disasters became the norm in India, too, during the first seven months of 2022 as 241 out of 273 days were marked by an extreme weather event — cold waves, heatwaves, cyclones, thunderstorms, torrential rains, floods, landslides, droughts, dust storms, hail, or snowstorms — according to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment.
As weather and climate extremes break records and natural disasters increase in magnitude and frequency, limiting the capacity of existing populations, systems, and institutions to cope with climate change — derailing development — it is imperative for policies and investments to push towards a net-zero resilient economy by assessing climate risks, promoting adaptation in the short- and medium-term, and formulating strategies for building resilience in the long term.
