Do you feel that every year the summers are becoming more unbearable?

Well, that’s not in your head. 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded. In addition, Delhi recorded an unusually warm winter in January 2025. Oh, wait! There is more.

• The last decade, 2015–2024, holds all ten of the hottest years on record.
• According to official government data, at least 84 people died from heatstroke across India between February and July 2025.
• In 2024, 733 heatstroke deaths were recorded as per various news analyses.
• About 76% of the population faces a very high risk from extreme heat, affecting health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
• The 2025 North India monsoons were the wettest recorded in the last 12 years.

But why? Who is to blame? Is it natural? Is something else driving this? Yes, humans are causing all of it by harming the natural green cycle. The Earth’s atmosphere is getting heavier because we are burning coal, oil, and gas, clearing forests, and releasing greenhouse gases at extremely high levels.

India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, including 414,000 hectares of its humid primary forest. The result? A world that’s heating faster than ecosystems can adapt. Earth’s climate hasn’t always been the same, but nature can’t handle the transformations happening right now.

We can see the fingerprints of climate change everywhere — crops failing under heat, monsoons inviting floods, wildfires burning acres, record-breaking storms, or seas swallowing coastlines. Over 3.6 billion people now live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change. Is this how humans will write the script of the future?

Definitely not! India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) aims to:

• Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070.
• Restore 26 million hectares of degraded land and expand green cover.
• Generate 50% of total electric power from non-fossil sources by 2030.
• Reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030.
• Cover 33% of India’s geographical area under forests.

To help India achieve its green mission, Venus Foundation is giving a hand by initiating drives that focus on restoring degraded land and improving green cover. We are not just planting trees, but helping rebuild natural shields against nature’s fury. So far, we have carried out some engaging tree-planting drives such as:

Yavnika Town Park, Sector 5, Panchkula

As soon as the monsoons settled in a little, we planted more than 50 trees, and something compassionate happened. Strangers passing by stopped to lend a hand. This is rare! How much are you willing to help someone you see on the road? But here, people picked shovels and shared thoughtful ideas on how we could make a bigger impact. To keep the momentum moving, we gifted everyone a hygiene kit as a small token of care. By the end, a few even signed up as new volunteers.

We did not stop at planting. After a few weeks of planting, we carried out a maintenance drive to nurture the saplings. Here, in collaboration with R3SET, both of our teams shared free samples of Reset pain relief gel with walkers who paused to watch or join in. This way, our normal plantation drive turned into a moment of community and kindness.

Open Ground Area, Sector 12, Panchkula

We all know how mercilessly the sun beats on a highway. This is where our plantation drive has begun to change the landscape. This initiative was joined by the local public and workers. After all, no one faces the cruel heat as they do.

Planting trees in an open space alongside the stretch of highway is a relief. Commuters now drive with a little more comfort, manual drivers like rickshaw pullers and cyclists can feel the ease, and walkers get the shade to rest. Not to forget, the stuck waiting during rush hours will be cooler and calmer.

Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, Panchkula

Once a dry and fallow land, we turned the schoolyard into a space alive with the lushness of green. What was just dust and heat now offers fresh air, shade, and a vibrant environment. This way, children get fresh air, comfortable outdoor spaces, and cleaner surroundings. Furthermore, they now understand the importance of greenery, the concept of climate change, and the learning of plant maintenance. The transformation of the school is proof for them that even a small space can make a lot of difference if used correctly.

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