On February 25, 2026, a significant event took place in Rajasthan, India. Justice Deepak Gupta, former Supreme Court Judge, along with Ashok Lavasa, a former government secretary, and Sunita Narain, head of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), launched the annual State of India’s Environment report. This publication serves as a key resource in understanding environmental challenges facing the nation.
At the Anil Agarwal Dialogue, about 70 journalists gathered to discuss pressing issues around climate and development. According to Narain, “We are approaching a point of no return with climate change.” Recent data suggests that if current trends continue, we could exceed the critical 1.5°C rise in global temperatures. This change signals a dangerous shift in Earth’s climate, with vital ecosystems at risk.
One alarming takeaway from the report is the concept of “planetary boundaries.” These boundaries help us gauge the limits of environmental damage caused by human activity. Researchers have identified nine critical areas: climate change, biodiversity, land use, freshwater resources, biogeochemical cycles, novel entities, ocean health, air quality, and ozone layer integrity. Currently, six of these boundaries are being violated, with ocean acidification being the latest addition to the list.
Statistics show that since the industrial revolution, ocean acidity has risen by 30-40%. This trend poses severe threats to marine life, including corals and shellfish. Moreover, the extinction rate for species has skyrocketed to over 100 species per million, far surpassing the safe limit of 10. Although deforestation rates have slowed, forest cover remains critically low at just 59%, compared to the recommended 75%.
As we move further into 2026, the frequency and intensity of climate impacts are becoming more unpredictable. Narain emphasizes the urgency of our situation: “This unpredictable future should worry us. We lack the safety nets that might have cushioned previous generations.”
The findings of the State of India’s Environment report underscore the importance of taking immediate action. Our planet is in a precarious state, and the time to address these challenges is now.
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Centre for Science and Environment (CSE),Sunita Narain,DTE,Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2026,SOE 2026
