They Live It Every Day. But Do They Know What It Is?

Growing Up Under Changing Skies

Aarav has lived his entire life beneath the tall shadows of the Dhauladhar Range. His grandmother often tells him that the mountains once followed a rhythm, winters that were colder, rains that came gently, summers that were never too hot.

Now, his routine feels different.

Some days, the classroom becomes too warm to sit comfortably. Fans move slowly in the heavy air. On other days, sudden rainfall makes it difficult to reach school. Narrow roads become slippery. Parents worry about landslides and traffic delays.

At home, Aarav notices small changes too. His mother stores extra water in buckets. His father talks about how tourist seasons are becoming unpredictable. Even conversations at dinner sometimes pause when the electricity goes out during storms.

Scientists and climate observers note that Dharamshala is one of the highest rainfall zones in Himachal Pradesh, with annual precipitation often exceeding 1,400 mm and in some locations reaching much higher levels, increasing exposure to erosion and landslide risks. In recent years, changing weather variability has added pressure on infrastructure and livelihoods.

Aarav does not fully understand the phrase climate change. But he understands that something around him is shifting.

Voices from the Classroom

During a recent school-based pre-survey conducted across neighbourhoods such as Kotwali Bazar, Yol Cantt, and Khaniyara, Aarav and his classmates were asked simple questions about the environment.

Their responses reflected early awareness and lived experience:

• Majority awareMost students reported hearing about climate change through school discussions or media.
• Heat stress noticedMany said summer classrooms now feel hotter and less comfortable.
• Rain disruptionA significant number reported sudden rainfall affecting school travel and outdoor activities.
• Home adaptationSeveral students said families now store water more carefully at home.
• Waste concernStudents highlighted increasing plastic waste in neighbourhood surroundings.

For teachers, these answers were revealing. Children were not only noticing environmental change, they were already adapting to it.

Yet they were also uncertain. They wanted to know what more they could do.

A Childhood Shared by Millions

Across the world, climate change is increasingly shaping childhood.

Global assessments suggest that nearly one billion children live in areas at extremely high risk from climate impacts such as floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves. For many, unpredictable weather disrupts schooling, limits safe play spaces, and creates anxiety within families facing livelihood uncertainty.

In mountain towns like Dharamshala, where steep terrain and heavy rainfall make communities environmentally sensitive, even moderate climate variability can feel intense.

For children, this means learning to live with uncertainty earlier than expected.

Climate change becomes real not through statistics alone, but through cancelled games, uncomfortable classrooms, and worried conversations at home.

What Is at Stake

When weather disruptions become frequent, they can affect continuity of education, physical comfort and concentration in school, access to safe outdoor spaces, and emotional well-being within households.

In regions where tourism and agriculture are closely tied to seasonal stability, environmental uncertainty can also influence family income, shaping how children imagine their future opportunities.

Listening to student experiences is therefore essential for designing climate responses that protect childhood development and rights.

A Small Act of Hope

The following week, Aarav and his friends stayed back after school. Together, they planted a young sapling near the edge of the playground, the same place where rainwater had flowed like a stream.

They took turns watering it using leftover drinking water from their bottles.

“It will grow,” Aarav said quietly.

No one knew if planting one tree could change the weather. But it changed how they felt.

For the first time, climate change did not feel like something happening to them. It felt like something they could respond to.

The Future Taking Root

The mountains above Dharamshala still stand tall. The rains still come, sometimes gently, sometimes all at once.

Inside classrooms, children continue to study mathematics, science, and language. But they are also learning another lesson, how to live in a changing world.

The school survey shows that many students want to take part in environmental initiatives, from cleanliness drives to tree-planting and awareness campaigns. With the right guidance, their curiosity can grow into resilience and leadership.

And in the muddy soil beside a flooded playground, a small tree begins to grow. Just like the determination of the children who planted it.