In 2025, India’s climate story unfolded in two sharply different directions. On one hand, the country crossed a historic clean-energy milestone, moving faster than many expected. On the other, extreme heat, polluted air and water stress affected daily life for millions.

To understand what this year really meant, it helps to look closely at the data - not in isolation, but alongside lived experience. That contrast explains the state of Climate Change in India better than any single headline.

India’s Clean Energy Push in 2025

One of the biggest positives of 2025 came from renewable energy. According to aligned trends with MNRE data, India’s non-fossil fuel installed capacity crossed 50% of total electricity capacity in June  more than five years ahead of its Paris Agreement commitment.

Solar & Wind Snapshot (2025)

• Solar Power: 129.92 GW, accounting for 52% of renewable capacity
• Wind Power: 53.60 GW, contributing 21%
• Total Renewable Energy: 250.64 GW
• Total Non-Fossil Capacity: 259.42 GW

India now ranks 3rd globally in solar power and 4th in wind, marking a clear shift in energy priorities. This progress underlines how Renewable Energy in India has moved from pilot projects to large-scale infrastructure.

Yet, energy transition is not just about capacity numbers it is also about how climate impacts are unfolding on the ground.

When the Heat Became the Bigger Story

While clean energy expanded, heatwaves told a more troubling story. Over the past five years, India has seen longer, hotter, and more frequent extreme heat events.

Heatwave Severity: 2019–2024

• 2024: Over 130 cumulative heatwave days - the longest stretch since 2010
• 2022: A staggering 203 heatwave days across regions
• 2020: Only 29 days, largely due to lockdowns and favourable monsoon timing

The peak temperature reported in Mungeshpur, Delhi (52.9°C) in 2024 - later reviewed for sensor accuracy still symbolised how intense the season felt across north India. These patterns clearly show the growing Heatwaves in India, not as rare events, but as recurring seasonal risks.

Why Heatwaves Now Feel Different

Heat has always been part of India’s climate. What has changed is duration and intensity. Summers are lasting longer, nights are staying warmer, and recovery periods between heatwaves are shrinking.

This directly affects labour productivity, public health, water demand, and electricity consumption. For many households, extreme heat is no longer an exception - it shapes how daily life is organised.

Air Quality Remained a Daily Struggle

Another area where climate stress was impossible to ignore was air pollution. In 2025, several metro cities recorded “Unhealthy” or “Very Unhealthy” air quality for weeks at a time, not just during winter.

Tracking the India Air Quality Index became routine for families deciding when children could play outside or when outdoor work was safe. Heat worsened pollution by speeding up chemical reactions and trapping pollutants closer to the ground.

Coal Is Still Doing the Heavy Lifting

Even with more solar and wind coming online, coal is still carrying most of India’s electricity needs over 45%. Moving away from it isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. When demand spikes or the grid is under pressure, coal plants are still what operators fall back on.

Closing older plants has also been slow. Part of that is about keeping the grid stable, but part of it is human. Whole towns depend on coal plants for work. Shutting them down too quickly would mean lost jobs and economic stress, especially in regions with few alternatives.

Water Shortages Are No Longer Just a Rural Problem

Hotter summers and unpredictable rainfall have made water stress more visible year after year. Reservoir levels rise and fall sharply, groundwater doesn’t recover evenly, and cities are increasingly relying on emergency water supplies.

What’s changed is where this is being felt. Water scarcity is no longer limited to rural areas. It’s affecting city households, businesses, and local governments, forcing people to rethink how water is stored, shared, and used.

What India Got Right in 2025

Climate Wins

• Renewable energy scaled faster than planned
• EV adoption expanded in urban markets
• Community-led climate initiatives gained traction
• Solar and wind integration into the grid improved

These steps show that climate action can deliver results when policy, investment and execution align.

What Got Worse

Climate Fails

• Heatwaves became longer and more intense
• Air quality crises lasted beyond seasonal windows
• Coal dependence reduced slowly
• Urban water stress widened

These are not failures of intent, but of speed and preparedness.

The Bigger Picture

India’s climate journey in 2025 sends a clear message: progress is real, but risks are accelerating faster than solutions. Clean energy growth shows what is possible. Extreme heat and pollution show what happens when adaptation lags.

This second and final reference to Climate Change in India matters because the challenge is now about protecting lives while transforming systems.

What the Next Decade Must Focus On

• Faster clean energy deployment
• Heatwave early-warning and preparedness systems
• Climate-resilient urban planning
• Public awareness around energy use and water conservation

Climate action is no longer about distant targets. It is about making cities and communities livable today.

FOR THE UNITED INDIAN

Why This Matters

Climate change is no longer abstract data. It is shaping how Indians work, breathe and survive extreme weather. Explaining both progress and setbacks helps citizens understand what is working and what needs urgent attention.