Preparing India for water stress, climate resilience 

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated globally on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970 and is now recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, engaging billions of people across more than 190 countries. Earth Day serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, aiming to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, and species extinction. The theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics," highlighting the issue of plastic pollution.

The primary goals of Earth Day include

• Earth Day serves as a platform to educate individuals and communities about environmental issues and their impacts on ecosystems, human health, and future generations.
• Earth Day encourages people to take action to protect the planet by participating in various activities such as tree planting, beach cleanups, recycling drives, and advocacy campaigns.
• Earth Day inspires individuals, businesses, governments, and organizations to adopt more sustainable practices and policies to reduce their environmental footprint and promote a healthier planet.
• Earth Day brings together people from diverse backgrounds and cultures to collaborate on environmental initiatives, creating a united front in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) is a prominent Indian think tank focusing on research related to energy, environment, and water resource management. Their work aims to inform policy decisions and promote sustainable development in India.

CEEW and International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Analysis

This collaborative study likely examines the interconnectedness of water resources with food and energy systems in India.

• Current water policies often lack a holistic approach, failing to consider the impact on food and energy sectors.
• The analysis emphasizes the need to consider water availability when expanding green hydrogen production (a clean energy source).
• The study highlights the importance of evaluating the impact of solar irrigation pumps on groundwater levels to ensure sustainable water usage.
• The analysis recommends incorporating the concept of the "food-land-water nexus" into policymaking, considering local data and involving communities in the decision-making process.

CEEW Monsoon Rainfall Patterns Study

This potential study investigates the changing monsoon rainfall patterns in India. Here's what we can infer based on the given information:

• The study likely reveals a rise in short-duration, heavy monsoon rainfall events across a significant portion of India (around 55% of sub-districts) over the past decade.
• This shift in rainfall patterns disrupts crop sowing, irrigation, and harvesting cycles, jeopardizing agricultural yields.
• The study might advocate for building resilience in the agricultural sector to adapt to changing water availability and mitigate the risks associated with unpredictable monsoons.

3. Addressing India's Climate Challenges

As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forewarns of a hotter summer and prolonged heat waves spanning April to June, India must brace itself for heightened water stress. Unlike the conventional approach of treating acute stresses such as heatwaves, water scarcity, or extreme weather events as temporary crises necessitating short-term relief efforts, a paradigm shift is imperative. It's time to acknowledge and address the chronic nature of the risks posed by climate change.

Transitioning from Reactive to Proactive Measures

India's response to environmental challenges must transcend reactive, panic-driven reactions, exemplified by instances like the water crisis in Bengaluru. Instead, a deeper understanding of the enduring risks we confront is needed, along with strategic, long-term responses.

Broadening Climate Action and Sustainability Efforts

Climate action and environmental sustainability cannot be the sole responsibility of select sectors or businesses. Mere token gestures, such as sporadic sapling plantation drives, are insufficient. Instead, holistic and concerted efforts across all sectors are essential.

Reframing the Climate-Economy Nexus

This Earth Day serves as a poignant reminder that the climate is no longer a peripheral concern but a central economic driver. The trajectory of economic growth hinges on our ability to grasp the intricate interplay between land, food, energy, and water resources.

Grasping India's Resource Dilemma

India's demographic and geographical realities pose formidable challenges. Despite accommodating 18% of the global population on a mere 2.4% of the Earth's surface, India contends with a mere 4% share of the world's freshwater resources. Moreover, rampant pollution plagues nearly half of its rivers, while vital reservoirs languish at critically low storage levels.

The Imperative for Adaptive Strategies

While India has made substantial strides in disaster preparedness, the evolving nature of climatic shocks demands adaptive strategies. The spectrum of challenges spans from sudden, catastrophic events—like intense rainfall and precipitous declines in water availability—to gradual, yet insidious shifts, such as diminished soil moisture retention and altered rainfall patterns. Seasonal preparedness measures must evolve into holistic, year-round resilience-building endeavours to effectively confront these multifaceted climate risks.

Water, a fundamental resource, permeates every facet of the economy, yet its intricate connections often go unnoticed, addressed in isolation rather than as an integrated component of various sectors. Understanding these interconnected flows of water within the economy is essential, given its pivotal role in sustaining hydrological, agricultural, and energy systems, impacting millions of lives.

The Hydrological-Food-Energy Nexus

At the heart of this interconnection lies precipitation, the primary source of soil moisture, green water stored in vegetation, and blue water present in rivers and aquifers. Both blue and green water are indispensable for agriculture, irrigating crops, influencing harvests, and driving economic activity. Agriculture, which continues to employ around 45% of India's population, remains heavily reliant on water resources. However, changing monsoon patterns, as evidenced by a significant increase in southwest monsoon rainfall in many sub-districts, pose new challenges. The rise in short-duration and heavy rainfall events disrupts traditional agricultural practices, affecting crop sowing, irrigation, and harvesting. Enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate and water-related stresses is paramount for sustaining livelihoods, fostering economic growth, and promoting environmental sustainability.

Water's Role in Clean Energy

Water also plays a crucial role in the global transition towards clean energy. Green hydrogen, a cornerstone of efforts to decarbonize industry and long-distance transport, is produced using water and renewable electricity. Pumped storage hydropower serves as a natural battery, balancing power grid loads and ensuring a reliable supply of clean energy.

Climate Crisis and Hydrometeorological Disasters

The escalating climate crisis exacerbates hydrometeorological disasters, with nearly 75% of natural disasters over the past two decades linked to water-related events. India has witnessed a significant increase in flood-associated incidents, including landslides, thunderstorms, and cloud bursts. These alarming trends underscore the urgency of addressing freshwater management as a critical planetary boundary, given its pivotal role in sustaining ecosystems and human societies.

5. The Essentials of Water Security

Ensuring water security is paramount for India's domestic supply, food security, and transition to clean energy. However, the strategies employed by India in this regard carry broader implications for other water-stressed developing nations and emerging economies. Achieving water security necessitates a multifaceted approach, encompassing sound policies, efficient water management practices, including urban wastewater reuse, and adequate financial resources to adapt to evolving challenges.

Integrated Water Governance

Effective water governance demands policies that acknowledge the intricate interplay between water, food, and energy systems. Despite India's adoption of numerous policies, many fail to recognize these interconnected relationships during planning and implementation. For instance, while there's a push for scaling up green hydrogen production, considerations regarding water availability are often overlooked. Similarly, the expansion of solar irrigation pumps should be strategically planned to minimize adverse impacts on groundwater levels. Policies must integrate the food-land-water nexus by incorporating localized evidence and community engagement to ensure sustainable resource management.

Judicious Water Use

India must prioritize the efficient utilization of blue and green water resources through comprehensive water accounting and effective reuse practices. Initiatives like the National Water Mission aim to enhance water use efficiency, yet they lack baseline data essential for quantifying progress. Water accounting principles are crucial for accurately assessing water savings and incentivizing investments in treated wastewater reuse, thereby promoting resource efficiency across sectors.

Financial Innovation for Climate Adaptation

Leveraging financial mechanisms is essential to fund climate adaptation initiatives in the water sector. While India has predominantly focused on climate mitigation in the industrial, energy, and transport sectors, investments in adaptation measures remain limited. Financial commitments for climate adaptation, particularly in the water and agriculture sectors, need to be bolstered. Initiatives like the Green Credit Programme offer opportunities to bridge the adaptation funding gap by incentivizing investments in wastewater treatment, desalination plants, and climate-resilient agricultural practices. Moreover, tapping into Corporate Social Responsibility funds presents an additional avenue for financing adaptation projects, fostering resilience against climate-induced water challenges.