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The Indian west coast is under constant threat from climate change-induced hazards. Various social, economic, and infrastructural disparities along the coast cause significant variations in climate vulnerability. Current literature assesses vulnerability either over (1) a large area with poor spatial resolution or (2) a local area with better spatial resolution. The former assessments provide more comprehensive and broad insights into large spatial trends of vulnerability, while the latter provide more accurate and specific inputs needed by the local governments for effective intervention. However, there is a lack of studies that assess vulnerability simultaneously at a high-resolution and over a large geographic area, due to inadequacies in existing methodologies and difficulty in data management and analysis. This is a key gap that we address in our paper. We assess climate vulnerability of the entire Indian west coast at the village level, and propose a novel machine-learning based methodology tailored for high-resolution assessment over large geographic areas. This helped us produce the first high-resolution (i.e. village-level) climate vulnerability map of the entire Indian west coast. We found that the state of Maharashtra has the highest number of vulnerable villages and the state of Kerala has the least number of vulnerable villages. We collate and utilize a large dataset of 112 indicators describing socioeconomic characteristics, infrastructure and availability of financial services, among other aspects, to obtain a comprehensive picture of vulnerability. We analyze geospatial trends and attribute high vulnerability to specific indicators, which will help in effective decision-making at the village level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper interrogates technological fix narratives on the genetically modified crop Bt cotton in India that claim to address poverty under climate change. Furthermore, I focus on the political economy of input markets as the mechanism for technology adoption and theoretically maximizing profitability for farmers. I compare these narratives to empirical reality by drawing on 94 interviews and 151 household surveys conducted in the south Indian state of Telangana, the second biggest Bt cotton producing state in India. I show how Bt cotton has been propagated as a technological climate fix crop through its technical traits of thriving in higher temperatures and adapting to particular pests in rainfed conditions relative to non-GM cotton varieties. Yet, I show how Bt cotton increases economic risks for farmers due to higher input costs, which are financed by debt relations with market intermediaries. These debt relations, which I term 'indebtedness treadmills', are intrinsically linked to droughts and rainfall climatic variability in Telangana, owing to the increasingly unreliable agroecological rainfed and semi-arid Bt cotton growing conditions. The paper therefore highlights unintended consequences of technological fix climate narratives that arise from siloing technologies from their contextual conditions of adoption to the detriment of real-world outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The continuous cultivation of rice–wheat in the same field is a key element of double‐cropping systems in the Indo‐Gangetic plains. Yields of such cropping systems are increasingly challenged as climate change drives increases in temperature, terminal stress and uneven rainfall, delaying rice harvesting and subsequently delaying sowing of wheat. In this paper, we evaluate the optimum sowing dates to achieve high grain yield and quality of wheat cultivars in northwest India. Three cultivars of wheat, HD‐2967, HD‐3086 and PBW‐723, were sown on three different dates at the research farm of ICAR‐IARI, New Delhi, to generate different weather conditions at different phenological stages. Different biophysical attributes, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, were measured at different phenological stages. Yield and grain quality parameters such as protein, starch, amylopectin, amylose and gluten were measured in different cultivars sown on different dates. RESULTS: Biophysical parameters were found to be higher in timely sown crops followed by late‐sown and very late‐sown crops. Further, the different sowing dates had a significant (P < 0.05) impact on the grain quality parameters such as protein, starch, amylopectin, amylose and gluten content. Percentage increases in the value of starch and amylose content under timely sown were ~7% and 11.6%, ~5% and 8.4%, compared to the very late‐sown treatment. In contrast, protein and amylopectin contents were found to increase by ~9.7% and 7.5%, ~13.8% and 16.6% under very late‐sown treatment. CONCLUSION: High‐temperature stress during the grain‐filling periods significantly decreased the grain yield. Reduction in the grain yield was associated with a reduction in starch and amylose content in the grains. The protein content in the grains is less affected by terminal heat stress. Cultivar HD‐3086 had higher growth, yield as well as quality parameters, compared to HD‐2967 and PBW‐723 in all treatments, hence could be adopted by farmers in northwest India. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the intersection of neoliberalism, development communication, and climate justice in India, particularly under the Modi regime. It examines how neoliberal ideologies leverage dominant communication paradigms reflecting class dominance, biopolitical control, and a unified national identity rooted in religion. This form of communication extends to policies related to climate justice with India conceptualised and communicated as a monolithic entity or a nation-state with a homogenous belief system that prioritises development over climate concerns, reinforced through binaries prevalent in global climate justice negotiations. This nation-centric approach to climate justice marginalises the views of vulnerable communities in climate justice. While taking a critical view of environmental movements, this article advocates alternative paradigms of communication through a bottom-up approach and identifies conditions and institutions that promote transformative climate justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a financial risk to companies, and those that disregard this will have to deal with losses due to extreme weather events, new regulations, or the disruption of the supply chain. Companies must disclose climate-related financial implications to enable informed decision-making by investors and other stakeholders. Any indifference or disregard for climate-related disclosures will harm the investors who may trade based on insufficient information and prices of securities that do not account for climate risks. In India, disclosures are mandated for companies under the Companies Act 2013 and various Securities and Exchange Board of India Regulations. This paper will explore the adequacy of the current disclosure regime concerning climate change and argue that, although information regarding climate risks falls within the ambit of the current set of mandated disclosures, it is insufficient. The paper concludes by making a case for mandatory climate disclosures under the Companies Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the most critical socio-economic and environmental problems in India. Although India's per capita emission is very low compared to other developed nations, the economic impacts are very high as millions depend on climate sensitive sectors for instance, agriculture and forestry etc. Given the above context, this paper discusses the status of climate change, its economic impacts, especially for agriculture and forestry, climate change and financial gaps and other climate policy initiatives in India. In addition, this paper also discusses the four aspects such as climate change and macro-economic impacts, distributional aspects, social cost of carbon, and finally finance and technological aspects. There arises an urgent requirement to conduct a vulnerability assessment for reducing future poverty and inequality associate to climate change in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Climate change-related weather events significantly affect rice production. In this paper, we investigate the impact of and interrelationships between agriculture inputs, climate change factors and financial variables on rice production in India from 1970–2021. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on the time series analysis; the unit root test has been employed to unveil the integration order. Further, the study used various econometric techniques, including vector autoregression estimates (VAR), cointegration test, autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and diagnostic test for ARDL, fully modified least squares (FMOLS), canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition method (VDM) to validate the long- and short-term impacts of climate change on rice production in India of the scrutinized variables. Findings: The study's findings revealed that the rice area, precipitation and maximum temperature have a significant and positive impact on rice production in the short run. In the long run, rice area (ß = 1.162), pesticide consumption (ß = 0.089) and domestic credit to private sector (ß = 0.068) have a positive and significant impact on rice production. The results show that minimum temperature and direct institutional credit for agriculture have a significant but negative impact on rice production in the short run. Minimum temperature, pesticide consumption, domestic credit to the private sector and direct institutional credit for agriculture have a negative and significant impact on rice production in the long run. Originality/value: The present study makes valuable and original contributions to the literature by examining the short- and long-term impacts of climate change on rice production in India over 1970–2021. To the best of the authors' knowledge, The majority of the studies examined the impact of climate change on rice production with the consideration of only "mean temperature" as one of the climatic variables, while in the present study, the authors have considered both minimum as well as maximum temperature. Furthermore, the authors also considered the financial variables in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in green energies attempts to fulfil worldwide energy needs while substituting fossil fuels. It does, however, necessitate a vast amount of land. On the other hand, food security is jeopardized by the effects of climate change as well as an expanding population, particularly in India. As India strives for net-zero emissions by 2050, the integration of photovoltaics (PV) with agriculture has unlocked an emerging field known as agrivoltaics (AV). Agrivoltaics not only provides a long-term solution to the issue of land competition, but it also increases agricultural yields, conserves water resources, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. To evaluate the elements influencing the efficiency of AV, studies on revolutionary technologies connected to solar systems and the latest generation of photovoltaics are examined. This paper looks at agrivoltaics as a climate-conscious farming option with its advantages and disadvantages in India. This article also reviews AV plant designs and how varied intervals, altitude, and density affect shadowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands provide numerous ecological and economic services to mankind. The soils of wetlands are one of the largest sinks of carbon (C) among the terrestrial ecosystems and can play an important role in offsetting the emission of C as a greenhouse gas (GHG) to the atmosphere. India is bestowed with enriched wetland ecosystems that support diverse and unique habitats. The potential of the wetlands in terms of C capture and sequestration has not been quantified. Therefore, in the present paper, an assessment of C capture from different sources and its ultimate deposition in soils leading to sequestration has been done in three different types of wetlands, one created sewage-fed and two natural floodplain oxbow lakes, in the West Bengal state of India. Multiple seasonal sampling of water, macrophytes, and soil was done to assess the primary productivity, dissolved C, and deposition of C in soils of the wetlands in comparison to reference upland sites. All these wetlands are productive ecosystems as indicated by the physicochemical parameters of water and soil. The quantity of C accumulated up to 0.3 m depth in the oxbow lakes was to the tune of 144–166 Mg/ha, which was 3.43–4.78 times higher than that in the corresponding reference upland sites. In the sewage-fed wetland, the C accumulation estimated as 50 Mg/ha was 1.27 times higher than its corresponding upland site. So, the wetland ecosystems, particularly the floodplains, are highly efficient in accumulating C in their soils and thus can somewhat negate the GHG emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a formidable threat to food security in India, a country with a population of over 1.3 billion people heavily dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. This paper provides an overview of the challenges and potential solutions for addressing the intersection of climate change and food security in India. The impact of climate change, such as altered precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and changing pest and disease dynamics, have profound consequences for Indian agriculture, exacerbating the already existing vulnerabilities within the food system, from smallholder farmers to the overall supply chain. The consequences of a disrupted food supply extend to issues of malnutrition, hunger, and socio-economic instability. This paper explores various facets of this complex issue such as the specific challenges faced by Indian agriculture due to climate change and the resultant threats to food security, ongoing efforts and potential solutions, including the adoption of climateresilient crop varieties, precision agriculture, and sustainable water management practices, to mitigate these challenges, and the necessity of policy intervention to enhance climate resilience within Indian agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change crises and environmental imbalances have been a significant concern globally in recent times. The climatic changes give rise to various issues such as global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, deterioration of natural resources, soil erosion, deforestation, and more. Many international and national agreements and policies have been created to protect the environment, from the UNFCCC to the recent Paris Agreement, aiming to control rising environmental issues. However, developed and developing countries must achieve desirable results in combating climate change. Industrial and technological developments are critical reasons for environmental pollution and degradation. Progress is necessary for planned developing countries, but growth and expansions shall also consider ecological sustainability. Technology shall be novel in adapting to the changes, considering the effects it can produce on the environment. Green technology combines technology with the environment, also called environmental technology, clean technology, or sustainable technology. It is a combination of science and technology together to mitigate climatic changes and protect the environment. Green technology is the modern sustainable solution to pressing environmental concerns. India is one of the countries globally showing rapid green technology developments. The authors of this paper have tried to highlight the dire need to modify technological developments vis-a-vis environmental sustainability to protect the environment. The research paper delves into and understands the interface between clean technology’s importance and relevance for ecological sustainability and the role of patent law, particularly in dealing with issues of the environment. The paper shall also establish a harmonious relationship between patent law and its role in ensuring environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we ask: why do people in rural agrarian communities facing increasing migration pressures from changing climatic conditions, stay? We aim to understand why people stay, who stays, what are the impacts of migration on those who stay, and what are their needs for adaptation? We study a population of people who do not migrate from Himalayan communities of Uttarakhand, India, despite their livelihoods being already severely disrupted by climate change climate change and high outmigration has led to abandoned so-called 'ghost villages'. Semi-structured interviews (n = 72) were held with affected communities, experts, and policymakers. Results show that motivations for immobility are shaped by place attachment; place-based resource advantages; social milieu; dependence on subsistence agriculture and gender roles. We find that immobility experiences are differentiated by gender, age and in situ resources. Those who stay are negatively impacted by migration via loss of labour in agriculture, changes in population size and composition, loss of community, in addition to the negative impacts of climate change. Our results are likely relevant on a global scale, to other subsistence smallholder communities who stay despite increasing climate risks. These populations will need gender-sensitive support to adapt in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has been identified as one of the most vulnerable countries within the global climate crisis. Kerala has been highlighted as a hotspot of climate vulnerability within India, and this was illustrated by the floods of 2018. Nearly, 500 people lost their lives during the floods and 1.4 million were displaced, with the reconstruction programme still taking place today. Anecdotal andmedia accounts have suggested that the Keralan diaspora played a significant part in the disaster relief and reconstruction effort both during and after the floods. However, there has been very little detailed empirical investigation into this particular diasporic engagement during a time of crisis. Drawing upon original empirical research, this paper will examine the nature and impact of Keralan diasporic engagement during, and after, the 2018 floods, particularly focussing upon whether this was an inclusive relief and development effort across the categories of caste, region and religion within the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite great efforts in facing climate change challenges—especially by the UN Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and companion documents (Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the New Urban Agenda)—generally speaking, current policies on climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction at both national and international levels have not yet been centrally positioned in respective plans for heritage, and cultural heritage still does not have a central role in such policies. The main aim of this paper is to explore the culture/cultural heritage's complex interrelationship with climate change by delving into critical issues/gaps and recommendatory encounters of heritage framework in climate change framework and vice versa at the international level and an example in India. Accordingly, this paper showcases a type of Indian Water Infrastructure Heritage; Stepwells, traditional underground water management systems in arid western India which, unfortunately, with modernization, lost their original function and hence, nowadays, most are abandoned. Thus, by the situational analysis of such an Indian urban-scale type of heritage, this paper concludes with critical reflections on the necessity of the systemic relationship among sustainability, conservation, and development, especially in practice and the need to recall the notion of sustainability again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory forms of policy-making have often been criticized for insufficiently theorizing the coproduction of publics and matters of concern. This paper seeks to investigate this relationship further by analyzing how the concept of civic epistemologies (CEs) can provide insights for understanding how political contexts shape both publics and contestable debates. Presenting fieldwork on cyclone governance in Odisha, India, based on the analysis of interviews with vulnerable fishing communities and state actors, the article shows how CEs influence the interdependent formation of vulnerable fisher and state subjectivities on one hand with representations of risk located in external biophysical atmospheric gases on the other, thereby sustaining reductive roles and futures. At the same time, the paper develops the concept of CEs by examining them as performative acts carried out by marginalized communities and state actors at the subnational level of a nonindustrialized country, thereby indicating sites at which epistemic agency can be increased and governed. Participatory knowledge production needs to understand how it is affected by CEs if it is to generate effective expertise for transformative futures in the face of increasing climatic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the global water crisis and the unsustainable management of water resources. It highlights the increasing frequency and duration of extreme hydrometeorological events due to climate change. The lack of long-term political priority given to water management by policymakers is identified as a major problem. The article also emphasizes the importance of sustainable groundwater management and the need for policies to reduce the decline of groundwater levels and contamination. The negative consequences of unregulated groundwater extraction in countries like the United States and India are discussed. The article concludes by mentioning other papers in the journal that cover various water-related topics. [Extracted from the article]

The cement industry is undeniably critical for the global economy. However, they are also the largest energy consumers in the world. The clinker manufacturing process causes gaseous emissions like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter. There is scope for various technologies to be used in the cement manufacturing process for reducing emissions and energy consumption. This paper presents an analysis of various emission reduction approaches using alternative techniques/raw materials, energy saving (thermal and electrical) methods, process optimization/modifications, carbon capture and storage. However, financial and technical challenges remain significant barriers against sustainability initiatives in the clinker manufacturing process. Practical and feasible methods were applied to reduce nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and particulate matter emissions during the clinker manufacturing process. This study also shows the application of pinch technology for more economical energy usage. This study was conducted in the premises of Emami Cement Limited, Balodabazar (Chhattisgarh State), India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims at simulating streamflow using Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrological Modelling System (HEC-HMS) under different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP's) to access the impact of climate change on hydrological regime of Bhagirathi River at Tehri Dam. The input for the study is precipitation and temperature which are obtained from remote-sensing data. The temperature and precipitation data daily products are obtained from Tropical Rain Monitoring Mission (TRMM) and Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) missions and the respective future anomalies were obtained from World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP). The streamflow simulation is done for RCP's 4.5 and 8.5 under the models csiro_mk3_6_0, bcc_csm1_1, ccsm4 and mri_cgcm3. The study found that the combination of remote-sensing data and HEC-HMS model has been successful in simulating streamflow in the region. The region will experience an increase in streamflow discharge under changing climate over the next coming years. The simulation also indicates that there will be a change in temporal distribution pattern of the discharge. Amidst these uncertainties, the predictions also give an insight into the planning and management of constructed or to be constructed hydraulic structures in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ancient water harvesting systems, such as those from the Indus Valley Civilization (~3500 BCE), have been vital for irrigation and climate resilience, especially in arid regions. One such prominent system in South Asia, called tank irrigation, initially thrived through community management but declined post-independence due to colonial policies and neglect in Sri Lanka and India. This study evaluates current policy frameworks and rehabilitation programs to enhance the resilience of these systems in India, develop strategies for their protection and adaptation to climate change, and integrate global lessons for sustainable development. Methods: A systematic meta-analysis of grey literature was conducted to aggregate data on policy constraints. Policy analysis involved detailed investigations of relevant documents, regulations, and comparative analyses of frameworks at regional and national levels. Pilot projects on tank rehabilitation were assessed through reported case studies and field surveys to gauge impact. Thematic analysis was used to explore the global potential of these systems in climate resilience and overall environmental sustainability. Results: The analysis showed that pilot projects for tank rehabilitation had limited success in achieving sustainability under current climate conditions. Tank irrigation systems are crucial for adapting to extreme weather, including floods, droughts, and heat waves, replenishing groundwater, reducing soil erosion, and ensuring reliable water supplies. Traditional water harvesting technologies support 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including clean water access, hunger reduction, gender equality, and climate action. Integrating AI and machine learning in water management benefits disaster response, while eco-tourism aids system maintenance and cultural awareness. Discussion: The study underscores the need for policy reforms to enhance tank rehabilitation and institutional arrangements. It calls for increased beneficiary participation and constitutional recognition of current practices. Strategic, national-scale assessments and resilience targets are recommended to improve the effectiveness of such water harvesting systems in mitigating natural hazards and enhancing environmental services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate knowledge production and climate change adaptation are dominated by technocratic narratives. Where climate change intersects with institutional structures outside contexts of formal interventions, these narratives also have crucial implications for the recognition of climate change-affected citizens. This article focuses on the experience of farmers in the Indian Himalayas who are seeking support from the state following a climate change-induced drought. We suggest that the narrow technocratic framework produces climate vulnerability by preventing Himalayan farmers from accessing relevant drought support. The recognition of climate change-affected citizens, we maintain, is a question of climate justice and requires consideration for alternative methodologies and different epistemologies about climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment, development and abandonment and/or destruction of ancient civilizations were catalytically controlled by geomorphic features such as lakes and rivers and the climate. This paper examined the possible influence of tectonism and climate on six habitations of the ancient Vaigai River Basin civilization in South India, using multiple proxies such as grain size, geochronology and geochemistry of the sedimentary archives. The tectonic setting of the basin changed between the active margin and passive margin; the discriminant diagrams suggested varying provenance and changing climatic conditions over the mid‐ and‐late Holocene. Tectonic activism and quiescence, base‐level change in the channel morphology led to the burial/marooning of the first habitation surface. Overall, arid conditions were punctuated with catastrophic flooding and peak discharge (flood) destroyed the second, third and fourth habitation sites. These flooding events were characterized by moderate weathering (CIA) and high values of Al, Fe and Rb/Sr and low Ca/Mg in the sediment records. The abandonment/destruction of the fifth habitation also occurred during an arid interval (droughts), possibly caused by weak monsoon. Along with the interactions between tectono‐climatic and fluvial geomorphic factors, the new results provided avenues to (a) check and recognize the archives for 8.2 and 4.2 ka‐like events in this part of the world, and (b) the utility of integrated analyses to constrain on the civilizational histories of the mankind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current era, entire global economies are transitioning to sustainable development because of global warming and climate change. Due to turbulence in environmental issues such as weather shocks, climate change and basic infrastructure and industrial planning, many countries are changing their approach and taking green steps. This paper assesses sustainable finance in India and the ways in which India can mitigate climate changing risk toward zero carbon policy and supporting SDGs 2030. It talks about the physical and transitional climate risks in India like surface temperature, heat wave concourse, etc., and provides a comprehensive analysis of how the corporate sector is imparting its role in sustainable nature through corporate social responsibility (CSR). India is an emerging economy where energy is an essential component. This study analyzes about supply of energy and how India is shifting from traditional energy sources to renewal energy sources. Thus, the objective of this study is to focus on the initiatives taken by the Indian government for sustainable finance through green bond policy at national and international platforms using the Panchamrit framework adopted by India thereby focusing on India's sustainable policy support for SDGs 2030. Also, this research proposes numerous recommendations for future sustainable finance research in the context to India, which includes developing and diffusing innovative sustainable financing instruments, magnifying, and managing the profitability and returns of sustainable financing, making sustainable finance more sustainable, and leveraging the power of new-age technologies for sustainable finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under global warming and climate change (CC), the vulnerable piece of land is India's Eastern-Himalayan-Region (EHR), where millions' livelihood activities are at risk. Quantifying the degree of CC-induced vulnerability over the highly climate-sensitive mountain zone is challenging due to data inadequacy. This paper attempted to assess the CC perception of kiwifruit growers under EHR and the impact of CC on its cultivation. Perceived and scientific data were used for accurate decision-support information. The climatic variables of two locations were analyzed for trend using Mann–Kendall's test. Results suggested that the rainfall trend was found non-significant for both locations, but there was a negative trend during winter for Pasighat and during all seasons for Itanagar. Maximum temperature exhibited an increasing trend for annual, and minimum temperature showed an increasing trend across seasons for the Pasighat region. For the Itanagar region, the maximum temperature was found to have a significantly increasing trend in all seasons, while the minimum temperature showed an increasing trend during winter and annual seasons. Morning relative humidity showed an increasing trend for annual data for Pasighat, while annual evening relative humidity was significantly increased for Itanagar. The study shows that the indigenous farming communities were following shifting cultivation and diversifying their traditional agriculture to kiwifruit cultivation as an adaptation strategy. The community had a clear perception of CC trends and an inadequate perception of the impact on agriculture, therefore, engaging indigenous communities and other stakeholders to postulate a comprehensive adaptation and mitigation strategy for CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an attempt to review the climate change phenomenon through the theoretical lens of "Political Ecology of Health." It identifies the strategic implications of climate change policies on health and well‐being in the Sundarbans region of India and other related factors which come into play in determining the health status there. It encapsulates the existing vulnerabilities observed in this eco‐sensitive region and tries to reflect on the community's perception of the climate change crises inflicted upon them. The paper presents a comprehensive review of current conditions in the region. In addition to utilizing electronic databases, the author also reached out to experts from pertinent organizations with related expertise to gather supplementary references. Adapting to climate change is crucial to cope with the changing surroundings and elevate competency. Since Sundarbans' adaptation strategies are intricately dependent on historical positionality, community behavior, gender roles, social capital, and ecoregion sensitivity, the well‐being and recovery in the community are very much context‐specific. Thus, it must give space to discourses of newer politics of adaptation, emerging from a rigorous ecological standpoint. Looking into the matter through the lens of "situated knowledge, political economy and socio‐ecological relationships" brought out important issues like land‐ownership conflict, fading away of the traditional knowledge system, conspicuous utilization of funds and a poor public health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to illustrate the crucial role of preserving, protecting and managing the environment by Indigenous Peoples in Japan and India. Traditional Knowledge has provided the ability to detect, understand and respond to environmental changes. However, modern science and applied technology often fall short of sustainable practices, acquired through 'centuries of local observation'. Our consumer-centric world has unravelled a sad situation that has contributed to an irretrievable climate crisis. Multilateral instruments, however, have come to the rescue. In this journey, Japan and India have shown the world some constructive initiatives with positive outcomes which could go a long way in achieving the UN-SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and increasing urbanization have contributed greatly to urban flooding, making it a global problem. Adequate drainage is a primary requirement for maintaining the structural soundness and functional efficiency of a road. Inadequate drainage facilities can lead to premature deterioration of the highway and the development of adverse safety conditions such as hydroplaning. This paper presents design and modeling of storm water network by the application of software SewerGEMS V8i, which allows projects to be accomplished in a short time, with high efficiency. This paper presents the study and analysis of sewerage system for the ITPL Road, Mahadevpura situated in Bangalore, Karnataka. The study is on hydraulic design consists in the computation of the transit and total flow and hydraulic modelling for network pipes diameters or slopes. The network consists of pipes of varying diameters, manholes and outfall. SewerGEMS offers a full range of possibilities for the designer to draw, label, dimension and plotting the drawings of the sewage networks. With Bentley SewerGEMS v8i, it is possible to analyze the working of the network for certain years of return period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From time immemorial, the traditional practice of group work has contributed to the harmonious existence of various indigenous peoples. The Bakarwal pastoral nomads, who live in the Pir Panjal Range of the Great Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir, India, sustain their pastoral nomadic way of life by living and working in groups. They demonstrate the principles and values of social group work as they perform the transhumance or biannual seasonal migration, distribute tasks, reside in their summer and winter pastures, resolve conflicts, and provide reciprocal support and mutual aid. Available literature highlights the obstacles and challenges encountered by Bakarwal pastoral nomads, however, there is a dearth of literature that documents the self-sustaining practices that they use to overcome such complexities. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by comparing the traditional group work of the Bakarwals with professional social work with groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the demand of the growing population, there exists pressure on food production. In this context, appropriate prediction of crop yield helps in agricultural production planning. Given the inability of the traditional linear models to provide satisfactory prediction performance, there is a need to develop a crop yield prediction model that is simple in complexity, accurate in prediction, and less time-consuming during training and validation phases. Keeping these objectives in view, the present paper focuses on building an adaptive, low complexity, and accurate nonlinear model for the prediction of crop yield. A time series dataset for the period 1991–2012 of Karnataka, a southwestern state of India, is used for yield prediction. An empirical nonlinear relation between crop yield and the four independent attributes has been obtained from the proposed ANN model. The independent attributes employed are total rainfall, the cumulative distribution of temperature, the proportion of irrigated land, and the average amount of fertilizer used. It is demonstrated that the developed model exhibits better prediction accuracy, less root mean square error in the range of 0.07–0.14, less mean square error in the range of 0.01–0.04, and mean absolute error in the range of 0.07–0.15 compared to its corresponding linear regression model. It is recommended that the proposed ANN model can also be applied to predict other agricultural products of the same or other geographical regions of the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is a unique global natural geographical unit with a high altitude and fragile ecology, where land cover change has been affecting its regional ecological security and sustainable development. The plateau covers nine countries with different variations in climate change and human activities, which cause significant spatial variations in its land cover change. This paper uses land cover data to reveal the spatiotemporal characteristics and multi-country differences in land cover change on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from 1992 to 2020 by applying spatiotemporal characteristic analysis and mapping methods. The results show that grassland (65.70%), bare land (15.56%), and woodland (10.25%) are the main types of land cover on the plateau, accounting for 91.51% of the total area. The interconversion of bare land and grassland was dominant in 1992–2020, with an area share of 67.83%. The turning point year of grassland change occurred in 2015. The grassland area increased by 6312 km2 in 1992–2015, while it decreased by 14,646 km2 in the plateau in 2015–2020. The areas of woodland, cropland, and water increased by 2.77%, 5.85%, and 7.57%, respectively, and the area of built-up land increased from 299.17 km2 to 1206.29 km2. Overall, a warming and wetting trend of the climate in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has driven the expansion of natural vegetation and water in the central plateau within China, with its natural vegetation area increasing by 0.11%. However, the development of regional warming and drying caused local grassland degradation, where Kyrgyzstan and India within the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau experienced the most prominent vegetation degradation. Human activities are relatively frequent in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau within China and India, causing higher growth rates of built-up land and cropland than in other countries. The establishment of reserves and effective forest management policies have led to significant increases in woodland areas in China and Nepal within the plateau, while weak forest management and limited investment in forest conservation have led to high rates of deforestation in India and Myanmar. Accelerated temperature rises and regional differences in precipitation are the main drivers of large-scale land cover change on the plateau and differences in human activities and land use policies are responsible for the dramatic and diverse localized land cover change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among several devastating natural hazards, flooding is a common and serious threat to society causing huge loss of lives, properties, and infrastructure throughout the world. The intensity and frequency of this extreme weather event are expected to increase due to significant changes in the present‐day climate and land use and land cover (LULC) pattern. India has a very systematic and organized structural program and policies but lacks proper implementations, and adverse effect of climate change and the extreme event goes on in society. This paper is an analysis of floods in India and hazards due to climate change and LULC change patterns. Three models, namely "Eco‐biogeography‐based optimization (EBO), Random forest (RF), and Support vector machine (SVM)" were used to obtain the final output to prepare a "Flood susceptibility map". The result was validated through the "Receiver operating characteristics (ROC)" with "Area under curve (AUC)" values. The future rainfall scenario has been estimated by considering the "General circulation models" through different "shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs)". The values of AUC are 0.915 (EBO), 0.887 (RF), and 0.869 (SVM), respectively. After consideration of different SSPs, the result shows that there is an increasing tendency of flood hazards in the projected period. Among all the employed modelling approaches, the EBO model has notable potential in delineating the possible flood‐prone regions for effective flood planning and management. Decision‐makers can benefit from country‐specific information and regional planner to implement sustainable and long‐term measures to overcome this type of hazardous situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining per capita land, water and other resources triggered by changing climate and increasing population need resource conservation technologies (RCTs) for agricultural sustainability. This paper has presented findings from recent research on resource conservation technologies that have been attempted in different regions of India. The superiority of resource conservation technologies (RCTs) such as laser land leveling, zero tillage, bed planting, direct seeded rice, leaf colour chart, green seeker and crop diversification over conventional methods of cultivation practices is evaluated in terms of saving of energy, water and labour, increase in crop yield, water productivity, nutrient-use efficiency, net returns and making agriculture climate smart. Zero tillage with residue retention increase soil organic carbon sequestration, conserve soil moisture and lower soil temperature thus making agriculture climate smart. Direct seeded rice is solution for labour scarcity, excessive water and fuel use in transplanted rice. Use of leaf colour chart saves nitrogenous fertilizers. Laser land leveling and bed planting practices increase water productivity and crop yield over conventional practices. But the machinery required for adoption of RCTs are heavy and costly, so the study has suggested the use of machines on co-operative basis and also the wider scale testing of new technologies under diverse production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate model, a complex numerical representation of the global climate system, has been developed to simulate current climate and used to project future climatic conditions. Simulated climatic variables from climate models often exhibit significant deviations from observations. In climate projections, different approaches were introduced to deal with systematic deviations and random model errors. This paper demonstrates the intercomparison of four bias correction approaches (linear scaling, delta change correction, distribution mapping, and variance scaling) underlying the assumptions of stationary output from climate models. Mean monthly temperatures derived from five global climate models were corrected by four bias correction approaches for five states of southern India. The suitability of correction approaches depends upon the climate models and regional framework. The applied approaches improve the mean values and other statistical properties. The results show that all four bias techniques significantly improved the simulated data, but distribution mapping and variance scaling were more effective in removing systematic model biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine whether geopolitical risk influences environmental degradation, while controlling for non-renewable energy consumption, economic growth and trade openness, using a quarterly dataset from 1985Q1 to 2019Q4. The choice of India as a case study is based on a number of reasons. India is a developing country, which produces approximately 3.2% of global GDP. Also, India produces almost 17.7% of the world population. The country also emits about 6.8% of global carbon emissions, and according to the 2020 report of the consulting firm Eurasia, India is ranked fifth in terms of geopolitical risk. This study adds to the existing literature by using the quantile-on-quantile (QQR) regression to examine the effect of geopolitical risk on environmental degradation, as well as highlighting the implications of geopolitical risk on environmental sustainability. Based on empirical estimation, we find that geopolitical risk increases and decreases carbon emissions in India. That is, geopolitical risk increases environmental degradation at middle quantiles and decreases environmental degradation at lower and higher quantiles. In addition, we find that non-renewable energy consumption, economic growth and trade openness impede environmental quality in India. Thus, we are of the opinion that policymakers, when making policy decisions on environmental quality, should factor in geopolitical risk in two areas, mitigation and channel of escalation, among other policy suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews and assesses India's energy policy in the context of its commitment to achieve the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. It emphasizes the central role of green electrification, particularly through the expansion of solar power capacity. It discusses policies outside the energy sector that need to be part of a strategy of achieving this target, including the use of information technology, infrastructure development, and transportation. Furthermore, it examines possible policy options for accelerating the target date to 2050, especially with the use of carbon capture to manage the transition from the current heavy use of coal. The paper also discusses the possible financial and growth implications of various strategy options, arguing that feasible external financing commitments can allow India to achieve net-zero goals without sacrificing economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper investigates the effects of climate change along with ecological and carbon footprint on rice crop production in India during 1982–2016. Design/methodology/approach: The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), canonical cointegration regression (CCR) and fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) models are used in the paper. Findings: A long-run relationship is found between climate change and rice production in India. Results report that ecological footprint and carbon footprint spur long-term rice production. While rainfall boosts rice crop productivity in the short term, it has a negative long-term impact. Further, the findings of ARDL models are validated by other cointegration models, i.e., the FMOLS and CCR models. Research limitations/implications: This study provides insights into the role of ecological footprint and carbon footprint along with climate variables in relation to rice production. Originality/value: In the literature, the effects of ecological and carbon footprint on rice production are missing. Therefore, this is the first study to empirically examine the impact of climate change along with ecological footprint and carbon footprint on rice production in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigates the impact of future scenarios for the past two storms (namely, Vardah and Madi). These two storms had a different intensity over Bay of Bengal, India. The recent study in this region shows that the influence of these Tropical Cyclones (TC) may be severe in future climatic conditions. Different future Representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios are investigated in this study. The combined sea level rise (SLR) and high wind intensity in future scenarios has been investigated in the present study for their influence on maximum water level (MWL), wave climate and coastal inundations. The coupled surge and wave models are used to analyze the influence of SLR and wind intensity for different RCPs. The variations of MWL and inundation extent with increase and decrease in wind increment for different RCPs of the TC's were reported. Overall, for the Far Future RCP 8.5 scenario, the relative percentage of difference (compared to the current scenario) in MWL has increased by 135% for TC Vardah and 180% for TC Madi. Further, the flood area for TC's Vardah and Madi will increase by 70% and 95% compared to the current scenario. Finally, the study reveals that the extreme wind intensity of the TC's in future scenarios plays a significant contribution of up to 50% in coastal inundations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effort is made to understand the role of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events on the malaria transmission intensity over India during the period 1951–2020 (70 years) with the help of a realistically simulated dynamical malaria model. The results suggest that the La Nina years pose a greater threat of malaria disease, especially in the densely populated Indian states. During El Nino years, the malaria transmission intensity and distribution over India greatly reduce, except in the regions such as Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Western Ghats, parts of Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. It is found that in the positive IOD years, the malaria transmission intensity increases (decreases) over the entire central Indian region and along coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (southern peninsular states of India and northeast India). An almost opposite behavior is seen during the negative IOD years. The malaria transmission variability over India is becoming increasingly heterogeneous in recent decades during the El Nino and La Nina years as a result of global warming. The period of 1986–2020 witnessed a substantial decrease (increase) in the malaria transmission intensity during the positive (negative) IOD years, except for a few regions of India. The implications of the results presented in the paper linking the ENSO and IOD signals with the intensity and distribution of malaria over India in a warming world are enormous, especially for the densely populated Indian states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the disparities in vulnerability to climate change among the rural and urban population by taking the case of Madhya Pradesh, the central state of India. Madhya Pradesh is highly exposed to climate change, as evident by the historical and projected changes in climatic parameters. The impacts of climate change vary as per the dependence of the population on natural resource-intensive sectors and the relative socioeconomic development. The higher disparities in population composition, livelihood, infrastructural access, and other socioeconomic characteristics among rural and urban populations can influence their relative vulnerability to climate change. In this context, this study tries to understand how the spatiotemporal pattern of vulnerability to climate change differs in the rural and urban areas in three decades (1991, 2001 and 2011), using two sub-indices viz. Composite Social Vulnerability Index (CSVI) and Climate Index (CI). The CSVI is a weighted average of the Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index and Infrastructural Vulnerability Index. The CSVI is a weighted average of the Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index and Infrastructural Vulnerability Index. The results indicate that rural areas possess more social vulnerability than urban areas and, thus, are more vulnerable to climate change. CSVI scores and score of its subindices have reduced over time for both rural and urban population. However, the overall climate vulnerability has slightly increased from 2001 to 2011 due to the increase in mean CI in 2011. The study points out more targeted interventions for livelihood diversification, education, and infrastructural facilities in rural areas, especially in tribal dominated districts, in the context of increased climate change exposure in recent decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a growing concern in India, and its adverse health effects are well documented. Climate change is likely to exacerbate this problem by altering weather patterns and increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events. This paper examines the potential impact of climate change on ambient air pollution in India and its implications for policy design. Our analysis reveals that pollution in India is highly sensitive to variation in weather, particularly in the densely populated Indus-Gangetic Plain. Using our estimated relationship between weather and pollution, we predict that changing weather patterns will increase average PM2.5 concentrations by 3.1 µg/m3, leading to a loss of 364 million years of life expectancy. To address this challenge, we propose an emissions fee calibrated to be highest in regions most vulnerable to persistently high levels of pollution and most sensitive to future deterioration in air quality due to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperatures have been shown to affect human cognition and decision-making in a variety of settings. In this paper, we explore the extent to which higher temperatures affect judicial decision-making in India. We use data on judicial decisions from the Indian eCourt platform, merged with high-resolution gridded daily weather data. We estimate causal effects by leveraging a fixed effects framework. We find that high daily maximum temperatures raise the likelihood of convictions and these results are robust to numerous controls and specifications. Our findings contribute to a growing literature that documents that the negative impacts of rising temperatures are often more severe in low- and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research study aims to analyze flood frequency to relate flood magnitudes with corresponding return periods. These estimates are crucial for the development of flood-preventive hydrological infrastructures and flood plain zoning, etc. Basin-wide high intensity of rainfall and high discharge from the upper riparian region during monsoon months creates flooding in the middle and lower reaches of the Ghagra River basin. Therefore, the flood estimates for three gauging sites situated on the mainstream of the Ghagra River viz., Elginbridge, Ayodhya, and Turtipar, have been comprehended using the Gumbel distribution (Extreme Value Type I) method and the Log-Pearson Type III distribution method. Flood estimates are calculated for 1.01, 1.05, 1.11, 1.25, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 years return periods considering flood time series of 50 years to reduce estimation uncertainty. The findings of flood frequency analysis (FFA) revealed that the probability of occurrence of the flood is more than 80% at all three sites because Ghagra River can carry around 7800 to 9000 m3/s of water discharge without posing a high risk of levee break. The upper and lower limits of discharge carrying capacity depend on the river's desiltation process. Hence, the flood occurs almost every year in the basin; its only variation is its severity. The rainfall-runoff relationship is estimated by integrating a simple linear model and for rainfall trend analysis Mann-Kendall is applied. Linear regression analysis-based rainfall-runoff relationship outcomes revealed a significant relationship with a positive correlation coefficient i.e., 0.2722 for Elginbridge, 0.39624 for Ayodhya, and 0.4844 for Turtipar gauging site in the monsoon season but other factors like a high amount of water discharge from dams in upper riparian regions, etc. are also responsible for flooding in the middle and lower reaches. The Mann-Kendall trend analysis shows a decrease in annual average rainfall and rainfall in the monsoon season. Discharge variability indicates the direct relationship between flood fury and changes in climatic patterns in recent decades. This paper identifies that future research is needed to better inform the policy planners who strive to design sustainable infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific research has revealed that global warming is getting irreversible with the passage of time and it is largely a human-induced phenomenon. India is one of the top three emitters of carbon dioxide in the world. However, the general public in India is unaware of what actually causes anthropogenic (human-induced) climate change. This study is undertaken to assess the level of climate change awareness and willingness to adopt mitigation actions by the students (N = 657) of higher education in Tripura, a small state in North East India, bordering Bangladesh on three sides. In addition, the study also attempts to draw whether there exist any correlations between the level of media usage with the level of climate change awareness and the level of climate change awareness with the level of willingness to adopt climate change mitigation actions. The results show that students of higher education in Tripura have a high level of climate change awareness, and the primary sources for climate change-related information are the Internet, TV, and newspapers. The scientists were the most trusted sources of climate change-related information followed by the mass media. The findings also establish that the students are willing to adopt climate change mitigation actions, even if it costs them something extra. The students who are willing (7.6%) and extremely willing (65.4%) to embrace climate change mitigation actions constituted more than 70% of the total respondents of the survey. The paper concludes that the level of willingness to adopt climate change mitigation actions was found to be significantly correlated with the level of awareness of the consequences of climate change when media are key actors in the dissemination of information; however, the level of understanding about solutions for climate change is not correlated with the level of awareness about the causes of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of healthcare facilities significantly affects patient outcomes, well-being, and environmental sustainability. With growing concerns over climate change and resource scarcity, there is an increasing demand to incorporate eco-friendly building concepts and healing design principles into hospital design in India. This review synthesizes recent research to explore the application of these approaches in the Indian healthcare context. Eco-friendly healthcare facilities emphasize energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, use of renewable energy sources, and eco-friendly building materials. These sustainable practices offer environmental and economic benefits such as reduced operational costs, diminished ecological impact, and improved patient experiences. Healing architecture principles, including day lighting, natural ventilation, healing gardens, and the integration of natural elements, aim to create therapeutic environments that promote patient recovery and well-being. Studies from Indian hospitals that have implemented green design practices and healing architecture elements demonstrate the feasibility and positive outcomes of these strategies. The review examines the challenges and barriers to implementing green hospitals and healing architecture in India, such as resource constraints, regulatory compliance, and lack of awareness. Evaluation frameworks like GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) are discussed as tools for assessing and enhancing environmental sustainability in Indian hospital infrastructure. By integrating recent research with best practices, this review provides an understanding of green hospitals and healing architecture in the Indian context, highlighting their significance in creating sustainable, patient-centered healthcare facilities that prioritize both environmental stewardship and patient recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devising effective strategies to retard the negative impacts of extreme climatic events on water security in general and environmental water balance in specific is imperative, especially in semi-arid rural-Western-India, where climate change has markedly increased water scarcity in domestic and agricultural sectors. This exploratory research thus aimed at investigating the water budget against mismanagement of available water resources for remote-marginalized villages in rural-Nashik (West-India). Investigation entailed visual interpretation of LULC analysis (2008–2017) using fine-scale Google Earth imageries, rainfall-runoff analysis using SCS-CN method, determining the supply-demand potential of water storage structures using field-experimentations and PRA tools, and estimation of season-wise water-budget using hydrological (water-balance) equations. Results identified agriculture as the major land-use (~ 78%) followed by hilly regions (~ 16%) and water bodies (~ 3%). Surface runoff was found as the dominating hydrological phenomenon (33–89% of monsoonal rainfall) followed by surface storage (6–36% of annual rainfall) and groundwater flow (4–82% of annual rainfall). Deforestation over hills for firewood, which reduced forest cover by 52%, was observed as the primary concern for soil erosion, thereby siltation of water bodies and higher runoff against percolation. Erratic rainfall patterns (departure range − 42 to 83% during 1998–2017) coupled with sub-graded irrigational systems confined the agricultural practices to one season [South–West monsoon (June–September)]. High unmet drinking water demand (73% to 98%) forced women communities to fetch water by walking 4.5 ± 1.5 km. Considering the urgent response to collectively combat water-budget imbalance, integrated water security plans were proposed using decentralized participatory watershed development approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a global phenomenon that has been associated with a growing list of concerns in society today, often leaving more questions than answers. Thus, it is no surprise that questions are forming regarding the effects of climate change on global security, and more specifically, terrorism. India is the ideal case study for investigating the relationship between climate change and extremism, with average temperatures in the country reaching record highs as well as having 9,096 terrorist incidents occur during our 20-year study period between 1998 and 2017. Using daily temperature, precipitation, elevation, and distance to the equator data from the National Climatic Data Center and terrorist incidents from the Global Terrorism Data base (GTD), this study assesses the spatial relationship between these factors through geospatial analyses. Suitability analyses indicate that all the climatological variables tested—temperature, precipitation, and elevation—relate to shifting patterns of terrorist activity. We also found that beyond intensity, seasons result in a shifting of patterns in terrorist behavior to other locales. Implications for the global community and for India specifically are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With increasing demand for food and changing environmental conditions, a better understanding of the factors impacting wheat yield is essential for ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. By analyzing the effect of multiple factors on wheat yield, the presented research provides novel insights into the potential impacts of climate change on wheat production in India. In the present study, datasets consisting of countrywide environmental and agronomic factors and wheat yield were collected. In addition, the study also analyzes the effect of information demand of farmers on production. Methodology: The study employs a regional analysis approach by dividing the country into five zonal clusters: Northern Hills, Central India, Indo-Gangetic Plains, North-Eastern India, and Peninsular India. Correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were performed to uncover the month-wise key factors affecting wheat yield in each zone. Furthermore, four Machine Learning/Deep Learning-based models, including XGBoost, Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and 1-D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), were developed to estimate wheat yield. This study estimated partial derivatives for all factors using Newton's Quotient Technique, a numerical method-based approach. Results: The analysis focused on applying this technique to the best-performing wheat yield estimation model, which was the GRU-based model (with RMSE and MAE of 0.60 t/ha and 0.46 t/ha, respectively). Discussion: In the later sections of the article, multiple policy recommendations are communicated based on the extracted insights. The results of the presented research help inform decision-making regarding the development of strategies and policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on wheat production in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is one of the rapidly urbanizing major economies in the developing world. As it embarks on its urban transition, many small tier-2 cities are already experiencing a large-scale transformation. This study examines the effects of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHI) effect from 2001 to 2020 on a tropical coastal urban complex, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, a rapidly expanding tier-2 twin city in the Eastern Indian region. Our study reveals a clear discernible annual nighttime SUHI for both Bhubaneswar and Cuttack (0.75 ± 0.08 and 1.22 ± 0.07 °C) with a growth rate of 0.18 ± 0.07 and 0.13 ± 0.07 °C/decade, respectively. Surprisingly, the annual daytime SUHI is weakening for Bhubaneswar. Both night and daytime SUHI showed substantial seasonality with a clear asymmetry during the day and night. Daytime urban cool island effect was observed for Cuttack with Bhubaneswar reporting weak SUHI for daytime during dry seasons. Around the periphery of the cities, the diurnal temperature range (DTR) was found to be the highest. Furthermore, A decrease of 2 °C in the DTR has been reported over the past two decades. The urbanization effect on the local thermal climate of both cities is seen beyond the physical urban limits. Such changes, even in tier-2 cities, have significant potential to modulate local climate and underscore the need for detailed studies in the rapidly urbanizing cities of India and the world to enable disaster resilience, climate-proofing, and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere along with the increasing temperatures exacerbate the situation, making it one of the major issues for food security. This research aims to explore the effects of climate change on food production in India. More specifically, this study investigates the impact of temperature, rainfall, CO2, methane, and N2O emissions and energy use on food production using a time spanning from 1990 to 2019 and explores the major critical factors impacting food production in India. The study used autoregressive distributed (ARDL) estimates for long-run and short-run cointegration. The empirical results demonstrated that energy use, rainfall, and methane emissions improve food productivity, whereas temperature and N2O emissions undermine food production in the long run and short run. However, the results revealed that CO2 emissions do not affect food production. Additionally, we used the dynamic ordinal least squared approach to verify the robustness of ARDL results. The results also demonstrate that N2O emissions and temperature are critical determinants of food production, indicating that a rise in temperature and N2O emissions significantly reduces food production in India. On the other hand, the findings show that methane emissions and rainfall significantly increase food production with a coefficient of 0.19 and 0.059, respectively. The most important adaptation strategies that should be considered due to climate change are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding renewable energy investment, and adopting new technologies to combat environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]