Over the last years, the term 'climate crisis' has been increasingly used to emphatically describe the severe deterioration of certain phenomena affecting the climate, and to awaken society. Sudden and extreme weather events, which are now occurring more frequently and with greater intensity and duration, alongside droughts, heatwaves, floods, and wildfires, cause massive destruction and impact water resources, agriculture, infrastructure, health, and security, accelerating population displacement and testing the resilience of governments and national economies.

However, a crisis is typically a temporary phenomenon that peaks and then subsides or transitions into something else. Thus, the term 'climate crisis' is misleading as it does not include the parameter of duration. Moreover, it gives the impression that a return to normality is possible. But this is now unattainable. The earth's average temperature has already risen significantly, and harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are still increasing rapidly. We are therefore facing a phenomenon that is causing an emergency, a situation that requires urgent action in two directions—to drastically reduce the causes and to manage the consequences. This is a phenomenon that we will be constantly confronted with and which we must learn how to manage. There are practices that can help in this direction, but the pace of our mobilization is exceedingly slow.

The annual global climate conference—COP 29—which concluded on November 24, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, had the main objective of reaching an economic agreement on the transition to clean energy and addressing the climate-related disasters in poorer countries that are most affected and least equipped to respond. An agreement was reached, but it falls short of expectations. Annual funding of $300 billion a year will be provided until 2035, but trillions are needed. Global climate cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations, while important for maintaining a channel of communication, is neither a panacea nor a provider of substantial solutions for managing climate change. The persistent search for global consensus serves only to lower the bar to the lowest common denominator. 

Meanwhile, the upcoming assumption of the US presidency by the most well-known climate change denier is not good news. Certainly, the circumstances are not the same as in 2016, when the same president withdrew USA, the world's second-largest emitter, from the Paris Agreement. At that time, the biggest challenge was to convince the largest polluter, China, to make commitments to reduce harmful emissions. While China still relies on coal as its primary energy source, it has invested heavily in expanding renewable energy, aspiring to become climate neutral by 2060 while maintaining high exports of materials essential for clean energy. Therefore, it also has an economic reason to support the green transition. India, which has risen to third place on the list of global polluters, is also heavily investing in renewables, has set ambitious targets for 2030 and leads important global initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance, to accelerate the deployment of solar energy technologies that will improve energy access and ensure energy security in participating countries.

Despite the heightened politicization of the green transition ahead of the European elections, the European Union, which ranks fourth on the list of global polluters, remained committed to achieving the European Green Deal goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Having adopted most of the necessary legislation, attention now turns to implementation, which requires cooperation of the member states to achieve the collective European goal. Implementation is far from easy given the great turmoil affecting Europe. It will only succeed if the net-zero carbon emissions target is combined with large-scale investments in green technology and strong climate partnerships.

The example of the India–EU partnership is of particular importance. Since the elevation of India–EU relations to a strategic partnership in 2004, both parties have made significant progress in enhancing collaboration across various sectors, including climate change. Key milestones include the establishment in 2005 of the India–EU energy partnership with the goal to promote cooperation on energy security, energy efficiency, and renewable energy; the recognition in 2008 that climate change is a global challenge and that clean and sustainable development is a joint priority area; the adoption in 2016 of a joint declaration on clean energy and climate partnership aiming to promote access to and dissemination of clean energy and climate friendly technologies; the adoption in 2020 of a roadmap to 2025 and a declaration on resource efficiency and circular economy; the introduction of a work programme in 2021 and the commitments to deepen cooperation in renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency, smart grid, storage, and market modernization, and to achieve a fair transition to a low-carbon future. Another milestone is increased funding from the European Investment Bank from 2014 to 2023, reflecting the growing collaboration between the two entities.

Both India and the EU have recognized the importance of combatting climate change and their cooperation is a crucial alliance towards the implementation of the goals of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, there are mutual benefits for both parties collaborating in renewable energy, technology transfer, and research and development. For India, focusing on affordable renewable energy and clean technology can drive economic growth and expand energy access, particularly in rural areas where many still lack access to energy. The EU can facilitate technology transfer, clean energy solutions, and financing. For the EU, India is a promising market for European renewable energy investments, thus helping the EU to achieve its Green Deal targets. Therefore, the India–EU partnership is beneficial for both parties, paving the way for innovating sustainable solutions. Cooperation can also be extended to other related areas, such as sharing good practices in improving energy efficiency, developing smart grids and energy storage, as well as strengthening the involvement of civil society in the partnership.

But beyond addressing the causes, which is one aspect of climate action, particular attention must also be given to adaptation to climate change and preparing to manage the inevitable. This involves more than flood prevention projects or developing early-warning systems and coordinating emergency services. Emphasis on prevention (such as monitoring vulnerable areas, better water management), better understanding of climate impacts, supporting knowledge sharing and research, increasing financial support, along with citizen education, are also critical factors.

Identifying and understanding the challenges is a priority, and this requires a common language of communication between science, policymakers, and society. In regions warming faster than others on the planet, communicating both risks and best practices is becoming a major issue. Today, many communication efforts try to convince the sceptics that climate change is happening and is an undeniable fact. Yet most citizens already know this. What they do not know is how it specifically impacts the area they live in and what they can do to protect their homes, land, businesses, and infrastructure to make them more resilient to climate change. Time is already running out. #