India, Aug. 26 -- At the heart of India's climate crisis lies a neglected truth: while reckless development and climate change accelerate risks, India's most powerful line of defence - its forests - remains underutilised. Forests are living systems that regulate water, stabilise slopes, cool cities, buffer coasts, and act as carbon sequester

India is currently facing a rise in disasters. The record-breaking heatwaves of 2024, with temperatures in parts of Rajasthan exceeding 50 degC, served as a stark warning of the extremes ahead. Cyclones Asna and Fengal caused widespread damage along the coasts, while Himalayan states endured snowstorms, flash floods, landslides, and the looming threat of glacial lake outbursts.

The year 2025 has pro...