The Climate Solution: India's Climate-Change Crisis and What We Can Do About It

by Mridula Ramesh

The Climate Solution

Genres: Climate Change, India, Environment, Nonfiction, Nature, Science

352 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2019

About the author

Mridula Ramesh is the founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute, which focuses on waste and water solutions and education. She is an active angel investor in cleantech startups, with a portfolio of over a dozen startups. A graduate with distinction of Cornell University, with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Mridula worked at McKinsey in Silicon Valley before returning to India. Leveraging on her two decades of management experience, she teaches a postgraduate class on climate change at the Great Lakes Institute of Management and is a regular columnist for Firstpost on Climate Change and has written earlier extensively for the Hindu. She is the Executive Director of Sundaram Textiles and lives and experiments in Madurai in a net zero-waste house with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Gunjan Shah]

A really beautiful book that compels you to change without paralysing you. It presents the information and context in a manner which not too many Indian authors in general and not many authors writing on such a topic can achieve.

It makes you want to change, and do so quickly.

A lovely contribution.

[Prakhar · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that discusses environmental issues in Indian metro cities with rather uncalled comparisons from author's experiences as NRI. 'Shallow' is how I will rate the discussion of problems and their solutions. Unless you have been living under a digital rock there isn't really something to he gained by reading this. Better to have read articles from "Down to Earth" or "Mongabay India".


I am giving two stars only for the nice cover (2019 edition), which shows a scene from dry MidWest USA. For a book that's about India the cover really held the key to what's going to come up ahead.

[Pia Bröker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very glad I read this book! Although written pre-pandemic (2018), it still so many great and relevant points. I especially loved the large reference section at the end of the book, which helps to dive deeper into each topic.

I know about climate change and regularly read about it, but reading this book made me realize something on a deeper level. Climate change is happening right now and the predicted consequences are going to happen (We all know that, I know)! We will have places around this world that get too hot for people to survive, we will have water shortages, more extreme climate, less plant productivity and more. People will die, people will flee, people will fight. Our life will be majorly disrupted. Extreme events will become normal, people's mental and physical health will deteriorate.
My realization feels a little like realizing in the beginning of COVID that this is a very long process. What scientists predicted sounded scary, but is very much turned into reality. No way we could have avoided that.

We really need each other, we need technology, and we need to build resilience now.

So far I have often read from a US or European perspective, definitely including the Global South in my thinking, but not really made that perspective change (not good, I know!).
This book is written from an Indian perspective, situating the population richest country right in the center of climate change. The author is unapologetic in her claims and gives a great analysis on many areas of impact. She also provides ideas for solutions.

It might not be as deep as other people want, but for me, it will be a classic in my further approach to the climate change emergency.

My friends, we are in for a ride and I hope we'll make it well.

[Shilpa Giri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Climate Solution by Mridula Ramesh is a brilliant book that highlights the current climate change scenario in India. With clever chapter titles, this book is filled with insights about the on-going ecological crisis in our country that everyone must know about. What I liked the most about the book was how it shifted from talking about the problem at hand to what we can do about it.

For anyone who’s been looking to become a little environmentally conscious, to look around yourself and realize how the smallest of your actions could have the biggest impact, this book brings a fresh perspective to the situation at hand. Our choices of today are going to bring change and if we care even a teeny bit about our future, then picking up this book can be considered the first step.

The book ends with a checklist of actions that you can start implanting as soon as you’re done reading it, and honestly, I believe that’s a rather clever approach. One of the things mentioned in this checklist is to reduce your meat consumption, and I resonate with that the most because it’s been a year since I’ve turned vegetarian and I still feel it was the best decision I could ever make in terms of how the environment gets affected by my food choices!

[Laya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Climate Change is affecting our country right now. It is in initial stages but it has already begun. Floods, Heatwaves, Ground Water Depletion, Droughts, Pollution, Growing Landfills - these are problems that are showing real effects and more intensely on those who cannot afford to escape them. The book shows how climate change is going to have determining effects socially, politically and economically with focus on India and also South Asia when it comes to the future water conflicts we're going to face with our already hostile neighbours. It's a terrifying read up until the first part of the book.

The second part is where it gets more hopeful. Most of these problems are managable and can also if there is enough collective will and institutional change. I had mixed views on this section. As much as I liked the solutions that were being proposed, I felt they weren't radical enough. But given the horrible mismanagement of resources right now, these solutions are probably a great place to start. Good book for concerned citizens to be informed citizens.

[Priya sankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the climate crisis and solutions. Learnt so many new things from this book.

A mark of a good book is when it gives you many new topics to research and much to think about. This one has brought to light many research papers, companies and people who are driving change.

It has a checklist of actions which anyone can follow to reduce their climate footprint.

Highly recommend this book.

[Richard Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read on a subject that should terrify us, but in this case, provides a source of encouragement. Mitigation rests in the guilty hands of greedy and misguided politicians and business leaders ( or in the case of the Orange Clown, both). We little folk can contribute to heightened awareness of the need for adaptation measures and, where possible, to their implementation.

[Sookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mridula Ramesh's asserts very early in the book that climate change is real and we have now recognized it. Rather than future impact, Ramesh talks about the changes that we have already seen (Chennai 2015) and the changes we are seeing now (Assam, Bihar 2019) with respect to climate changes. Gangotri glacier is melting and its not news anymore. Yet, when there are floods and torrential rain, we scramble and wonder why. She puts together a geography impacted by climate change and briefly mentions how existing societies get impacted by the change. Those who will definitely get impacted by change are poor, especially those who live in hotter climates.

India has declared 100GW generation of solar power by 2022. At the moment we are no where close to it. However with that statement came a lot of investment and thus cost of (solar) power reduced from 5 rupees to apprx. 2. It is not sufficient but its a step in the right direction.

She offers solutions categorically how a person, a private organization, a society and a government can make change and start fixing this crisis. Involve the activists who are reseeding the rivers and wells (successfully!!), volunteers who educate those who don't necessarily understand waste segregation and government agencies/departments that can be influenced to take stricter measures for providing cleaner resources with less wastage.

Majority of the book is addressing Indian diaspora and thus can be extended few tropical countries that are economically in the developing track.

[Manvika Athwani · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author adopts a conversational writing style and does a decent job of explaining various facets of climate change that are impacting/will impact India. However, for anyone looking for a deeper understanding of systemic solutions to tackle climate change, the question remains only half- answered. The book over-emphasizes the role of individual action and start-ups in building climate resilience with not enough emphasis on how India's political economy and public institutions need to evolve to combat climate change.

[Anukriti Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s that time of the year again when Delhi will be a smoke chamber due to the stubble burning, the AQI will increase, and we’ll be gasping for breath with watery eyes.

It’s been a month since the ‘Climate Clock’ was unveiled at Manhattan’s Union Square declaring how much time is left before an irreversible climate emergency. While we continue to do nothing about it, the clock is ticking and we have only seven years remaining to the climate doomsday.

The Climate Solution by Mridula Ramesh is divided into two parts - Understanding and Action. The book opens up with how the climate has been changing since the past several decades. With the temperature and CO2 levels rising to the flood situations, the worst is yet to come.

It offers insightful and detailed information, backed with facts, figures and examples that make you think hard. For instance the chapter ‘Uneven Rewards, Uneven Actions’ draws a contrast between China, EU, USA, and India and how climate changes affect different countries differently.

The second section talks in depth about the actions that must be taken [in India]. Ramesh also offers a checklist of actions on individual, institutional, and governmental levels. Whilst the checklist includes things that we already know and have been told over years, something as little as choices in transportation or food waste, it makes you reconsider your choices and how little (or much) you are doing to save the environment.

Not only is this read timely and thought provoking, but it’s also urgent.

[Tushar Kochar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding book which first clearly explains the issue at hand and then informs or solutions to the mentioned issues. The last chapter is inspiring with stories of real life heroes who’ve helped save the environment in India. A must read!

[Dwaraka · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the author so eloquently puts it, Climate Change is the single biggest disruption of our generation. So much of what we do in our daily lives affects it and vice versa.

As much we all agree that Climate Change is a serious problem that needs tackling with utmost sincerity, not many of us know the sheer magnitude of what is at stake. Not to mention the lack of awareness at various levels of action - individual, institution and policy making bodies within government.

Mridula's analysis is in-depth with solid judgement, reasoning and ton of backing data.

For anybody wishing to just look beyond mindless greenwashing and social tokenism in form of likes or signed online petition forms, the book will serve as a good start to reflect and act.

[Tanish Chachra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. While the revelations in the book were moving and eye-opening. It lacked to provide a strong emphasis on policy level actions, and state accountability in the second part of the book. It also hesitates or skips to project the blame of current capitalist structure for the extensive degradation of the planet.

Full efforts on the factual validity of the claims made by the author, and simplification of intricacies of the scientific concepts for a reader with minimal background knowledge.

[Akshay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Easily one of the worst books anyone can read on the topic. The author relies extensively on data which is hard to understand and hasn't been cited in many many many places across the book. The book also gets basic facts wrong which makes everything else in the book questionable and the book loses its credibility.

[Rajiv Chopra · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole, I would say that Mridula Ramesh’s book is good. In the first part, she covers a fair amount of ground, detailing out the problems in India. She also offers a fair prognosis of the disaster that awaits us if we don’t act.

The second part of the book is a bit disappointing. She attempted to cover as many aspects as possible. However, she ended up creating a book that seems to have gone all over the place. The structure of the chapters in this section is not very tidy.

I do like the fact that she ended the book with a checklist.

It is a good book if you don’t know anything about the possible consequences of unchecked climate change in India. It does not – for me – cover new ground. The book does give me a lot of information, which is useful.

[Abhishek Bakoriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author divided the book in two parts, In the first she elucidated the issue of climate change and their adverse effects on the mother nature and all living creatures, and in the second she talked about the viable action that ought to be taken by us to mitigate catastrophic future consequences.
Author also mentioned the unprecedented actions taken by some to assuage the effects of climate change which are evidence that if viable actions taken than resiliency towards the climate change can be attainable.
Conversational style of writing the book makes it more captivating and engages the reader thoroughly.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by an Indian author was an interesting contrast to all the sustainabillty-related information I've consumed so far -- which is mostly written from the perspective of the developed West.

In many ways, she shows how development and resilience to climate change are not opposed, but go hand in hand. Better management of agriculture, water, electricity and waste can simultaneously make India cleaner, protect the most vulnerable and improve living standards for all.

Overall, an insightful read.

[Rahul GK · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was one heck of a Read, it's got everything starting from the current climate problems in India, to motivational stories of people who built resilient systems to tackle Climate Change, instructions for Individuals, Corporations and Policy Makers... Absolutely amazing... I highly recommend this book to anyone who's unaware of what an unimaginable danger India will be because of the impending Climate Crisis..

[Shruti Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you care about the environment and want to know how you can contribute, you must own a copy. Not just borrow a copy, OWN it. Because you would go back to it again and again because Mridula has made some interesting points and presented heartwarming case studies. Loved this book!

[Srikar Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who's concerned about our planet. Serves a starter to some hard facts and ways of acting towards a green lifestyle and awareness in the Indian context.

Opens avenues for further reading and research.

[Joana Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting exposure of the main environmental problems in India, as well as already existing innovative foreign and local solutions. I also enjoyed improving my understanding of the Indian context of environmental problems.

[Josh Rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ramesh is an incisive thinker and a brilliant communicator. She has done her homework and writes very clearly about the main challenges for India with climate change, as well as some of the most promising solutions. Should be required reading for college students in India and elsewhere.

[Dhwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and great introduction to climate change dynamics in India. Got me thinking a lot about how things work and how we can improve our existing systems.

[Nikhil Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an all encompassing primer on climate change - it's political, social and economic impacts as well as how to deal with them on individual, institutional and international level.

[Aman Garg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely basic and simplified introduction to the climate crisis.

[Sudharsan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Ideas and Research on India

[Vachan Hukkeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Climate change: indian perspective.

[Sanjana Prabala · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a necessary read to understand the depth of the climate change crisis in India.

Climate Change is a major challenge for developing countries, more so in India that faces large climatic variability and makes us susceptible to the enhanced risks from climate change. Burgeoning population and an economy that is highly reliant on agriculture puts us in an extremely vulnerable position in addressing the adverse impacts.

Mridula Ramesh's book is simple to read and explains the many causes, consequences and recommendations for some of the critical issues ( stubble burning, agricultural practices, GHG emissions etc).

[Rahul Singh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I barely read non-fiction besides academic writing, however, I readily agreed to read this book when @hachetteindia offered the book for review. My interest in the book comes from my academic reading and research for my BA dissertation on nature. In sociologically analysing nature, one of the aspects I had taken was to understand nature as the environment. Following which I argued how environment cuts across the societal spectrum, especially caste in Bengal. Anyway, coming to the book, it is divided into two parts. Firstly, the author presents to us the reality of climate change, its consequences on agriculture, everyday life, rural sector and the urban spaces. With clear graphical representations, the author emphasised on the rate of environmental degradation in the country and the world. Secondly, the author, through personal narrative and research has detailed the ways in which rate of pollution could be stopped and natural disasters like flooding urban areas, drought, wildfire, landslides could be prevented. Not only does she highlight what could be done at the broader, institutional level but also the changes individuals could make in their everyday life to deal with the environment efficiently. What I liked about the book was it accessible language and style in which it was written. One doesn’t have to be into academia to understand environment and its concerns. The book proves to be an informative text to take stock of climate change, especially in India in recent times. And I would encourage you to pick it up to understand what has been happening to the environment in recent times beyond your EVS textbook knowledge. As much as I hoped to like the book, unfortunately, I found a host of issues with the book. To begin with, I was annoyed with the uninteresting quotations used by the author at the beginning of every chapter. The words of dead, white, or Hindu upper caste, privileged men were used throughout the book and that simply left a bitter taste, for me. Secondly, the chapter which I was most excited about, “Women in Peril”, was the shortest with no interesting research and arguments about the women’s peril in the environmental context. There could be a million ways to have dealt with ecofeminist issue but it seemed as though the author simply stated what was commonsensical and offered nothing new. Thirdly, on page 171, the author makes a sweeping remark that India is getting wealthier and poverty is being removed with no data whatsoever. However, the ground reality is actually different today with a GDP as low as -23.5% and the economy was in perils back in 2018 when the book was out as well. Lastly, what struck me most was how this book seemed to be written from a privileged, middle class, urban perspective from start to end and meant to come up with middle class, urban solutions to combat climate change. It failed drastically in addressing the social and its stratifying layers. It seemed extremely narrow in its approach and failed to provide a comprehensive, well-argued analysis of Climate in India today.
Thank you Hachette India for the review copy. Views are personal.

[Dhruv · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is the book we need for Indians.

We really needed a book which focuses on the climate crisis in the Indian context. Although its a global crisis, its tough for the average person in India to care about Arctic ice melting. This book is perfect for the uninitiated. It gives a fresher course on global warming pretty soon (in case you dont know) and then dives into the problems we'll face and what the solutions are. There are clear examples and references from where you can start looking up further reading. I don't think the book is meant to cover all topics or to cover the topics with high detail. The author focuses on readability, sparking an interest while not simplifying matters and I love her for it:)

Now i finally have a single written work to force down my family, friends instead of asking them to go through multiple journal/magazine articles