President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday called for stronger people-centric and community-based approaches to climate adaptation, stressing the importance of traditional knowledge and local communities in building climate resilience.
Addressing the valedictory session of the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) international conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics” in New Delhi, President Murmu said the increasing intensity and frequency of climate impacts required coordinated action at the local, regional and global levels.
She congratulated the NGT Chairperson and the Tribunal’s team for bringing together judges, legal professionals, experts and other stakeholders from across the world to deliberate on climate change and environmental challenges.
Highlighting the NGT’s role in environmental protection, she said the Tribunal had developed an effective compliance mechanism in matters relating to rivers, air quality and waste management. She also noted that the NGT had disposed of a large number of disputes expeditiously, adding that the conference carried forward the Tribunal’s tradition of promoting international dialogue on environmental issues.
President Murmu warned that escalating natural disasters highlight the critical need for climate action. She emphasized that climate impacts are growing in frequency and intensity, posing severe threats to food security, health, and livelihoods.
She said climate change was closely linked to biodiversity loss, water stress and land degradation, requiring a coordinated framework of policies and action.
The President emphasised that climate action should not remain confined to governments and legal experts, but should actively involve communities that are most vulnerable to its effects. She specifically highlighted the needs of rural and tribal communities, small farmers, women and other vulnerable groups, who are often disproportionately affected by natural disasters.
Citing farm ponds as an example of locally relevant climate adaptation, President Murmu said they could help communities in water-stressed regions by retaining rainwater, supporting irrigation and contributing to groundwater recharge.
President Murmu stressed the importance of traditional knowledge systems developed by communities over generations, saying they reflected practices of resilience and climate adaptation as well as a deep respect for nature.
Recalling her childhood in a remote rural region, she spoke about her father collecting dry wood from a nearby forest for cooking. She said he would bow his head respectfully and seek forgiveness before cutting the wood, describing the practice as an expression of the relationship between humans and nature.
The President also referred to a Vedic verse concerning the relationship between human beings and the Earth, describing it as reflecting principles of sustainable extraction and ecological restoration.
Emphasizing the value of local expertise, she noted that traditional knowledge systems and community practices play a crucial role in building climate resilience.
She called for greater efforts to strengthen climate resilience through people-centric and community-based adaptation rooted in traditional knowledge.
President Murmu also highlighted the importance of sustainable afforestation in strengthening climate resilience. She said afforestation should not be viewed merely as tree planting but should focus on restoring healthy and self-sustaining ecosystems.
She emphasized that genuine sustainable afforestation goes beyond simply planting trees—it is about restoring healthy, self-sustaining ecosystems.
She further described development itself as a form of adaptation and said climate-resilient development required robust health systems and resilient infrastructure.
The President linked these objectives with improving agricultural productivity and ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy.
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