R S TEJUS:
Climate change is not a problem for tomorrow or even after breakfast. It is unfolding now, with devastating clarity and global consequences. The world is witnessing increasingly frequent disasters: wildfires consuming Canadian forests, floods drowning cities in Germany, prolonged droughts strangling East Africa, and relentless heatwaves scorching China. These are not isolated incidents; they are interconnected symptoms of a planet under siege.
India, with its ambitious developmental goals and the imperative to lift millions out of poverty, stands at a critical crossroads. The need for roads, industries, and energy infrastructure cannot be denied. But what is equally undeniable is this: development that ignores environmental realities will collapse under its own weight. We no longer have the luxury to choose between growth and sustainability. Climate resilience must be embedded at the heart of progress.
Among the most under-discussed yet catastrophic threats is forest encroachment. Across India and the world, forests are being cleared not just by organized industries, but by a slow, systematic invasion—illegal settlements, land conversions, and unregulated development.
Forest encroachment is far more insidious than hunting. It erodes the base of entire ecosystems, disrupts wildlife corridors, alters rainfall patterns, and permanently damages carbon sinks. It is, without exaggeration, one of the greatest environmental crimes of our time and it is happening with alarming regularity, from the Amazon to the Western Ghats.
In India, forest clearances for expressways, mining operations, or settlement expansion continue to rise. But forests are not just “land banks” for economic use, they are critical climate regulators. Their loss translates to erratic monsoons, collapsing rain cycles, increased flooding, and the death of countless species, many of which support the balance of agricultural and hydrological systems.
When a forest vanishes in India, its aftershocks can be felt as far away as the African Sahel or the Himalayan watersheds. Climate change is no longer a localized issue – it is a global chain reaction, and every act of encroachment adds a new and irreversible link.
Water security, too, is now a planetary concern. Over 600 million Indians are experiencing high to extreme water stress. Erratic rainfall, drying rivers, and vanishing groundwater are pushing entire populations toward the edge. India’s urban expansion—if not grounded in hydrological planning – risks replicating the failures seen in cities like Cape Town or regions in California. Water is not just an agricultural necessity; it is a geopolitical and economic flashpoint.
Food systems are equally vulnerable. Global grain dependencies mean that a failed harvest in Ukraine or Argentina can send shockwaves across markets, spiking prices and intensifying hunger. In India, increasingly unpredictable weather is already damaging harvests, impacting rural livelihoods and triggering inflation. Climate-resilient agriculture, advanced irrigation, heat-resistant seeds, and farmer education must become national priorities, not optional reforms.
But the solutions must go deeper than superficial policies. We need a mindset revolution. Progress is not just a six-lane highway – it’s infrastructure that doesn’t drown in monsoons. It’s a smart city that doesn’t run dry in summer. Real development is not rapid, but resilient. Investing in climate adaptation is not a cost; it’s a shield.
Every rupee spent on flood defences or forest restoration reduces future disaster recovery costs. Shifting to renewables is no longer idealistic, it’s strategic, as Europe learned during its recent energy crises. Restoring degraded lands reduces migration, social unrest, and cross-border tensions. Climate change is already redrawing global borders from Bangladesh to sub-Saharan Africa.
India has the scale, ingenuity, and potential to lead a transformative development pathway that is not symbolic but rooted in measurable impact. By aligning its progress with climate-conscious planning, India can model a future where prosperity and sustainability are not at odds but are interdependent.
Equally critical is the role of law enforcement agencies, particularly forest and police departments, in protecting natural ecosystems. Forest rangers, wildlife wardens, and local enforcement units form the first line of defense against poaching, illegal land grabs, timber mafias, and encroachments. Their role is not just about guarding animals, it is about guarding our future.
Without strong protection forces, conservation laws remain toothless. Around the world, governments must empower these agencies with better training, modern technology, and moral support.
At the same time, the rise of citizen-led pressure groups is vital. Civil society must act as both watchdog and partner, helping keep checks and balances on bureaucratic inertia and political indifference. When local communities, journalists, activists, and informed citizens support forest officers and hold systems accountable, conservation transforms from duty to movement. We must build bridges between government and grassroots, fostering a culture where protecting forests is everyone’s responsibility.
This is not just India’s fight; it is a shared human responsibility. The nations that survive and thrive in the decades ahead will be those that recognize the value of climate resilience today, not when it is too late. A stable climate is not a sector to manage—it is the silent pillar of every ambition.
(PHOTO CREDIT: ALL IMAGES BY R S TEJUS EXCEPT IMAGE 7 FROM KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT)