Kerala is on the frontline of climate change, with a new study warning that the state could see its average temperature rise by 1°C and rainfall increase by 10% in the coming years. The alarming projection follows 2024, which was officially the hottest year in Kerala since 1901, with annual mean temperatures nearly a full degree above the historical average.
Over the past century, Kerala’s average maximum temperature has already climbed by 1.67°C (1901–2021), signaling a clear warming trend. Experts say climate change is also fueling more intense rainfall, with events like the 2024 Wayanad landslides made 10% more severe due to human-induced climate impacts.
This shift in climate patterns could have serious consequences for the state’s environment and communities — including increased flooding, landslides, and deadly heatwaves. Climate scientists are now calling for urgent adaptation strategies to protect Kerala’s future and strengthen its resilience to extreme weather.
