Local Climate Projection and Effective Climate Policy
iasparliament
March 21, 2025
Why in News?
Recently, the School of Climate Change and Sustainability at Azim Premji University) has started creating district-level climate projections for every region in India.
What are the significances of local level climate projections?
Climatic diversity of India - 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
Better disaster preparedness - If local governments had seamless access to granular, district-level climate projections, they could better prepare for the future.
Monsoon vagaries - Every monsoon season brings uncertainty in terms of floods in some states or droughts in others.
Decision making - Without granular data, decision-making is like navigating a storm with a broken compass.
Farmers struggle to make planting decisions, urban planners lack reliable data to develop long-term strategies for extreme weather.
Proactive resilience-building - District-level climate projections facilitates the shifting from reactive disaster management to proactive resilience-building.
Climate data democracy - To ensure that every community, regardless of its resources, has equal access to scientific climate insights that affect their future.
Climate data democratisation is essential for effective climate action for a resilient future.
What are the challenges in transferring climate science into policy?
Limited access to data - A major reason for this disconnect is the limited access to accurate climate data in a usable form.
Complex data - 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.
Inadequate capacity - Even when climate data is available, local officials may not know how to use it due to a lack of training.
Inadequate tools - Without the right tools and insights, even the best climate projections fail to inform decision-making.
Low awareness - 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.
Lack of coordination - Government departments often work in isolation, making it hard to use climate data in decision-making.
Urban planners rarely consult climate scientists, leading to infrastructure projects that ignore future risks.
Bridging this gap is essential to transforming scientific knowledge into actionable, impactful policies.
How to bridge the gap between Climate Science and Climate 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 modelling efforts become meaningless and fail to benefit society.
Four levers of change - The government and policymakers, the journalists and media houses, teachers and students, and the activists and the civil society organisations to collaborate to make science effective in benefitting society.
Data access - Making district-level climate data accessible to journalists, educators, and community leaders can help people understand the real impact and push for change.
Local climate assessment - Climate risk assessments can be conducted at every district using localized projections, allowing state governments to incorporate climate adaptation into their annual budgets.
Capacity building - Workshops, training programs, and climate fellowships can be designed to equip officials with the ability to interpret and apply climate data effectively.
Public-Private Partnerships - 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 can facilitate collaboration with these industries, encouraging investments in climate adaptation measures that benefit both businesses and communities.
