Mala Balaji, Researcher.

Tamil Nadu stands as one of India’s most dynamic states. It is a powerhouse of industry, agriculture, and culture, yet it is also among the most climate-vulnerable. With its vast coastline stretching over 1,076 km, fertile plains, bustling urban centres and concentrated industrial hubs, the state finds itself on the frontline of climate change. Rising seas, recurring cyclones, searing heatwaves, erratic rainfall and crippling water stress are no longer distant threats but lived realities.

In a country where a failed monsoon can tip millions into distress and a single heatwave can bring cities to a standstill, Artificial intelligence (AI) may well be the climate ally India did not know it needed. Imagine if the monsoon had a mind that could be read, predicted, even gently reasoned with. AI may not grant us divine control, but it is beginning to feel like the weather whisperer we never had.

Forecasting the future:

Climate change is no longer a tale of polar bears and faraway glaciers. It is the heatwave scorching our summers, the flood water rising in our streets, the drying borewells in our villages and the poor quality of air we breathe. Yet for many young minds across India, this urgent crisis remains hidden in the margins of textbooks reduced to a chapter in science or a passing reference in social studies, easily forgotten after the exam.

The ocean, often referred to as the planet's lifeblood, covers over 70% of the Earth's surface, connecting continents, shaping climates and nurturing diverse ecosystems.

Another COP (Conference of Parties) comes and goes, leaving in its wake the familiar aftermath of frustration and unmet expectations. Once again, promises were made, but the gap between words and actions feels wider than ever as COP summits often seem mired in speeches and declarations, with little to show in terms of tangible, transformative outcomes. Why does it feel like we are perpetually stuck in a cycle of too little - too late, while the clock on climate action ticks relentlessly?

The Bonn Climate Talks in June 2024 marked a critical moment as global leaders, activists, scientists and policymakers came together to tackle the escalating climate crisis. With climate impacts intensifying across the globe, the discussions highlighted the urgent need for swift and tangible actions. These talks serve as a precursor to COP29, carrying the delicate hope of a world attempting to juggle both prosperity and preservation. The path ahead remains long and complex, but the stakes are higher than ever in the race against climate change.

All thanks to the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, the Supreme Court of India has given climate justice the much-needed spotlight it deserves. In an unprecedented landmark ruling, on March 21, 2024, in the case of M.K. Ranjitsinh & Ors. v.

In the race against climate change, nations worldwide face a monumental challenge: balancing the urgent need for sustainable development with the financial resources required to implement transformative solutions. This is where blended finance emerges as one of the tools in the fight against climate change with the strategic use of development finance and philanthropic funds to mobilise private capital flows to emerging markets.