As temperatures continue to soar across the country, climate experts warn that 2025 could be even hotter than the record-breaking 2024, pushing the world deeper into an environmental crisis. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has already issued heatwave warnings for multiple states, including Odisha, Kerala, and Maharashtra, while Bengaluru is expected to be hotter than Delhi this year.
The rising heat is not just an inconvenience—it is claiming lives. In Mana, Uttarakhand, a devastating avalanche buried around 55 soldiers and workers at a border base camp, with many tragically losing their lives. Experts point to climate change as the root cause of these disasters. The western disturbances, which normally bring snowfall around December and January, have shifted to February and March, leading to unstable snow formations in the Himalayan region. This instability is what triggered the Mana avalanche, similar to the Raini disaster in Uttarakhand a few years ago, where a massive landslide and flood swept away a hydropower project, killing several workers.
But the impact of rising temperatures is not confined to India. Across the Arctic and Antarctica, glaciers are crumbling at an alarming rate, disrupting global weather patterns and fueling further disasters. Scientists emphasize that human activities, particularly industrialization, deforestation, and fossil fuel consumption, have accelerated global warming at an unprecedented pace. Compared to 125 years ago, the Earth’s temperature has risen drastically, with carbon dioxide and methane emissions playing a major role.
Coal remains the biggest culprit behind global carbon emissions, contributing to 65% of the world’s energy needs. Shockingly, global CO2 emissions increased by 1.1% in 2023, reaching 37.4 billion tonnes, and are expected to rise further in 2025. Methane, which is 20 times more potent than CO2, is also seeing dangerous increases due to agriculture, animal husbandry, and waste mismanagement. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has repeatedly urged nations to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, warning of catastrophic consequences if immediate action is not taken.
Melting Himalayan glaciers present another ticking time bomb. As they retreat, they form unstable glacial lakes that could unleash devastating floods, reminiscent of the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, which killed thousands. Adding to the crisis, ancient bacteria and microbes trapped in these glaciers are now being released, further accelerating methane emissions and climate risks.
Despite these warnings, the world remains distracted. Instead of tackling climate change, global powers are focused on wars and political rivalries. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas war have contributed significantly to environmental destruction, with the explosion of munitions and destruction of infrastructure releasing vast amounts of toxic pollutants into the air, water, and soil. The United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement has further weakened global climate commitments, with countries like India and China unwilling to abandon their current development models that continue to exploit natural resources.
But nature has a way of restoring balance, often through destruction. As heatwaves intensify, glaciers melt, and extreme weather events become more frequent, the consequences of inaction will only grow deadlier. The rising temperatures of 2025 are yet another warning from nature. If humanity fails to listen, the planet will retaliate in ways we are not prepared for.