During a recent meeting in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel highlighted the urgent need to bolster rural areas against climate change impacts. He instructed officials to formulate action plans at the Gram Panchayat level and recommended leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for climate-related projects. The meeting reviewed the progress of the State Action Plan on Climate Change, including the establishment of a climate change center and authority, and the implementation of carbon credit initiatives. Notably, Chhattisgarh has seen the highest increase in forest and tree cover in India, with an addition of 683 sq km as reported in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2025. Ongoing large-scale plantation drives, such as ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and ‘Kisan Vriksha Mitra’, have resulted in millions of saplings being planted. The state is also promoting electric vehicles, distributing solar pumps to farmers, and expanding organic farming, which has covered over 55,000 hectares during 2025-26.