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This year, as France battled with one of its most severe heatwaves in recent memory, the world’s response was immediate and compassionate.
Images of overwhelmed hospitals, closed schools, exhausted emergency workers, and vulnerable elderly citizens dominated the international headlines.
Governments responded by activating emergency protocols, public health warnings were widely issued, and the crisis was framed as yet another reminder that climate change is no longer a concept or a distant threat but a lived reality.
Thousands of kilometres away, another country has endured similar and often harsher climatic conditions.
Every summer, temperatures across several parts of India rise to between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius.
The scorching heat disrupts livelihoods, strains public infrastructure and exposes millions to health risks. The global conversation, however, assumes a markedly different tone.
Instead of focusing on India’s resilience, preparedness, or the universal challenge posed by climate change and the collective responsibility of nations, discussions are centred around familiar images of overpopulation, overcrowded cities, inadequate and strained infrastructure, and perceived development deficits.
This is not to suggest that India has no distance left to cover in achieving its climate goals or that France does not deserve sympathy during its ongoing crisis.
Rather, this contrast raises a deeper question: why does the framing of climate change disasters vary depending on where they occur?
For decades, climate change was viewed as a problem largely affecting developing economies.
South Asia experienced frequent floods, Africa faced recurring droughts, and cyclones regularly struck Southeast Asia. These events were often portrayed as predictable consequences of geography, population, and underdevelopment.
The past few years have, however, transformed this narrative.
Europe has witnessed successive summers of record-breaking temperatures. Germany and Belgium experienced devastating floods in 2021. Canada continues to battle unprecedented wildfire seasons, while southern Europe faces destructive wildfires and prolonged heatwaves. These developments underline a simple reality: climate change is the great equaliser.
No nation, regardless of its economic strength or technological advancement, is immune to rising temperatures and extreme weather.
The crisis has levelled geographical vulnerabilities, yet the narratives surrounding it remain unequal.
When developed nations experience extreme weather, the media often describe it as an unprecedented public health emergency. They portray these societies as resilient despite the crisis.
When similar disasters occur in India, attention frequently shifts towards governance and development shortcomings.
Human suffering fades into the background while preconceived notions take centre stage. Such assumptions overlook an important reality — India is not merely responding to climate change but is actively preparing for it.
Over the past decade, India has made climate resilience an integral part of its development strategy.
Numerous states have adopted Heat Action Plans, enabling local administrations to issue timely early warnings, establish cooling centres and coordinate emergency responses.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has significantly improved weather forecasting and impact-based alerts. These improvements have enabled authorities to respond more effectively to extreme weather events.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has strengthened institutional coordination, ensuring faster mobilisation during climate emergencies. This approach extends beyond disaster response alone.
Through initiatives such as Mission LiFE, India has placed sustainable lifestyles at the centre of global climate action, emphasising that meaningful environmental progress requires changes in both individual and collective behaviour alongside government policies.
The International Solar Alliance, co-founded by India, has emerged as a leading global platform promoting solar energy adoption.
Programmes including PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity reflect the country’s efforts to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
Flagship initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission also contribute significantly to climate resilience by improving access to safe drinking water in vulnerable communities.
None of this suggests that India has overcome every challenge.
Rapid urbanisation, water stress and the disproportionate impact of heat on economically vulnerable communities remain pressing concerns.
Acknowledging these issues should not come at the expense of recognising the country’s evolving institutional capabilities and sustained efforts to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable climate.
The language used to describe climate disasters matters.
Narratives influence public perception, investment decisions and diplomatic engagement. They shape perceptions of countries as either victims of circumstance or responsible actors confronting a shared global challenge.
The consequences of climate change have erased the old distinctions between developed and developing vulnerabilities.
Heatwaves in Paris and Delhi, floods in Belgium and Assam, and wildfires in Canada and parts of India all arise from the same planetary crisis.
If climate change recognises no boundaries, empathy too must transcend geography.
As the world enters an era of increasingly frequent climate extremes, the measure of any nation should not be whether it experiences disasters, because nearly every country now does, but how prepared it is to confront these challenges and protect its people.
India, despite its ongoing challenges, continues to strengthen its resilience. Compassion should never be selective.
In an interconnected world facing a common threat, empathy must be guided by humanity rather than geography.
– ARADHITA SINGH/ Research Fellow, India Foundation
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