A new synthesis of climate science underscores a disturbing trend: India is enduring more frequent, severe droughts and forest fires, releasing pollutants that amplify both local health risks and global warming.

Droughts strain ecosystems’ ability to resist stress and bounce back, especially in vulnerable landscapes. Meanwhile, fire seasons are expanding and affecting more regions, fueled by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and prolonged dry spells.

When forests burn, they emit greenhouse gases and fine particulates, worsening air pollution — and in turn warming the climate further. This vicious feedback loop compounds stress on India’s cities, forests, and rural communities already grappling with heat and water insecurity.

Compounding these issues, India ranks among the more climate-vulnerable nations, with rising emissions and pollutant loads accelerating exposure to disasters.

Experts argue that resilience demands far more than reactionary firefighting and relief. Policies must integrate early warning systems, community-based forest management, pollution controls, and climate-smart land use planning. Only by weaving together scientific, social, and institutional tools can India hope to survive and thrive in an era of intensifying climate extremes.