Tackling the Monsoon Mayhem

 July brings monsoon to a large part of India and heavy rains in many parts of the world. While a welcome break from extreme heat and heatwaves, monsoon brings its own kind of mayhem. 

And considering India is a water-stressed country that has overdrawn its groundwater as well as having large parts of the country in drought and drought-like conditions saving water is always a priority. This is the situation in most regions of the world. Even in flood-prone weather communities and governments need to remember to 'Catch the Rain'.

Catch the Rain Pledge of Government of India 

The Government of India during the period of March 22 to November 30 has called for efforts to enhance rainwater harvesting and 'Catch the Rain'. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan's Catch the Rain (JSA:CTR) campaign calls for 

• Water Conservation at the household level
• Rainwater Harvesting from the household and community levels all the way to the state and national levels
• Mapping and Geo-tagging Existing Water Bodies Across the Nation
• Reviving and Restoring water bodies and wetlands
• Afforestation (Especially in watershed regions)
• Water Security and Conservation Education
• Jal Shakti Kendras - district level centers for water management information

EcoBloc & Rainwater Harvesting

The above The Better India reel shows the "smart drain" EcoBloc made using recycled plastic that harvests storm water. A solution by Chennai's R.R. Sivaram implemented in thousands of locations across Tamil Nadu and India harvesting millions of liters of rainwater from surface runoff.  - a win-win for SDG 12 and SDG 6 - responsible consumption and production of plastics and water - ensuring clean water and sanitation in drier non-monsoon periods. 

Sponge City Model

The Sponge City model of flood mitigation and rain and storm water harvesting is mentioned in the last post of May 2026 (28 May 2026), "Ecomodernism in the lead up to Environment Day."

Sponge cities are prime example of nature-based solution. Tested by Chinese Landscape Architect Kongjian Yu (who passed  away in September 2025) in 30 cities in China with plans for over 500 more. It includes harnessing

• porous pavements, 
• green rooftops, 
• rain gardens
•  wetlands 

to manage water, support biodiversity and improve air quality.

Reviving Water bodies and Wetlands

A major reason for both Heat Island Effect and increased instances of floods in urban areas is the encroachment and mismanagement of water bodies and wetlands. Thus whether in Summer or in Monsoon weather-proofing requires healthy wetlands and water bodies. The bonus of healthy water bodies and wetlands is the boost to biodiversity - a boost to Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Life on Land (SDG 15). 

Enhancing Watershed Areas

Water security is holistic and involves securing water resources, forests, wetlands, soil and biodiversity from overexploitation. Watershed management is vital to water security. Especially ensuring natural resources in rain-fed and rain-collecting areas that replenish both surface and ground freshwater resources is vital to ensure human security and sustainable development - especially SDG 6 and SDGs 13, 14 & 15. 

A Climate Resilient & Water Secure Future 

While being inundated by news of floods, landslides and infrastructure destroyed by heavy rains, cloudbursts and thunderstorms one is always reminded of the power and fury of nature and the man-made disasters we create by destroying natural protection against such monsoon mayhem. 

Revived and restored floodplains, wetlands that function fully as the sponges to storm water that they are and, forests and grasslands that anchor soil and prevent landslides are vital to survive the monsoon. Most especially in the watershed regions but also in urban areas where man-made flooding has become the norm rather than the exception from Millennium City (Gurugram) to Maximum City (Mumbai) to our Software and Startup Hub (Bengaluru). 

Reviving Shola grasslands in Nilgiris and the Western Ghats, protecting and restoring rainforests and forests in hill and mountain regions as well as checking unsustainable urbanization in sensitive ecosystems by fostering Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) instead would ensure a climate resilient and water secure future for us all.

Big Apple First

The news of a planned Urban Forest in New York is a step in the right direction. In a city with such a high real estate value per square feet the declaration to prioritize greening to make the Big Apple climate resilient is a signal to the rest of the world. If New York and its NYC Urban Forest Plan can afford t make space for 30% tree canopy by 2040 then any other urban center can do it too. 

In the midst of news about the heatwaves in Europe I read about what a privilege it is to be able to see three trees out of your home, school and workplace. A globally recognized pillar of urban planning and healthy living: the 3-30-300 rule put forth by forestry expert Cecil Konijinendjik. The core of which includes

• 3 trees in view 
• 30% Canopy Cover 
• 300 meters to a Park 

This metric is failed by most global urban centers according to a Nature journal research. 

I realize how privileged my life is that my part of the world checks off this 3-30-300 metric.  Perhaps if more places met this criteria there would be less news of monsoon mayhem, wildfires or heatwaves. 

Some Solutions for Simmering Cities: SDG 13

 In the news: an Extreme Heat event at London Climate Action Week (June 20-28, 2026) was cancelled due to Extreme Heat! If that isn't a scream for Climate Action (SDG 13) from our fast warming planet due to our actions I don't know what is!

First World Problems Lead to Action

Europe and North America's infrastructure is geared towards surviving winters rather than facing extreme heat and heatwaves in summer. As our climate crisis was in large part a legacy of the Industrial Revolution and industrialization originating in the First World (read: UK, Europe and USA and Canada,... Japan not so much!), climate action there and a policy shift towards a circular economy model will boost sustainable development and climate adaptation like nothing else.  

Just as urban centers are perceived as the loci of effective climate action and climate policy locally and nationally, globally the First World - the Developed Countries are seen as climate action and more importantly climate finance hubs.

The series of extreme weather events that are not the norm -- Extreme Heat in UK and Europe (midsummer 2026), heavy rains and landslides in Switzerland in 2024, and hailstorm and flash flooding on an Idaho summer day in the United States (June 2026) -- could demonstrate the urgency related to the climate crisis right at their doorstep and prompt climate mitigation, climate adaptation and climate finance. 

European Climate Action

In the short term creation of public cool hubs, crocheted shades like the one's done by Spanish grandmas - senior knitters in the heatwaves of 2024 are temporary fixes to the extreme heat crisis.

Talking long term, Spain's transition to solar energy with massive investment on revamping its grid to accommodate electricity generated from renewable sources is a huge win for climate action. Barcelona's affordable and climate smart housing is a great example of Climate Action and Just Transition. Spain is a bit of a poster child of climate action and just transition as it has long been facing extreme weather events (forest fires, flooding, heat waves) and economic crises which it has through recent policy sought to tackle together -  sustainable development and just transition - climate justice for all!

Germany and the UK demolishing and retiring their coal-fire/thermal power plants also massively cut their carbon footprint. The growing contribution of renewable energy in American, British and European is both about energy security (while war rages in regions producing and in shipping routes of fossil fuels) as well as climate action through putting climate policy into practice.

Germany's super efficient waste recycling system (Gruener Punkt system since 1990) is another great example of the circular economy and success stories of both Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG 12) and SDG 13.

How India Beats the Heat

Tamil Nadu's Cool Roof Initiative promoted by UNEP award-winning TN Environment Secretary Supriya Sahu as well as a growing chain of climate-proof rest hubs for gig workers across India as well as insurance for income lost due to extreme weather are some concrete actions to tackle extreme heat across India.

The cool roof initiatives - painting the roofs with reflective weather-sheild white coating cools the temperure up to 5 degrees and is getting popular in lower income urban islands across India. It's a Just Transition win.

Reclamation and restoration of water bodies across India and Miyawaki Forest planting across urban India also counters the Urban Heat Island effect.  But there initiatives are few and far between. 

Heat Action Plans and Heat Emergency Rooms in place also tackles emergency situations that arise across Indian Summers both in northern dry heat hubs and southern hot and humid regions. 

The Climate Crisis Discriminates 

Climate Action Now

Climate Justice & Just Transition 

On 1 June 2026 Global Parents Day (though India & US celebrate Parents Day on 26th July - 26-7-26) was observed. As the climate crisis triggers extreme weather it puts older parents at risk and young people are actvely rethinking actually becoming parents.  

Thus climate action like curbing individual, family, community and national carbon and ecological footprints is a great step forward. 

As mentioned many times on this blog since January 2019, you can calculate your carbon footprint and work out how to adopt an ecofriendly lifestyle with Only Planet. 

A sustainable mode of transport is a great place to start and the fact that World Bicycle Day was observed on 3 June 2026 with the theme: “Cycling for a Greener Future” is another obvious hint from the universe to adopt a sustainable way of life. 

In a bit of good news the fact that Earth Overshoot Day is nearly a week later in 2026 than in 2025 is an indicator of a small step to responsibly use the planet's resources. Its on 30 July 2026 where last year we began living on borrowed resources on 26 July 2025 itself.