Turning the Tide: Collective Action in the Climate Crisis

As we face numerous ecological risks, the time for passive observation is over—our survival depends on collective action learning from and building on homegrown experiences and innovation around us

If the story of Genesis plays out again, I doubt we can count on Noah’s Ark to save us. Earlier this year, the first edition of Klima Biennale, a climate-focused art festival launched in Vienna, drew attention to many facets of the climate emergency. In an interesting climate-immersive spatial installation entitled “Terminal Beach,” artist collective Troika presented a dystopian animation in which a robot arm covered in black fur chopped down the last tree on Earth. Tragically, this is not ‘just’ art; it’s a clarion call for action as we race towards ecological catastrophe. 

Climate exigencies are now no longer something we read about in the distance. Instead, they are experienced directly, first-hand through spring water depletion, rising temperatures, poor air quality, unpredictable weather patterns, and flooding. That Asia is warming faster than the global average, as indicated in the State of the Climate in Asia Report 2023, is palpable in many countries facing their hottest year on record in 2024, accompanied by extreme weather events from severe droughts to flash floods. As per the World Bank, over 750 million people across South Asia – including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – have been affected by climate-related disasters in the past two decades. 

The latest edition of the Sustainable India Report effectively emphasizes that protecting our environment involves the examination and understanding of several interconnected cause-and-effect factors. In their essay “Re-thinking Mobility in India,” Vinita Suryanarayanan and Manasi Pingle clearly show how insufficient last-mile connectivity in public transport leads to increased heat stress and air pollution in Bangalore. Addressing this issue calls for a comprehensive green vision and integrated development plan for our cities, engaging citizens as active participants in the process. On another front, the Hoshner Reporter’s exploration of Dharavi’s recycling industry invites us to consider the symbiotic ecosystems helping to sustain ecological balance, alongside the policy frameworks that can support them. 

To make progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, we must adopt innovative problem-solving strategies anchored in a clear execution and accountability framework. Does this reside in Rooftop Solar Adoption which is transforming Kerala’s power paradigm, or in implementing more energy-efficient and sustainable cold chain networks to promote food security and reduce the wastage of labor, water, energy, and other valuable natural resources? The start-up universe can be galvanized to develop prototypes in conjunction with incubators at centers of learning in the country. Climate-friendly policies must buttress these initiatives, including pedestrianizing roads, offering fiscal incentives for public transport use, and implementing measurable contributions to a circular economy across industries.  

In the absence of Noah and his Ark, taking responsibility for our environmental footprint is no longer just an option; it is an imperative that we must embrace collectively, now.