Towards science-based climate policy in Kerala: Integrating adaptation and mitigation for a climate-resilient future

This journal article examines the urgent need for science-based climate policy in Kerala, India, where increasing heat stress, extreme rainfall, floods, landslides and droughts are intensifying climate risks. Drawing on observed climate trends, future projections and recent disasters, the paper highlights the growing disconnect between scientific evidence and policy implementation across sectors and governance levels.

Drawing on observed climate variability, future projections, and recent climate-induced disasters, the study identifies critical gaps in data infrastructure, institutional coordination, climate finance, climate change impact assessments, and implementation capacity. It advances watershed-based planning as a scientifically grounded spatial unit for climate action and underscores the importance of systematic monitoring, climate auditing, and adaptive governance. Furthermore, the article advocates establishing a dedicated Climate Change Adaptation Cadre in the state to strengthen the science-policy-practice interface and facilitate effective decentralised implementation. Integrating mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction within a coherent governance framework is essential for advancing climate-resilient development in Kerala and other climate-vulnerable regions of the Global South.