CLIMATE change has become a major concern, directly impacting food and water security, but time is "not on our side" in the face of this crisis, Indian president Droupadi Murmu warned on Friday (3).
While inaugurating an art exhibition to celebrate the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger in New Delhi, she emphasised the need to strengthen conservation, adaptation, and mitigation strategies by integrating traditional and modern thinking to address climate change.
She said that unchecked materialism, brute commercialism, and greedy opportunism have taken a toll on the planet, leaving the five essential elements of life in distress.
"Climate change has raised concerns about food and water security. We are battling a grave crisis where time is not on our side. In this race against time, what we need is a concerted action plan guided by knowledge and wisdom," she said.
The President said forest dwellers, who have a long history of practising environmental prudence and climate wisdom, serve as excellent role models for such efforts.
She also praised India's emergence as a leading nation in integrated climate action under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi and commended his focus on wildlife preservation. Indian minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav and his deputy Ashwini Kumar Choubey were also present on the occasion.
(PTI)
Security personnel inspect the site in the aftermath of an attack as food stall chairs lie empty in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) from Srinagar on April 23, 2025. Indian security forces in Kashmir carried out a major manhunt on April 23, a day after gunmen opened fire on tourists killing 26 people in the region's deadliest attack on civilians since 2000. Getty Images
Tourists visit Betaab Valley in Pahalgam, about 112 km south of Srinagar on June 26, 2025.Getty Images
Pilgrims gather at the Baltal Base Camp near Domel, en route to the sacred Amarnath cave in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on July 29, 2025. The annual Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, proceeds under heightened security following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local pony handler. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers across the pilgrimage route, with checkpoints, surveillance, and restrictions in place to safeguard the thousands of devotees undertaking the arduous journey. The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages, drawing worshippers from across India to the high-altitude Himalayan shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Despite the threat of violence and challenging terrain, pilgrims continue their spiritual trek, determined to complete the sacred journey under the shadow of grief and resilience.Getty Images