The Kashmir Dialogues
“Why is a country that contributes only 3% of global emissions among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations?”
By Dr. Sonali Narang
Climate change is a global crisis, but in India, it raises urgent questions of justice. For a country with a large population, diverse geography, and heavy dependence on agriculture, climate change poses serious challenges. Rising heat, erratic rains, melting glaciers, and recurring droughts are reshaping daily life in India. Poor people, farmers, and tribal communities suffer the most from floods, droughts, and heatwaves despite contributing very little to pollution. The Supreme Court of India recognized this in 2024, declaring climate protection a part of the fundamental right to life and calling for fair climate action and held that the “right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change” falls under the right to life (Article 21) and the right to equality (Article 14) of the Constitution.
Understanding Climate Justice
Climate justice means recognizing that although everyone is affected by climate change, not everyone is equally responsible or equally vulnerable. Some countries have historically emitted more greenhouse gases, while developing countries like India have contributed very little but face the worst consequences.
Climate justice highlights three key issues:
Historical Responsibility – Who caused most of the emissions?
Unequal Impact – Who suffers the most damages?
Fair Solutions – How can climate policy, technology, and finance be made equitable?
From India’s perspective, climate justice matters because the country faces high climate risks while having low per-capita emissions.
Climate justice is about fairness and human rights in climate decisions. Those who polluted the most must support vulnerable communities through finance, technology, and deep emission cuts.
India’s Climate Challenges
India’s geography makes it highly vulnerable to extreme weather. Deadly heatwaves, glacier melt, erratic monsoons, and cyclones threaten millions. The 2022 heatwave damaged crops and dried rivers. Floods in Kerala and Assam destroy homes yearly. On 26 May 2025, Mumbai saw a month’s rain in one day, killing dozens. Coastal regions like the Sundarbans face rising seas, threatening land and biodiversity. Droughts in Maharashtra push farmers into migration. Women walk farther for water, and children miss school. Air pollution from coal plants harms public health, especially among the urban poor.
Heat already kills nearly 25,000 Indians annually, mostly laborers. In 2023, Ballia in Uttar Pradesh saw 68 deaths during a heatwave with temperatures reaching 43.5°C. Nationally, the Health Ministry recorded 252 heat-related deaths in the first half of 2023, compared to 33 the previous year.
Key impacts include:
Rising Temperatures – India faces record heatwaves affecting workers, farmers, and public health.
Erratic Monsoon – Unpredictable rainfall causes floods in some areas and droughts in others.
Melting Glaciers – Shrinking Himalayan glaciers threaten major rivers and long-term water supply.
Cyclones – More frequent and intense storms disrupt coastal life.
Agriculture Threats – Lower crop yields, pests, and soil degradation hurt small farmers.
India’s vulnerability is closely tied to poverty, with more than 200 million people still lacking reliable electricity or clean water. Social inequalities further intensify these risks: marginalized caste groups and tribal communities in forested regions are often the first to face the impacts of mining, deforestation, and displacement. These overlapping challenges show that climate change is far more than an environmental issue -it is also a profound threat to development, food security, and social stability. A study by Climate Central finds that by 2050 rising seas could put about 150 million people globally on land that may fall permanently below the high-tide line.
Change as a Social Justice Issue
Climate change affects everyone but hits the weakest the hardest.
- The Poor: They live in floodplains, heat-prone slums, and drought-hit regions with little financial protection.
- Women: They walk further for water, gather fuel, face health risks, and bear greater household burdens.
- Farmers: Dependent on monsoon rains, they are vulnerable to crop loss and debt.
- Tribal Communities: Adivasis lose forests, food sources, and cultural ties.
- Urban Poor: Migrants and slum dwellers suffer from rising heat, pollution, and water shortages.
So, climate policy in India must address inequality along with environmental damage.
Historical Emissions and Fair Share
India grounds its case for climate justice in historical responsibility. Since 1850, the United States has produced roughly 25% of all global carbon emissions and Europe another 25%. India’s contribution, by contrast, is only about 3–4%. Even today, the gap is stark: an average American emits around 15 tons of CO₂ a year, while an average Indian emits barely 2 tons. Wealthy nations built their prosperity on high emissions, yet now expect India to abandon coal overnight often while their own leaders continue traveling in private jets and maintaining high consumption
In global climate negotiations, India strongly advocates the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR) the idea that all nations must confront climate change, but wealthier countries should take the lead because they have greater resources and a larger historical footprint. India remains committed to its Paris Agreement pledges but maintains that it cannot accept legally binding emission cuts until developed nations fulfill their promised $100 billion per year in climate finance, first pledged in 2009 but often delivered late, partially, or as loans. For India, true climate justice requires grants, not debt-creating assistance
Voices from the Frontlines
Justice is reflected in the everyday struggles of communities across India. Farmers in Punjab protest against water mismanagement, while families in Bihar demand stronger flood protection systems. Adivasi communities in Chhattisgarh continue to resist coal mining on their ancestral lands. In Rajasthan, women’s groups lead local water-conservation and tree-planting initiatives. Youth activists such as Licypriya Kangujam push for climate education and stronger national commitments.
Across the Sundarbans, families displaced by rising seas and cyclones fight for resettlement and livelihood support. In Assam, communities along the Brahmaputra protest riverbank erosion and demand safer embankments. Fisherfolk in Kerala raise concerns over coastal erosion intensified by climate change. Himalayan villagers in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh oppose unsafe hydropower projects after frequent landslides and flash floods. Urban residents in Delhi and Mumbai are also organizing for cleaner air, climate-resilient housing, and relief during heatwaves.
These diverse grassroots movements show that climate action in India is not driven only by international agreements or national policies but it is being shaped every day by ordinary people who are protecting their lands, water, forests, and future.
India’s Green Leadership and Demands
India has emerged as a global leader in climate action through its rapid expansion of solar energy, the creation of the International Solar Alliance, and the promotion of affordable renewable technologies. National missions continue to strengthen water conservation, forest restoration, and solar adoption across states. On the global stage, India has been a strong advocate for a Loss and Damage Fund to support climate-vulnerable nations and has begun outlining just transition plans to help coal-sector workers shift into green jobs.
Yet significant challenges persist. Corruption and bureaucratic delays slow the implementation of climate projects, coal-dependent states worry about employment losses, and strategic competition with China often complicates unity among developing countries. Despite these hurdles, India’s leadership and demands remain central to shaping a fair and sustainable global climate agenda.
Global Talks and India’s Stance
At COP26, India pushed for (“phase down” instead of “phase out”) coal to protect energy security. At COP28, fossil fuel transition was agreed, but India insists climate finance must come first. India collaborates with G77 nations for equitable decisions. Despite obstacles, India targets 500 GW of non-fossil energy by 2030.
Hope, Action, and the Road Ahead
India shows climate justice succeeds when solutions are fair. Village solar projects in Gujarat power homes and businesses. Bamboo missions revive forests and support tribal jobs. Metro expansions reduce emissions and traffic. Citizens can act by saving water, planting trees, supporting green policies, and promoting circular business models.
Despite development challenges, India is rapidly expanding renewable energy through solar parks, wind projects, rooftop systems, and green hydrogen, while leading global efforts through the International Solar Alliance. India also spearheaded the International Solar Alliance with France to promote solar adoption worldwide. The LiFE movement promotes sustainable lifestyles, and India is pushing electric mobility with EVs and charging infrastructure. Afforestation drives and programs like CAMPA and the Green India Mission are increasing green cover, while climate-resilient farming using drip irrigation, improved seeds, organic methods, and water-saving practices helps farmers cope with extreme weather. Stronger early warning systems and cyclone shelters have also reduced disaster impacts. Together, these actions show India’s commitment to climate justice while pursuing economic growth.
India’s message is clear: climate action and development can advance together. But wealthy nations must cut emissions deeply, provide finance, and share clean technologies. With fairness at the center, India is paving a path toward a cooler, more equal and sustainable future. Climate justice means ensuring that no community is left behind in a warming world.
A just climate future is not only possible—it is already being built by the courage of ordinary Indians who refuse to give up on their land, their rights, and their hopes.”
By Dr. Sonali Narang, Researcher on Climate Change and Human Migration
Email: snarang68@gmail.com
M S Nazki
