India, Sept. 11 -- Punjab is no stranger to floods. Its geography, river system, and dependence on the monsoon have always carried an element of risk. Yet climate change has made that risk far more erratic and severe. When the monsoon arrives late and peaks in late August or early September, floods become almost inevitable. The devastation of 1988, and 2008 floods are not yet forgotten. Today, the state faces a similar tragedy, if not more.

Year after year, the floods and their management cycle repeat itself: Delayed relief operations, hurried visits by political leaders, blame-shifting between institutions, and grand promises of future action. Rarely are floods approached as a systemic challenge requiring evidence-based planning and lon...