Why climate education must begin with real-world challenges like rising AC demand

P icture this: you walk into an exam hall in May; it is 44°C outside. The ceiling fans are spinning but the room is stifling. You find it hard to concentrate. Now imagine this becoming the norm for every classroom, every office, every home across India for months at a time. This is a not-so-distant possibility. It is already happening. As temperatures rise, power grids are under strain and the very systems we use to escape the heat — air conditioners — are making the problem worse. For students at the threshold of building India’s future, understanding this paradox is not optional; it is urgent.