Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Climate change has emerged as a major challenge for Rajasthan, impacting public health, education, nutrition, water security, and livelihoods through rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, erratic rainfall, and increasing water scarcity.
Experts and officials have emphasised the need for stronger awareness, climate resilience, and coordinated action Speaking at a workshop organised recently in Jaipur on the eve of World Environment Day, UNICEF Rajasthan Head Rushabh Hemani said climate change is no longer a developmental challenge of the future but a crisis of the present.
“Its impact is felt most severely by children, pregnant women, the elderly, and vulnerable communities. Extreme heat and water scarcity place an additional burden on women and girls,” he added.
Hemani noted that Rajasthan organised its first statelevel climate consultation in 2023, bringing together government departments, technical institutions, and development partners to assess emerging climate risks and strengthen inter-departmental coordination for climate adaptation.
Addressing the workshop, UNICEF Chief KL Rao highlighted efforts being made in the health sector to address climate-related risks.
“In collaboration with the Department of Medical and Health, support has been provided for implementing the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health. District-level programmes have now been established across Rajasthan to identify climate-induced health risks and improve disaster preparedness and response,” Rao said.
He added that climatesensitive health systems are becoming increasingly important as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events continue to rise.
In the education sector, Rao said specialised heatwave awareness modules have been developed for Government schools. Meteorological Centre Director Radheshyam Sharma described water security as the foundation of climate resilience and warned that Rajasthan’s water resources are facing growing pressure.
“Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and groundwater depletion are creating serious challenges. Efforts are underway with various departments to strengthen source conservation, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, water budgeting, and monitoring systems,” Sharma said.
