In a rapidly warming world, climate data is not just numbers on a screen, it holds the key to survival. For decades, climate projections in India remained largely inaccessible or were too broad-scaled to drive real action at the local level.
This gap fueled our (School of Climate Change and Sustainability at Azim Premji University) determination to lead an effort that, for the first time, provides district-level climate projections for every region in India. As the data is publicly available through a web portal, we are starting to engage with journalists, students, and citizens to communicate about this dataset and how this could be useful in thinking about local action. We have a long journey ahead, but we’re beginning to understand that this work is more than just climate science — it’s our ikigai, our true purpose.
The climate crisis is local, but our data wasn’t
India is a country of immense climatic diversity. From the snow-capped Himalayas to the drought-prone Deccan Plateau, from the floodplains of the Ganga to the cyclone-ravaged coasts of Odisha, no two districts experience climate change in the same way.
Every monsoon season brings uncertainty in terms of floods in some states or droughts in others. Farmers struggle to make planting decisions, urban planners lack reliable data to develop long-term strategies for extreme weather. Without granular data, decision-making is like navigating a storm with a broken compass.
By making district-level climate projections accessible, we are shifting from reactive disaster management to proactive resilience-building. A district in Maharashtra now has the same ability to plan for rising temperatures as a city in Europe.
This is no longer about abstract climate policies; it is about empowering every Indian district with the knowledge to prepare for the future. This approach embodies the principles of climate data democracy to ensure that every community, regardless of its resources, has equal access to scientific insights that affect their future.
Bridging the gap between Science and Policy
Science alone is insufficient unless it is effectively applied to benefit society, including the fight against climate change. If climate projection data is not effectively utilised, climate modeling efforts become meaningless and fail to benefit society.
To facilitate this, we identify four levers of change i.e. the government and policymakers, the journalists and media houses, teachers and students, and the activists and the civil society organisations to collaborate with to make our science effective in benefitting society.
Our advocacy is for the integration of climate projections into policymaking, fact-based reporting, teaching, and activism. The question now is no longer about the reality of climate change, but whether we have the resolve to act using the readily available climate projections before us.
The current gap between climate science and policy implementation is deeply concerning. There is a general agreement on the growing unpredictability of climate change and the increasing anomalies in monsoons and heatwaves. However proactive steps towards integrating the climate reality into policy remain severely lacking.
A major reason for this disconnect may be because of the limited access to accurate climate data in a usable form. Processing complex climate data into easily usable form at a high level of granularity is difficult and hence there is a general hurdle for the policymakers to interpret the projections and apply them effectively. Without the right tools and insights, even the best climate projections fail to inform decision-making. Bridging this gap is essential to transforming scientific knowledge into actionable, impactful policies.
This scenario made us firmly believe that climate data democratisation is essential for effective climate action for a resilient future. In a rapidly changing climate, planning is becoming increasingly challenging as officials contend with the growing unpredictability of climate change.
Our thought is that if the local governments have seamless access to granular, district-level climate projections and if they get educated about how to use this information for planning, increasing challenges from climate-driven disasters such as heat stress, irregular rainfall patterns, extreme hydrological events such as flooding and droughts could proactively be addressed.
With proper integration of this information, policies could be effective in addressing heat stress adaptation, integrating shifting rainfall patterns into agricultural policies, and designing infrastructure resilient to future climate shocks. Our effort is ensuring that the data is available, the real challenge now is turning it into a tool for action.
What is Ikigai?
Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy that describes the purpose of life at the intersection of what we like to do, what we are good at, what the world needs, and what sustains us in the long run. True ikigai lies at the center of these four elements, where passion, skill, impact, and sustainability overlap.
For us, climate science represents that intersection. We are driven by the pursuit of knowledge, we have honed the expertise to analyze and interpret climate data, the world urgently needs this information, and slowly policymakers and institutions recognize its value. The road ahead is not smooth due to resistance to change, bureaucratic hurdles, and a lack of urgency often slowing down discussions around climate action. But we understand that true ikigai is not about ease; it is about conviction and we understand that there is still a long way to go.
The roadblocks to climate action
Now that climate data is freely available and easy to access, will every district start using it right away? The answer is not so simple. A mix of low awareness, resistance to change, and slow policy action stands in the way. Climate change affects everything—agriculture, water, health, energy, and urban planning. But government departments often work in isolation, making it hard to use climate data in decision-making.
For instance, urban planners rarely consult climate scientists, leading to infrastructure projects that ignore future risks. Many policymakers still see climate change as a distant problem, not an urgent one. As a result, short-term political and economic priorities overshadow long-term planning.
Even when climate data is available, local officials may not know how to use it due to a lack of training. To overcome this, we need capacity-building programs that help officials turn climate data into action. Climate change is not just a topic for scientists and policymakers—it affects everyone. Making district-level climate data accessible to journalists, educators, and community leaders can help people understand the real impact and push for change.
How do we move forward?
The good news is that change is already underway. The School of Climate Change and Sustainability at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, has recently released district-level climate projection data for the first time in India openly through a web portal. This is the first step towards climate data democratisation in India which can help easier integration of climate intelligence into decision-making at all levels.
One critical step is mandating climate risk assessments at the district level. Every district must conduct these assessments using localized projections, allowing state governments to incorporate climate adaptation into their annual budgets. Without such data-driven planning, adaptation efforts will remain reactive rather than proactive, leaving communities vulnerable to climate shocks.
Alongside this, training government officials in climate science must become a priority. Just as financial literacy is essential for policymakers, so too is climate literacy. Workshops, training programs, and climate fellowships should be designed to equip officials with the ability to interpret and apply climate data effectively. When those in charge of policy and infrastructure planning understand climate risks, they can implement strategies that safeguard people and economies in the long run.
Strengthening public-private partnerships is another crucial component of building climate resilience. The private sector—particularly insurance companies, real estate developers, and agribusinesses—has a vested interest in understanding climate risks, as these projections can help them de-risk investments and build long-term resilience.
Governments should facilitate collaboration with these industries, encouraging investments in climate adaptation measures that benefit both businesses and communities. Additionally, making climate data more accessible to the public is essential. Open-access platforms should allow farmers, city planners, and local businesses to explore climate projections in a user-friendly format, enabling them to make informed decisions about land use, infrastructure, and resource management. Climate intelligence must become mainstream, embedded in governance, business strategy, and everyday life to ensure a sustainable and resilient future.
A call for action
Climate science is not meant to sit in research papers—it must reach the people who need it most. If India is to become truly climate-resilient, district-level projections must be woven into education, governance, business strategies, and everyday decision-making. This is not just about adapting to climate change; it is about securing India’s future.
My hope is that others—scientists, policymakers, and students — find their ikigai in this battle against climate change. The challenge before us is immense, but so is the opportunity to shape a future where data-driven climate action is the norm, not the exception. India’s climate future is being written now. The question is: will we use the knowledge at our fingertips to shape it wisely?
(Santonu Goswami is a Climate Scientist and Senior Faculty at the School of Climate Change and Sustainability at Azim Premji University, Bangalore)
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Published – March 20, 2025 06:00 am IST