Unpacking Alarming Climate, Health, and Development Trends: What They Mean for Our Future

India is grappling with serious environmental and developmental issues, as highlighted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in its recent report. The “State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025,” released in June 2025, paints a worrying picture of the nation facing extreme weather, health challenges, and economic stress.

In 2024, India experienced its hottest year on record. Twenty-five states saw severe rainfall patterns, with extreme weather occurring on about 88% of the days. This volatility resulted in the displacement of 5.4 million people, marking the highest internal displacements due to climate disasters since 2013. Assam was notably affected, accounting for nearly half of these displacements, primarily because of flooding.

While states like Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Goa performed well in certain categories, the overall situation is dire. No state excelled across all measured areas, and issues like pollution and healthcare access remained significant challenges. For instance, Andhra Pradesh is a leader in environmental management but struggles with sewage treatment. Sikkim tops agriculture rankings yet falls short on farmer welfare. Meanwhile, Goa, despite leading in public health, faces hospital bed shortages and low female labor participation.

The report emphasizes that 2024 was a turning point. It revealed that India’s greenhouse gas emissions reached their highest level since 1970, now at 7.8% of global emissions. Alarmingly, the growth rate of these emissions has increased significantly, climbing one percentage point from 2020 to 2023. Furthermore, India continues to deplete its groundwater reserves; 135 districts are extracting water from more than 40 meters deep, almost double the number in 2014.

Water quality is also a concern, with toxic heavy metals found at nearly half of the monitored river sites in 2022. Despite plans to remediate legacy waste by 2026, only half of the target has been met. E-waste surged by 147% in seven years, and plastic waste hit an all-time high of 4.14 million tonnes in 2022-23. Last year also saw significant forest clearance for development, particularly in states like Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, increasing conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Air quality remains a severe issue, contributing to reduced life expectancy. In Delhi, residents experience unsafe air quality about one-third of the time, leading to a decrease in life expectancy by almost eight years. Lucknow residents lose over six years due to similar air pollution levels. In Uttar Pradesh, nearly two-thirds of health expenses are shouldered by individuals, challenging the financial well-being of families.

Economic conditions are worsening too. Adjusted for inflation, incomes for salaried and self-employed workers have declined since 2017. More than 73% of India’s workforce is informal, lacking basic protections like paid leave or job security.

The report serves as a wake-up call regarding the intertwined nature of environmental and socio-economic issues in India. As experts point out, tackling these challenges requires collective action from government, communities, and individuals to ensure a sustainable future. For more detailed insights, you can read the full report from the Centre for Science and Environment.

Source link

Troubling,climate,,health,and,development,indicators