The critical importance of early warning systems in disaster-prone regions took center stage at the “Early Warning to Early Action – A Multi-Hazard, Multi-Stakeholder Approach: Learning from Coastal Ecosystems” convening held in Odisha, India. Organized by Reliance Foundation and the United Nations India, the event marked the beginning of a series of global discussions aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response, particularly in the Global South.

This convening brought together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other nations across the Global South to share knowledge and explore innovative solutions for effective early warning systems (EWS). The event focused on Odisha’s leadership in disaster management, particularly in coastal areas, where the impact of extreme weather events is acutely felt. Experts from national disaster management agencies, the UN, academia, and NGOs participated in in-depth discussions on improving early warning and early action systems.

Suresh Pujari, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, Government of Odisha, underscored the state’s proactive role in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. He highlighted the need for better integration of disaster prediction and information analysis for more accurate early warnings, a call echoed by many throughout the convening. “Odisha is committed to further strengthening early warning systems, and we are excited to collaborate with the UN, Reliance Foundation, and other partners in advancing this cause,” Pujari said.

The convening served as a platform to showcase Odisha’s leadership and its successful implementation of early warning systems that have saved lives during cyclones, floods, and other extreme events. Reliance Foundation’s CEO, Jagannatha Kumar, emphasized the importance of impact-based forecasting to ensure that early warnings translate into actionable outcomes at the local level. “As climate change drives more frequent and severe natural events, our early warning systems must evolve to ensure they effectively reach and protect vulnerable communities,” he said.

One of the most pressing areas of discussion was the integration of socio-demographic data with meteorological information to enhance the precision and relevance of early warning messages. This multi-hazard, multi-stakeholder approach aims to future-proof disaster preparedness strategies by using technology, innovation, and local knowledge to create a more resilient disaster response system.

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India, highlighted the significance of the convening in the context of the UN Secretary-General’s call for “Early Warning for All” worldwide. He stressed that the knowledge and practices shared by Odisha’s disaster management experts are invaluable not just for India but for other countries in the Global South that face similar challenges. “The UN remains committed to strengthening early warning systems and building community resilience through collaboration with the Government of India, Reliance Foundation, and our civil society partners,” said  Sharp.

The Odisha convening is the first in a series of such events, designed to document best practices, foster innovation, and produce actionable policy outcomes that will save lives and livelihoods across disaster-prone regions. By bringing together global experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, the series aims to drive forward a more resilient and disaster-ready future for communities worldwide.

As the world continues to grapple with the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters, the convening’s discussions are a timely reminder of the importance of early warning and early action systems in reducing disaster risk and protecting vulnerable populations globally.

When we think of slow and steady, the image of a tortoise often comes to mind. But behind that unhurried gait lies a remarkable creature capable of defying time itself. The tortoise is among the longest-living animals on the planet. Their extraordinary lifespan has fascinated biologists and storytellers alike, leading us to wonder: how do these creatures live so long? Is it the giant tortoises of the Galápagos or the smaller, land-dwelling species that hold the key to longevity? Let’s take a deeper look.

A Life of Patience and Persistence

The tortoise’s slow walk is not just a quirky trait — it’s a life philosophy, ingrained in their very survival. These creatures are not in a race against time, they are its patient conquerors. Some species of tortoises can live well over a century, and in the case of the Giant Tortoise (known for its immense size), individuals have been documented living for more than 200 years. But why is it that these ancient reptiles live so long, while their cousins, the turtles, tend to have shorter lifespans?

In terms of lifespan, tortoises—especially the giant tortoises—lead the pack. A giant tortoise can outlive many other creatures, including their ocean-dwelling cousins, the turtles. While turtles generally live between 50 to 100 years, giant tortoises surpass this, sometimes even living beyond 150 years. In fact, Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise living on Saint Helena Island in the South Atlantic, holds the record as the world’s oldest living land animal at 189 years old. Jonathan, who was born in 1832, has outlived all of his peers, continuing to thrive on the island where he was discovered.

The Science Behind Their Longevity

The secret to the tortoise’s longevity lies deep within its biology. While there are several factors that contribute to their long lives, two of the most significant are evolutionary adaptations and cellular processes that are finely tuned to conserve energy and maintain health over decades.

From an evolutionary perspective, tortoises face fewer natural threats in their environment compared to faster, more vulnerable animals. For many species of tortoises, survival has been less about outpacing predators and more about outlasting them. Many tortoises lay multiple eggs, often many more than a single clutch, and they continue to reproduce over several decades. This “quality over quantity” approach to reproduction ensures that their genes continue to thrive, while their individual lifespans stretch out.

Moreover, tortoises tend to have slower metabolic rates compared to other animals. Their bodies conserve energy by keeping their metabolic processes at a steady, slow pace. This “slow burn” strategy is key to their extended lifespans. A slow metabolism means that fewer cellular processes are damaged by the wear and tear of daily life, which translates into fewer health issues in old age.

One of the most fascinating aspects of tortoise longevity is the role of their telomeres. Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent them from fraying and tangling. Every time a cell divides, the telomeres shorten slightly. In most organisms, as the telomeres shorten, cells lose their ability to divide, eventually leading to aging. However, in tortoises, the telomeres wear down at an unusually slow rate, allowing their cells to divide without the usual detrimental effects seen in other animals. This slower rate of telomere shortening helps them avoid age-related diseases such as cancer and ensures that their cells remain healthier for longer.

Furthermore, some studies have revealed that tortoises are capable of a process called apoptosis—a form of programmed cell death—where damaged or dysfunctional cells are destroyed before they can cause harm. This controlled form of self-destruction in damaged cells helps prevent the formation of tumors and other age-related diseases, which is another reason for the tortoise’s impressive lifespan.

The Giants of the Tortoise World

When we talk about longevity in tortoises, we cannot overlook the giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands and the Seychelles. These remarkable creatures have not only captured our imagination but have also become living symbols of resilience and endurance.

The Galápagos Giant Tortoise, for instance, can live over 150 years, and some individuals have even outlived the scientists who studied them. They were once thought to be heading for extinction, but thanks to conservation efforts, their populations have stabilized.

In India, a rare breed of tortoise known as the Aldabra Giant Tortoise has been known to live up to 255 years. This species, although not as well-known as the Galápagos counterparts, is another testament to the wonders of nature’s design.

Turtles, which are often found in aquatic environments, tend to live shorter lives, averaging about 30 to 50 years

But what about other, lesser-known giants? In Kasaragod, Kerala, India, a giant soft-shell turtle species was discovered in May 2021, which lives in freshwater, weighing over 100 kilograms! These giant creatures are living proof of the astonishing adaptability and longevity that nature has to offer.

The Mystery of Tortoises and Turtles

While all tortoises are technically land-dwelling creatures, there is an interesting distinction between tortoises and turtles. Turtles, which are often found in aquatic environments, tend to live shorter lives, averaging about 30 to 50 years. Tortoises, on the other hand, tend to have larger bodies, longer necks, and more robust shells. Their heavy, often plant-based diet plays a role in the additional years they add to their lifespan.

A surprising discovery made in the Seychelles in recent years has sent shockwaves through the scientific community: certain tortoises, once thought to be herbivorous, have been seen eating birds and other small animals. This has raised questions about the adaptability of tortoises in changing environments and has piqued the interest of researchers studying their survival strategies.

What Lies Ahead?

Despite all that we know about these extraordinary creatures, there is still much to discover. Researchers continue to study tortoises, particularly the giant species, to learn how their unique biological traits could benefit human medicine, particularly in the fight against aging and diseases like cancer. The discovery of their telomere dynamics, coupled with the ability to prevent cell damage through apoptosis, could one day revolutionize the way we approach longevity and healthcare.

For now, we can only marvel at the tortoise’s timeless existence, its slow, steady journey through the ages, and the lessons it teaches us about patience, resilience, and the secrets of life’s most enduring creatures.

In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, a massive wildfire raged through the thick, lush greenery. This wasn’t just any fire; it was a calamity that consumed more than 17 million animals in its path, a chilling reminder of how the destruction of nature can reverberate across ecosystems. The Amazon, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” plays a pivotal role in managing the planet’s climate. Yet, the actions of humanity—deforestation, illegal logging, and deliberate fires for agricultural purposes—have not only caused immeasurable loss to wildlife but have also accelerated climate change. The forest’s destruction led to a dangerous feedback loop, intensifying global weather patterns in ways that humans had never anticipated.

Fast forward to 2018, and the monsoon rains that battered Kerala, a state in India, were an equally dire omen. What began as an ordinary August downpour escalated into one of the deadliest floods in the region in almost a century. Rivers overflowed, breaking through dams and inundating vast swathes of land. Entire towns were submerged. Hundreds of lives were lost, and the devastation reached far beyond the physical damage, triggering social and economic upheaval. The aftermath left thousands homeless, as people sought refuge in makeshift shelters. The floods in Kerala were not an isolated incident; in fact, they were a warning from nature, signaling a world grappling with extreme weather events, made worse by human-induced climate change. The same was the case with 2024 Wayanad landslides.

And this global pattern of violent weather doesn’t stop in the tropics. In recent years, a blistering heatwave has swept across parts of North America. The US and Canada, known for their cold winters, have experienced record-breaking summer temperatures, an anomaly that scientists have linked directly to climate change. Oregon, once known for its temperate weather, saw the largest wildfire in its history, spurred by the heatwave. This was not just a local disaster—it was part of a larger, worrying trend in which global warming is creating the conditions for wildfires, floods, and heatwaves to proliferate at an unprecedented rate.

Climate change refers to significant, long-term shifts in weather patterns and temperatures.

These are not just isolated incidents. They are signs of a planet in distress, a planet experiencing the devastating effects of climate change, a phenomenon that is rapidly altering our environment and our lives.

The Science Behind the Crisis

Climate change refers to significant, long-term shifts in weather patterns and temperatures. These changes can manifest in a variety of ways: from prolonged droughts and unseasonal rains to extreme heatwaves and hurricanes. The root cause of today’s accelerated climate change is primarily human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial emissions, which release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The Earth’s climate has always undergone natural variations—shifting from ice ages to warmer periods over millennia. However, what we are witnessing today is a much more rapid and intense change, driven by human actions. According to scientists, the Earth’s average temperature has risen by approximately 1.1°C since the late 19th century, with the past few decades seeing a rate of warming unprecedented in the geological record. The current trajectory suggests that global temperatures could rise by another 1-2°C by the end of the century, which would have catastrophic implications for both human and natural systems.

The impacts of this warming are already being felt globally. Melting ice caps and glaciers, rising sea levels, shifting weather patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events are some of the most visible signs. The Amazon rainforest, which once functioned as a massive carbon sink, is now a source of carbon emissions due to deforestation and wildfires. Meanwhile, heatwaves in parts of Europe and North America have reached previously unimaginable levels, set new temperature records and causing widespread harm.

A Global Phenomenon: From Kerala to Oregon

The devastating Kerala floods of 2018 were preceded by a series of warnings. The state’s weather patterns had been shifting, with increasingly unpredictable rainfall, leading to swollen rivers and the overflowing of dams. Once a relatively regular occurrence, floods in Kerala became more intense and frequent over time. Experts argue that climate change, through the intensification of the monsoon season and rising sea levels, has exacerbated the situation. But Kerala is not alone. Across the world, regions that were once resilient to extreme weather are now facing unprecedented levels of flooding, wildfires, and other disasters.

In 2020, when a record heatwave struck North America, temperatures in the Pacific Northwest soared to levels never seen before. Oregon, a state known for its temperate climate, reported its highest-ever temperatures. This heatwave triggered wildfires that devastated millions of acres of forest and caused significant loss of life. The fires were not simply a result of hot weather, but of the conditions created by climate change—dry forests, extreme heat, and shifting weather patterns all came together to fuel the fires.

Similarly, across the Atlantic, parts of Europe experienced an unusually harsh summer, with wildfires ravaging Spain, Portugal, and southern France. These fires were not natural events but were made more intense by the warming climate. Even in regions like Siberia, where wildfires were once rare, extreme temperatures and dry conditions have now turned vast areas into tinderboxes.

The Growing Threat: What the Future Holds

The world’s climate is now so volatile that extreme weather events are no longer an anomaly. They are becoming the new normal. Rising temperatures are leading to extreme heatwaves, higher sea levels are threatening coastal communities, and shifting weather patterns are disrupting ecosystems and agriculture. We are seeing longer droughts, more intense storms, and unpredictable rainfall, all of which are affecting millions of people across the globe.

In the coming decades, the situation is expected to worsen. According to scientists, we are on track to exceed a 1.5°C rise in global temperatures by 2050, with the potential for far-reaching consequences. Sea levels are projected to rise, displacing millions of people, while agriculture will suffer due to unpredictable rainfall and extreme temperatures. Already vulnerable regions, such as the Pacific Islands, will be the hardest hit, while major cities like New York, Mumbai, and Jakarta are all at risk of flooding.

Rising Temperatures and Their Far-reaching Effects

Even small changes in the Earth’s temperature can have profound impacts. A temperature-increase of just 1.5°C could lead to the irreversible melting of polar ice caps, resulting in a rise in sea levels that would submerge entire cities. Rising temperatures can also trigger the release of methane from thawing permafrost, a potent greenhouse gas that could accelerate global warming even further.

The stories from the Amazon, Kerala, Oregon, and beyond serve as stark reminders that the climate crisis is not a future problem—it is a present-day reality

One of the most troubling aspects of this warming is how it is changing the planet’s ecosystems. Species that once thrived in specific temperature ranges are now struggling to survive. Many are migrating to cooler areas, while others face extinction. As habitats shrink and weather patterns change, the very fabric of biodiversity is at risk.

Can We Change Course?

The question now is: Can we reverse or at least slow down these changes? While the situation is dire, scientists and environmentalists believe that immediate action can still mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, reducing deforestation, and investing in sustainable agricultural practices are essential steps. Governments, corporations, and individuals all have a role to play in ensuring that we shift towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

There is still time to act, but the window is closing fast. The more we delay, the more severe the impacts will be. The stories from the Amazon, Kerala, Oregon, and beyond serve as stark reminders that the climate crisis is not a future problem—it is a present-day reality that we can no longer afford to ignore.

A Global Call to Action

From the scorched rainforests of the Amazon to the flooded streets of Kerala and the heat-baked forests of Oregon, climate change is no longer a distant concept. It is here, now, and it affects all of us. But the power to change our future lies in our hands. By making sustainable choices, demanding policy changes, and holding accountable those who contribute to the climate crisis, we can begin to heal our planet before it’s too late.

The stories we tell today will define the world that future generations inherit. Will they look back and see a world that acted in time, or a world that failed to change until it was too late? The choice is ours.