National Geographic Explorer Systems thinking | Environmental Issues Chaos Alchemist, Vision Building, Strategic Leadership Cross-cultural & Multidisciplinary Teams Storyteller | Peacebuilding | Environmental Justice
The future is here, just unevenly distributed Although modern life tries to shield us from embodied experiences with the earth - and most people in urban contexts would be hard-pressed to say where there food and water are coming from - climate change is a very real and lived experience for farmers and indigenous communities on the front lines of these radical changes. The Earth has already heated beyond the 1.5C warming limit, with heightened impacts at the Poles (Arctic, Antarctica and the Himalayas, the Third Pole). All of our global agriculture that evolved in the steady state of the Holocene era is no longer viable. The communities dealing with these changes, such as this story of the Kannaur farmers in the Himalayan foothills, need our support for addressing viable ways for climate smart agriculture and climate resilient strategies. ICIMOD Arctic Basecamp Ecoseva Institute #glaciers #Glaciers2025 #ThirdPole #indigenousknowledge #indigenousculture #culturalsustainability #socialecology #climatesmartagriculture #snow #sacredecology #climateaction #climatechange #Himalayas #planetaryboundaries #waterscarcity #watercycle #cryosphere #holocene #anthropocene #alpine #India #Nepal #Bhutan #ecoliteracy #globalchange #rightsofnature #righttowater
??Snowless Winters, Fruitless Orchards: A Farmer’s Fight Against Climate Change As an apple grower in Himachal Pradesh, I have always relied on the cold embrace of winter to nurture my orchards. But today, the snowfall is vanishing, leaving us farmers in a desperate struggle to save our trees. The recent images from Kinnaur—where farmers are hauling snow in baskets from higher altitudes to their fields—are not just a sight of hardship; they are a warning. Climate change is here, and it’s threatening the very land that feeds us. ??The Crisis: Where Has the Snow Gone? For generations, apple farming depended on heavy snowfall, which provides the chilling hours trees need to flower and bear fruit. But this winter, snowfall has declined by 77%—a disaster in the making. No snow means no chilling hours, weak blossoms, smaller yields, and financial ruin for thousands of farmers like me. How bad is it? Farmers are now carrying snow on their backs—something unheard of in our history. ??Desperate Measures: The Human Cost of Climate Change Imagine this: instead of relying on nature, you’re forced to manually transport snow to your farm—just to keep your trees alive. This is not resilience; this is survival. In my own orchards, I see winters getting shorter, unpredictable rain patterns, and rising temperatures. The land that once thrived under crisp, snowy winters is now struggling. ??The Way Forward: Adapting to a Changing Climate We farmers are fighting, but we can’t do it alone. We need: ? Low-chill apple varieties that can grow in warmer conditions. ? Water conservation techniques like rainwater harvesting & drip irrigation. ? Government support for climate-resilient farming. ? Stronger policies to curb carbon emissions and protect fragile ecosystems. But adaptation isn’t enough—we must fight climate change at its roots. ??Saving the Climate: The Bigger Picture The crisis in Himachal is a symptom of a global disaster unfolding. If we don’t act now, it won’t just be apples at risk—it’ll be food security, water sources, and livelihoods everywhere. How We Can Help: 1?? Plant More Trees – Forests regulate temperatures and bring back lost moisture. 2?? Switch to Clean Energy – Solar power & biofuels can cut carbon emissions. 3?? Use Water Wisely – Saving water today ensures farming tomorrow. 4?? Reduce Pollution – Less waste, less carbon, fewer climate disasters. 5?? Push for Climate Policies – Governments must take action before it’s too late. ??A Call to Action: Will We Save the Future? Kinnaur’s farmers are carrying snow on their backs today. What will we be forced to do tomorrow? This isn’t just about apples. It’s about our planet, our people, and our survival. If we don’t act now, future generations will inherit nothing but dry land and lost dreams. Down To Earth