The Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025, an annual conclave of journalists from India who write on environment and development issues, concluded on February 28, 2025, in Nimli Rajasthan.
For three days, experts discussed and debated the most pressing issues concerning the global environmental community in India and abroad.
Over 80 journalists from across the country participated this time in this one-of-its-kind platform, organised every year by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) at its facility, the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute, located in Nimli, Rajasthan.
The event began on February 26, with the launch of CSE and Down To Earth (DTE)’s annual publication, the State of India’s Environment 2025.
And it had something somber to report: The next generation will grow up in a world which will be far hotter. Generation Alpha will inherit a profound loss in a planet that is much warmer and climatologically changed.
The release was followed by a panel discussion between CSE Director General Sunita Narain; Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairperson of the Planning Commission; Amitabh Kant, former chief executive of central public policy think tank NITI Aayog, and financial guru, Raj Liberhan.
Ahluwalia and Kant warned that water issues in India would worsen over time, with reduced water availability. They advocated for pricing water as a commodity, arguing that a structured pricing mechanism could help manage the country’s growing water crisis.
Other sessions on Day 1 included one on the situation regarding human-wildlife conflict in India and chemical pollution in India and abroad.
Day 2 saw sessions on the extreme weather situation in India and South Asia as well the state of soil health in the country. The State of States report was also released on Day 2 of the conclave. The day ended with a conversation between Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor, Down To Earth and acclaimed historian, Ramachandra Guha.
The final day saw sessions on the e-mobility and renewables scene in India as well as the hanging spectre of zoonotic outbreaks.