The 2024 has registered itself as the warmest year the mankind has ever recorded. Let us hope that this trend does not become a regular pattern of occurrence and we find an improved scenario in 2025. To realize this, it is imperative that we embrace sustainable practices and lifestyles. It is evident that the climate change and the consequent ecological imbalance are human induced. The article on this theme succinctly captures a journalistic worldview in the section Green Challenges and well illustrates this corollary. Let us take a resolve of being ‘for’ nature rather than being only ‘with’ nature. We may have lost the past, but the future is within our imagination and we can reshape the journey ahead. It also opens up a space for a dialogue and creativity as one discovers TerraYouth that showcases how an artist has added life to the lifeless waste, well establishing the notion that ‘responsibility’ and ‘sustainability’ lie in our intentions. 

It is worth highlighting TERI’s analysis that cautions us on the urgency of striking a balance between energy generation, energy consumption, and environment when it comes to meeting our cooling needs wherein emphasis has been placed on the viable solutions for a future that is not only cooler but also greener. The present edition of TerraGreen also throws light on the often-neglected phenomenon of urban heat island (UHI) effect, its root causes, and factors that contribute to its escalation. The article validates how adoption of sustainable practices can result in effective mitigation of UHI. In sustainability space, increasingly businesses are taking an ardent view and a resolve towards responsible marketing to translate the sustainable development ambition into a reality.   

Another key concern that has been delineated in this issue is the forest fire and the associated environmental threat as well as insurmountable losses. This also brings attention to the moot point that mountain regions are highly vulnerable to forest fires and this calls for a multi-pronged approach to de-risk this delicate terrain.

All in all, several narratives and innovations captured in this edition have helped create a mosaic of alternative worldviews with a core belief of endless possibilities, leveraging innumerable opportunities of risk mitigation for building resilience.

I would like to draw readers’ attention to the inspiring children’s story and the ‘Project Vayu’—an innovative and affordable air purifier that can ameliorate air indoors. Such innovations encourage us to think outside the box and reimagine the future.

I believe that you will find each article stimulating and the storyline ignites a sense of hope and reinforces the belief of transitioning to a greener and a cleaner ecosystem.