FOLLOWING the unprecedented heat waves simultaneously hitting a large part of Asia, Europe and the United States, the announcement that these last two months were the hottest months on record alerted everyone to the accelerating impact of climate change.

The Indian University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines to all universities that all students must study subjects such as environmental education and climate change to graduate starting from the 2023–2024 academic year. The move is not a surprise if one looks at the price of tomatoes in India, which has reached more than 200 rupees per kilo, nearly three times more when compared with last year and at a historic high, according to data from the Indian Department of Consumer Affairs. Tomatoes, potatoes and onions are the three key foods in the Indian diet. The abnormal simultaneous drought and flood in different areas of India caused havoc on tomato production.