Kashmir at the Crossroads
Climate Change has shifted from being a peripheral environmental concern to a defining global challenge, shaping business strategy, regulatory frameworks, and investor expectations. Its impact ranging from rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, and biodiversity loss are no longer distant threats but present realities. In this context, corporate accountability frameworks such as governance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) have become central to how companies, industries, and governments approach sustainability.
For Kashmir, a region highly dependent on natural resources and climate-sensitive industries such as tourism, horticulture, and handicrafts, aligning climate mitigation, corporate governance, and ESG frameworks is not only a necessity for survival but also an opportunity for long-term, sustainable growth. This is necessitated due to the evidence of climate change we are experiencing day in and day out. The destruction caused by recent flash floods, cloud bursts at Kishtawar, Reasi, Mata Vaishnav Devi Track, Kathua and erratic rainfall doomed the entire area denuding the Himalayan peaks destructing the infrastructure and precious human lives lost is a grim reminder of our eco-vandalisation.
Climate Mitigation appears an important factor and it refers to actions that reduce or prevent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, driving the transition toward a low-carbon economy. We need to take concrete steps to cut direct emissions from operations, address supply chain emissions and innovate business models to align with net-zero commitments. Mitigation is both a moral obligation and a strategic imperative. From the global scenario it has been observed that companies and governments that lead in climate action unlock opportunities in efficiency, innovation, green markets, and investor trust.
For Kashmir, climate mitigation means safeguarding the natural assets like snow, rivers, forests, biodiversity etc., that underpin its economy and cultural identity.
The Corporate Governance is the steering Wheel that defines the systems, rules, and practices through which organizations are directed and controlled. It ensures that sustainability commitments are not superficial but embedded into decision-making and oversight structures. It can be effective governance only if climate risk is a Board level responsibility. CSR and enterprise risk management can be integrated with climate risks and even sustainability incentives can be linked with executive’s performance. .
For Kashmir, governance is particularly critical in fragmented sectors like tourism and horticulture, where strong oversight can prevent over-exploitation of natural resources and ensure sustainability becomes a structural, not cosmetic, priority.
ESG frameworks is now the dominant way for investors, regulators, and consumers to assess corporate and regional sustainability. Sincere application of ESG offers credibility. As we can break ESG into: Environmental (E): Emissions, energy, water, waste, biodiversity, Social (S): Labor rights, diversity, community engagement and Governance (G): Transparency, accountability, anti-corruption, board structure.
Applying the Framework to Kashmir
- Tourism and Hospitality
Tourism, Kashmir’s economic backbone, depends directly on healthy ecosystems. Climate change threatens snow cover, rivers, and biodiversity, the very assets that attract visitors.
Mitigation actions:
- Solar and hydro power in hotels.
- Eco-friendly construction and passive heating.
- Electric/shared transport for tourists.
- Rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling.
Ban on single-use plastics.
Governance actions:
- Assign sustainability oversight within hotel management.
- Link staff bonuses to eco-performance.
- Integrate climate risks (floods, snowfall variability) into business planning.
- Engage local communities in decision-making.
ESG applications:
- Track carbon footprint per guest.
- Ensure fair wages and cultural respect.
- Adopt certifications prevalent
By aligning with ESG, Kashmiri hotels could attract eco-conscious travelers and investors, differentiating the region as a sustainable Himalayan destination.
- Agriculture
Agriculture is both vulnerable to climate change and a contributor to emissions. In Kashmir, shifting rainfall and rising temperatures threaten rice, maize, and livestock productivity. This year the paddy cultivation suffered severely along with Apple industry as far as yield is concerned; and later on closing of NH44 due to climate hazards caused by landslides, flash floods and rainfall which caused huge losses to the sector economically, socially and physically. The unprecedented heat wave in summer had already taken a heavy toll of horticulture crops and the floods and rainfall risked the trade to a large extent causing hardships to the framer.
We need to look towards mitigation in the form of climate-smart farming, drip irrigation, crop diversification, renewable-powered cold storage, and methane-reducing livestock practices with stronger cooperatives and farmer producer organizations (FPOs) with climate risk oversight as governance measures. The robust ESG can lead to traceability for exports, water and pesticide use reporting, fair wages, and transparent cooperative management. This could enable Kashmiri farmers to access premium organic and carbon-neutral export markets.
- Horticulture
Apples, walnuts, and saffron define Kashmir’s global identity. Climate change, however, is already pushing apple cultivation higher up the mountains and reducing saffron yields. The mitigation can delve into solar-powered cold chains, agro forestry, and organic farming. We need to go for climate adaptation planning within horticultural boards, and protection of saffron lands from urban sprawl as governance and Branding apples as “low-carbon” or saffron as “GI-certified and sustainable,” that will open our produce to a niche luxury markets.
- Industry and Handicrafts
Kashmir’s artisanal industries (carpets, paper machié, woodcraft) employ thousands but face climate and market risks. The mitigation can have Renewable-powered looms, eco-friendly dyes, and sustainable raw materials. We need to strive for a sustainable Himalayan Heritage brand for our artists.
By embedding this framework across tourism, agriculture, horticulture, and industry, Kashmir could:
- Future-proof crops like apples and saffron.
- Reinforce tourism’s resilience against climate shocks.
- Elevate handicrafts into premium ethical global markets.
- Generate green jobs in renewable energy, eco-certification, and carbon markets.
This shift would not only protect Kashmir’s fragile ecology but also transform its economy from climate-vulnerable to climate-resilient and globally competitive.
For Kashmir, the path forward lies in treating climate mitigation as the destination, governance as the steering wheel, and ESG as the dashboard. Together, they provide a powerful framework for sustainable growth.
By adopting this integrated approach, Kashmir can preserve its natural heritage, strengthen its economy, and emerge as a global model of resilient, sustainable development in climate-sensitive regions.
The author is a climate change expert and a Policy analyst who writes on environment/Climate Change and is a social activist.
