When we think of climate change in India, the image that comes to mind is usually of big cities Delhi's air pollution, Chennai's water crisis, or Bengaluru's waste problem. But far away from the headlines, smaller towns and hill cities such as Dehradun, Shimla, Ludhiana, and Varanasi are quietly bearing the brunt of a changing climate. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, and water shortages are beginning to reshape daily life, forcing communities to adapt with limited means.

Recent research shows that urbanisation alone has increased the rate of warming in Indian cities by nearly 60 percent, with smaller eastern cities heating up the fastest. In simpler terms, it is not just global climate change but also the way we are building our cities that is worsening the problem. More concrete, fewer trees, and the near disappearance of open spaces have turned small cities into heat traps, unable to absorb or store rainwater.

A discussion hosted by Citizen Matters and Climate Trends in 2021 brought together citizens, journalists, and experts from different towns. They agreed on one thing: smaller cities face the same problems as metros, but with far fewer resources, weaker planning, and almost no scientific data to guide them. In many towns, people are struggling with water scarcity, poor waste management, and chaotic construction. In the hills, natural springs that once sustained entire communities are drying up because of overuse and encroachment. Hill cities like Shimla are facing landslides and floods because of unplanned construction on unstable slopes.

Many towns also lack accurate information about local weather and pollution patterns, making it difficult to prepare for future disasters. Poor public transport and congested roads add to the environmental strain. Even as governments announce costly metro projects in cities that may not need them, basic bus services and cycling tracks remain neglected. The result is that small towns are being built like mini-metros, but without the capacity to handle the consequences.

A study published in Nature Cities in 2024 by Indian researchers Soumya Sethi and V. Vinoj found that cities across India are heating up almost twice as fast as their rural surroundings. Smaller and mid-sized cities have warmed by around 0.5 degrees Celsius per decade, much of it due to local urban growth rather than global temperature rise. This happens because materials like concrete and asphalt trap heat, while the loss of tree cover and open land prevents natural cooling. The heavy use of air-conditioners and vehicles adds more heat and pollution, creating what experts call "urban heat islands." These rising temperatures are making life harder for everyone, especially the elderly, children, and the poor.

Yet, even within this difficult picture, there are rays of hope. Several small towns are finding their own ways to adapt. In Shimla and Bhubaneswar, local solar projects are helping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. In Dehradun, NGOs are mapping traditional water springs and encouraging rainwater harvesting to revive them. Citizen groups in Ludhiana are working to clean the Buddha Nullah and reduce industrial waste. In Gangtok, a city known for its disciplined civic sense, authorities are experimenting with ending free parking to limit private vehicle use and promote public transport.

Experts believe that small towns can actually lead the way toward sustainable living if they act early. Unlike large metros, many of these towns still have open spaces, community networks, and traditional practices that can be revived. However, they need better data, more local decision-making power, and stronger coordination among departments. Urban planning must include climate considerations in every step from building design and waste management to transport and green spaces.

Climate change is no longer a distant warning. It is shaping how people in small-town India live, travel, and work. But it is also inspiring communities to innovate, rebuild, and take ownership of their environment. As one expert noted in the discussion, "Cities are both the cause and the solution to climate change. The question is, which path will we choose?"
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