The impacts of anthropogenic climate change are being felt all over the globe. The sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has categorically stated that the earth’s temperature in the decade 2011-20 has risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels. At the same time, developed countries continue to occupy a disproportionate share of the global carbon budget and remain unwilling to provide the means of implementation to spur climate action.

The ancient Vedic principle of sarve bhavantu sukhinah (may all beings be happy) has guided human civilisation for millennia. As the world grapples with the climate crisis, this timeless wisdom has found resonance in India’s approach to climate stewardship. On the one hand, the global community often focuses on the inconvenient truths of the climate crisis — rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and increasing disasters. India, on the other hand, has championed a philosophy of convenient action. This approach, rooted in our civilisational ethos, has transformed India into a conscientious global climate citizen over the past 11 years.

A verse from the Atharva Veda — “What of Earth we dig out, let that quickly grow over, let us not hit thy vitals or pierce thy heart” — reflects principles of regenerative natural resource management predating modern climate science by thousands of years. Our approach to climate action has woven this ancient understanding into........

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