Shimla: Himachal Pradesh faces a critical environmental crossroads, with the first UNDP Himachal Pradesh Human Development Report 2025 warning of a significant rise in temperatures and intensifying rainfall patterns by mid-century. The report projects a temperature increase of up to 3°C by 2050, alongside more frequent episodes of heavy rainfall and faster melting of glaciers — trends that could profoundly impact the state’s fragile mountain ecosystem and development trajectory.
The report underscores that climate variations are already visible across the region — from unpredictable monsoons and cloudbursts to seasonal shifts and prolonged heat waves. While the state has witnessed an average temperature decline of 1.5°C since 1901, the pattern of extreme weather events has sharply intensified. Over the past five years alone, Himachal has incurred economic losses worth ₹46,000 crore due to floods, landslides, and storms.
Alarmingly, the number of forest fire alerts jumped from 714 in the summer of 2022–23 to over 10,000 in 2023–24, reflecting growing environmental stress. The report warns that 70% of traditional water sources could be at risk if current trends continue.
Vulnerabilities Across Sectors
The assessment examines Himachal’s progress and vulnerabilities across five major sectors — agriculture, water and forestry, construction and tourism, health, and climate governance. Despite ranking among the top five states on the SDG India Index 2023–24 and maintaining a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.78 — higher than the national average of 0.63 — the state’s ecological balance remains under strain.
Tourism, which contributes 7.8% to Himachal’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), is increasingly at risk due to erratic weather and diminishing snowfall. Such changes not only discourage visitors but also endanger the livelihoods of thousands dependent on the hospitality sector. The report further highlights the rising use of diesel vehicles in both tourism and construction, even as fuel prices climb, aggravating pollution and carbon emissions.
Unregulated Growth and Ecological Strain
The document raises red flags about unplanned construction and unchecked tourism, which are fueling deforestation, glacier retreat, and water cycle disruptions. Together, the construction and tourism sectors account for nearly a quarter of total employment — 11.5% and 14% respectively — yet their unregulated expansion is leading to mounting waste and pollution.
Hydropower projects and insufficient urban planning, the report notes, are compounding environmental degradation in already vulnerable hill areas.
Emerging Health Concerns
Climate shifts are also altering the state’s health landscape, with increasing instances of vector- and water-borne diseases such as dengue, diarrhoea, and typhoid. Warmer temperatures and altered rainfall are expanding the habitats of disease-carrying insects, posing new challenges for public health management.
Recommendations for a Resilient Future
The UNDP report emphasizes the need for climate-sensitive budgeting and calls for phasing out subsidies that encourage polluting industries. It urges the state to align its financial systems with low-carbon, climate-resilient development goals.
“Himachal has taken commendable steps in integrating climate action into its development plans,” the report observes, “but a stronger focus on resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability is essential to safeguard its progress.”
As the hill state continues to balance economic growth with environmental preservation, the report serves as a stark reminder: the cost of inaction on climate change could far outweigh the investments required for sustainable development.
