There was a time when floods, heatwaves, droughts, and storms were spoken of as isolated emergencies - events that arrived, disrupted life, and passed. Today, that understanding is no longer enough. Across India, disasters are becoming more frequent, more intense, and far less predictable. What we are witnessing on the ground is not merely a disaster management challenge; it is the unmistakable face of climate change unfolding in communities every single day. As someone working closely with schools, local governments, volunteers, women’s groups, and frontline responders in the field of disaster preparedness, I have seen how climate change is no longer discussed as an environmental issue alone. It is now a livelihood issue, a health issue, a safety issue, and increasingly, a question of social equity. In village interactions, women speak of summers that have become unbearable, forcing changes in daily routines, water use, and household labor. Farmers discuss rainfall that no longer follows familiar patterns. Urban communities narrate how a few hours of intense rain can now bring entire neighbourhoods to a standstill. Frontline responders share that emergencies are no longer seasonal - they are layered, recurring, and often simultaneous. This shift is deeply significant. For decades, disaster response systems in India were largely designed around the assumption that hazards were occasional. But climate change has altered the rhythm of risk itself. Heatwaves are arriving earlier and staying longer. Flash floods are appearing in areas with weak drainage and dense construction. Water scarcity is intensifying even in regions that once considered themselves secure. Air quality deterioration, vector-borne diseases, and urban heat stress are compounding vulnerabilities, especially for children, the elderly, and low-income populations. Communities are not facing one disaster at a time anymore. They are facing interconnected stresses. And yet, one of the strongest lessons from the ground is this: resilience cannot be built only through post-disaster relief. It has to be built before the sirens. This is where climate adaptation and disaster preparedness must stop functioning in silos. When a school conducts an evacuation drill, it is not merely preparing for an earthquake or fire - it is cultivating a generation that understands risk, response, and collective action. When community volunteers are trained in early warning dissemination, first aid, and local resource mapping, they become the first climate responders long before institutional support reaches. When women’s self-help groups discuss water conservation, waste management, or household preparedness, they are contributing directly to local climate adaptation. These may appear like small interventions, but on the ground, they become the architecture of survival. In many of our workshops, one recurring realization emerges from participants: climate change feels overwhelming when discussed globally, but becomes actionable when understood locally. People may not connect immediately with terms like “mitigation pathways” or “adaptation finance,” but they instantly connect when asked: Why is summer harsher than before? Why are drains overflowing after one spell of rain? Why is clean water becoming harder to secure? Why are diseases changing with weather patterns? This is where climate communication must change. We do not need climate conversations only in conference halls. We need them in classrooms, panchayat meetings, mohalla committees, self-help groups, youth clubs, and training grounds for first responders. Climate literacy must move from abstract science to practical citizenship. Another important truth from the field is that vulnerable communities are not merely victims of climate change; they are repositories of adaptation wisdom. Local coping mechanisms, community solidarity, indigenous water practices, decentralized warning systems, and volunteer-based support structures often provide the first line of resilience. The challenge is not that communities lack solutions - the challenge is that these solutions are rarely scaled, supported, or institutionally integrated. If India is to build genuine climate resilience, we must stop seeing disaster management as a response department and begin seeing it as a climate governance imperative. Preparedness training, resilient infrastructure, school safety, water conservation, local volunteer systems, risk-informed planning, and citizen awareness are no longer optional development extras. They are climate necessities. The climate crisis is not waiting for policy language to catch up. It is already visible in the exhausted faces during heatwaves, in flooded streets after short cloudbursts, in crop anxieties, in water queues, and in the growing uncertainty communities carry into every season. The frontline reality is clear: disasters are no longer natural interruptions to normal life. They are becoming the new indicators of a changing climate. And if resilience is to be real, it must begin where the impacts are felt first - within communities.

As climate crises, joblessness, and rural-urban migration reshape our world, India faces a critical choice. Instead of concrete corridors, the answer may lie in conservation corridors through a livelihood-first model of ecotourism that puts communities at the heart of sustainability.   What is a livelihood-first model? It’s an approach where local communities aren’t just custodians of nature, but beneficiaries and business owners of ecotourism. This model ensures that protecting the environment generates tangible, dignified, and recurring incomes, turning natural heritage into sustainable livelihoods.   Global Proof, Local Promise   Globally, ecotourism contributes over $77 billion annually to local economies (TIES), with growing traction in rural and Indigenous regions. In Southeast Asia, it supports 1 in 5 tourism jobs. In Africa, community conservancies generate millions in income while protecting endangered species. In India, the Ministry of Tourism estimates ecotourism could generate 15–20 million jobs by 2030, if community ownership is embedded.   Local Success Stories: Where Livelihood Meets Landscape   India already has models that prove what’s possible when locals lead. Odisha’s Mangalajodi Wetland transformed former poachers into trained bird guides and boat operators. Today, they earn over ₹1.6 crore annually, while conserving 200+ species of migratory birds. In Chhattisgarh, tribal families near Kanger Valley and Barnawapara run rest houses and eco-safaris, strengthening forest protection and dignified incomes. Pichavaram Mangroves in Tamil Nadu support boatmen earning ₹2.5 lakh annually, creating ecological awareness and reducing overfishing. Youth in Himachal Pradesh’s GHNP region have become certified eco-guides and homestay owners, restoring both ecosystems and dignity. In Arunachal Pradesh, tribal homestays in Ziro and Tawang have boosted household incomes by 60%, while celebrating Apatani heritage.   These stories show that conservation doesn’t require sacrifice. When designed right, it rewards communities for stewardship.   A 5-Point Roadmap for Livelihood-Led Ecotourism Here's a deeper dive into the livelihood dimension, through a 5-point roadmap tailored for India’s rural transformation:   Community-Centric Policy Frameworks State ecotourism policies must mandate fair wages, inclusive training, and profit-sharing moving beyond tokenism to real empowerment.   National Mission on Ecotourism Livelihoods A centrally sponsored mission jointly led by the Ministries of Tourism and Rural Development should unify efforts, scale innovation, and incentivize sustainability.   Green Skills & Certification with Livelihood Focus Offer short, job-ready courses in eco-guiding, regenerative farming, waste-to-wealth, and community storytelling via ITIs, skill centers, and panchayats.   Integrated Land-Use Planning Foster cross-sector planning among Forest, Tourism, Panchayati Raj, and Tribal departments to designate ecotourism zones with livelihood synergy.   Social Safeguards & Impact Monitoring Implement third-party audits to assess community satisfaction, income equity, and ecological metrics, ensuring long-term trust and transparency.   From Forests to Futures   As India marches toward Viksit Bharat 2047, ecotourism must evolve from being a tourism product to becoming a national development strategy. It’s not just about attracting visitors, it’s about creating ecosystems of livelihood, learning, and leadership. India’s forests, wetlands, and tribal landscapes can become living classrooms and thriving economies. In them lies not just our heritage, but our opportunity to prove that preservation and prosperity can walk hand in hand.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, India has emerged as a leading voice for climate justice, championing equitable and accountable climate finance. Representing the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs)—a bloc that speaks for over half the world’s population—India has forcefully articulated the urgent need for predictable, transparent, and legally binding financial support from developed nations. India’s climate finance journey has been built on a decade of persistent advocacy. While the Paris Agreement enshrined the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” at COP30, India contends that developed countries have consistently failed to meet their obligations. The much-publicized $100 billion annual pledge remains unmet, and the new target of $300 billion by 2035, agreed upon at COP29 in Baku, has seen by India as “suboptimal” and lacking enforceability. At the third high-level ministerial dialogue on climate finance, India underscored that without scaled-up, concessional, and grant-based finance, developing nations cannot meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These NDCs are central to global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C, and India warned that the failure of developed nations to deliver finance risks derailing the entire climate ambition. India has also emphasized that climate finance must be “new and additional,” not repackaged development aid or loans that increase debt burdens. It has called out “greenwashing” and the lack of clarity in current financial flows, demanding that Article 9.1 and 9.3 of the Paris Agreement—on legal obligations and leadership in mobilization—be upheld. Despite these challenges, India has made significant progress: expanding renewable energy capacity, enhancing climate resilience, and investing in green infrastructure. Yet it maintains that domestic efforts cannot substitute for the developed world's global responsibility. India meeting one of its Paris commitments, well ahead of schedule, is testimony to that. More green power being added in 2025, than coal shows, the countries continued effort in this direction. As new climate finance challenges occur, India’s stance is clear: climate finance is not charity—it is a matter of climate justice. The road from Baku to Belém and beyond must not be paved with diluted commitments but with concrete, enforceable actions that reflect the urgency of the climate crisis and the rights of the Global South. India’s climate finance journey is not just about numbers—it is about fairness, trust, and the future of multilateralism. For me, climate finance is not about technical terms or big negotiations — it’s about real people and the communities that are affected first. Through my involvement with the Climate Reality community, I’ve seen how climate impacts can disrupt lives, especially for those who already have limited resources. When support and funding reach the right places, it truly strengthens local resilience. That’s why I feel India’s call for climate finance that is clear, fair, and reliable is not just a policy topic, but an essential step for protecting vulnerable people, given India and the neighbourhood is at the receiving end of climate catastrophes. We are a large country with diverse development needs, and it continues to contribute to climate action in its own capacity. However, without the financial support initially committed to developing countries, meeting these responsibilities becomes more challenging. India’s position at COP30 and now at the ongoing World Economic Forum, Davos highlights that climate action and climate fairness are interconnected. When developed nations fulfil their commitments, it strengthens trust and supports more balanced global progress.

Back Dr. Pooja Chopra National Coordinator Biodiversity Pooja brings over two decades of extensive expertise spanning domains including biodiversity interpretation, community-based ecotourism, climate change education, social development & transformation coaching across both private and government sectors. She is Founder Director of Orlina Ventures Pvt. Ltd., dedicated to creating immersive and educational spaces that facilitate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Holding a Ph.D. in Management from the esteemed Faculty of Management Studies at the University of Delhi, India, her research focus was dedicated to advancing the promotion of Ecotourism in India. Additionally, she boasts an MBA in Marketing and second master's degree in Forestry & Environment Management from Yale University, USA. In addition to being an entrepreneur since July 2005, her corporate repertoire encompasses training, brand promotion, market research, business development, and strategic marketing, demonstrating a proven track record in navigating diverse market landscapes. From the inception of ideas to their concrete implementation, Pooja adeptly steers projects towards success, leveraging her comprehensive skill set and profound industry knowledge. Her passion for sustainable practices and community engagement underscores her commitment to driving positive change within her field. Share Profile Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link

Back Ugan Manandhar National Coordinator More than a cumulative of 2 decades of working experience in the climate adaptation and mitigation change, natural resources management, biodiversity conservation and energy sector that focused on international policies and negotiations (UNFCCC and CBD), assessing impacts, and mainstreaming and implementing the array of projects in the above-mentioned sectors. A strong and clear understanding on forest resources, management, water resources management and climate change adaptation in Nepal. Able to plan and innovate programs and undertake policy advocacy in climate change, forest resources management, water resource management and biodiversity conservation. More than a half a decade of field experience in developing, designing, and executing hydropower projects in Nepal, Bhutan, India and Myanmar, solar projects in Nepal and Myanmar and biogas projects in Nepal and advocate Cumulative Impact Assessments. Have demonstrated leadership roles in the climate change and energy arena both nationally and internationally and uptake of carbon financing programs (energy and forestry). Strong experience in undertaking community and government engagements. Working on bioplastics to phase out plastics. Worked as a mentor for youth on climate change and developing curriculum for schools (grade 6-8 and 9-10) and undergraduate and graduate programs of the Environment Science. Share Profile Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link

Back Rituraj Phukan National Coordinator Biodiversity Rituraj Phukan is an author, TEDx Speaker, adventurer, climate activist and naturalist based out of Assam. He is the Founder of the Indigenous People’s Climate Justice Forum, Convenor of the Mahabahu Climate Forum, a Co-Founder of Smily Academy, a Director of Healthy Climate Initiative, and a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rituraj has been an invited speaker at several UN Climate Conferences (SB52, COP26, COP27, COP28, COP29) and UNCCD COP16. He was also a delegate to the first meeting of the new Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to Indigenous People and Local Communities that took place in Panama City last year. He was a speaker at the inaugural Indigenous Food Policy Summit hosted by the New York Hunter College recently and featired during the Right Here, Right Now Global Youth Climate Summit, hosted by the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford last year. Rituraj is the author of two books - “Everyday Climate Action: A Handbook for Gen Z” and “Climate Justice 101: Empowering Community Leadership.” The later has also been translated and published in Assamese. Rituraj has conceived and executed projects leading to the greening of barren sandbars and degraded areas in different locations of Assam, with over 2.7 million saplings/cuttings planted and nurtured to trees, under the guidance of Padma Shree Jadav Payeng, the Forest Man of India. Share Profile Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link