EPAYF Environment Policy and Action Youth Fellowship- Cohort 3.0 | Theme: People, Power & the Planet: Reimagining Environmental Policy for a Just and Equitable Future | A Three-Month Online Immersive Introductory Leadership Certificate Training Fellowship Program | Dec 2025-Feb 2026 | IMPRI #WebPolicyLearning EPAYF Program Details…
The Himalayas is frequently described as “fragile,” but vulnerability here is not just ecological, but also deeply social and economic. Erratic and declining rainfall now arrives outside traditional crop cycles. Longer dry spells and early frosts affect soil fertility. Melting glaciers and drying springs reduce water availability. Deforestation increases landslides and soil erosion. At the same time, rising temperatures increase energy demand while weakening already fragile supply chains.
Across India, climate and livelihood policies increasingly recognize women, but largely as vulnerable groups or beneficiaries. Women are visible in policy documents, State Action Plans on Climate Change, watershed programmes, and rural livelihood missions as recipients of support or participants in implementation. While this recognition is important, it reflects a limited framing of women’s role in climate adaptation. So, a question arises- why is women’s leadership missing at grassroot?
The climate crisis, often framed as a purely scientific or technological challenge, is in reality a deeply entangled web of social, political, ethical, and historical issues. While global temperatures continue to rise, threatening ecosystems and human livelihoods, a critical paradox persists: those who have contributed least to the problem often bear its heaviest burdens.
Dryland agriculture sustains nearly half of India’s cultivated area and supports the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. Yet, it remains one of the most vulnerable sectors in the face of climate change — grappling with unpredictable rainfall, rising temperatures, frequent droughts, and land degradation. In this context, agroforestry emerges not only as a pragmatic farming practice, but also as a strategic policy imperative to build climate-resilient dryland systems that enhance productivity, ecological balance, and rural livelihoods.
The economic relationship between India and Israel has evolved strategically, moving beyond the traditional defence-centric ties to encompass high-technology sectors like cyber, water management, and most significantly, Agri-Tech. This partnership leverages Israel's cutting-edge agricultural innovation and India's massive scale, diverse market, and vast talent pool, creating a powerful synergy for sustainable and inclusive growth.
With increased urbanisation and intensification of climate risks, Indian cities face an unprecedented challenge: how to finance the massive infrastructure investments needed to build climate-resilient futures.