India recorded the driest-ever August since 1901 is an ominous sign that extreme weather events are going to increase and add to sustainability challenges on account of climate change’s impact. Sweltering September days following a large rain deficiency in August have made life uncomfortable. Frequent load-shedding has also rendered space cooling solutions ineffective in many places across Assam. Climate change adaptation needs more innovative and less carbon-emitting solutions. The climate summary for the month of August released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is an eye-opener. During the month, the country as a whole received 162.7 mm of rainfall, which is 36% less than its Long Period Average (LPA) of 254.9 mm based on data from 1971–2020. Rainfall over all of India was the lowest (162.7 mm) since 1901, against a previous record of 191.2 mm in 2005, according to the IMD. The Met Office has indicated a likely relief from the current unbearable weather condition later this week as it has predicted that light/moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall or thunderstorms with isolated heavy rainfall activity are very likely over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on September 7 and 8. Prevailing weather conditions are precursors to what has already been enunciated in the Assam State Action Plan on Climate Change. Key observations listed in the Action Plan are: over a period of last 60 years from 1951-2010, the annual mean temperature in Assam has increased by 0.59 degree Celsius and the annual rainfall has decreased by -2.96/mm per year; frequent, heavy precipitation in the form of cloud bursts have been reported in recent years which have led to devastating flash floods; Climate change projections indicate that mean average temperature in the state is likely to rise by +1.7-2.2 degree Celsius by midcentury with respect to 1971-2000; there is likely to be increase in extreme rain fall events by +5 to 38%; all across the State, except in the southern districts, droughts weeks are going to rise as well, by more than 75% with respect to the base line (1971- 2000) and as regards floods, projections increase a rise in events by more than 25%. Failure of the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited to cater to the energy demand and resorting to frequent load shedding exposed a critical vulnerability in climate change adaptation as the Action Plan projects a rise in energy demand on account of rising temperatures. It points out that while energy generation capacity is not enough to meet the demand in the state, especially in remote areas, the demand is likely to go up as temperatures continue to rise. Government and local bodies pushing for GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment)-compliant building construction have become an urgent necessity. Some of the benefits of such green buildings assessed with GRIHA rating tools adopted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy are: reduced energy consumption without sacrificing comfort levels; reduced destruction of natural areas, habitats, and biodiversity; reduced soil loss from erosion, etc.; reduced air and water pollution (with direct health benefits); reduced water consumption; limited waste generation due to recycling and reuse; and reduced pollution loads. In 2022, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) headquarters in New Delhi won the GRIHA Exemplary Performance Award. It uses solar power to meet a portion of its energy consumption, and about 25% to 30% of its daily water consumption comes from recycled water. Assam’s government undertaking an assessment of government buildings, including educational institutions as well as shopping malls and private housing complexes, for GRIHA norm compliance and pushing for retrofitting solutions will go a long way in motivating people in the state to adopt the best practices to increase the greenness of individual houses to reduce climate vulnerability. Without adopting such innovative structural solutions, merely going for space cooling solutions is not going to be sustainable, as it will only lead to an increase in energy demand. Decarbonising the energy sector to achieve the country’s goal of net zero carbon emissions also demands the gradual phasing down of coal for the production of electricity and tapping renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. Making buildings GRIHA-compliant to prevent energy demand from increasing at a faster pace can therefore provide a sustainable solution to building infrastructure for accelerated growth. With nearly 85% of the state’s 27 lakh farm families having small and marginal land holdings and a rise in extreme weather events on account of alarming climate change situations, the vulnerability in the agriculture sector has also increased. The state action plan underscores the need for assessing water use in agriculture and promoting water use efficiency by combining the use of surface water with groundwater for long-term sustainability. It is high time to find out how far these solutions have been applied to build the resilience of farm families and ensure the state’s food security. The driest August is a wake-up call for all stakeholders.