An important announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday on the need to ban single-use plastic was made at a global convention to combat climate change and desertification. The stark reality of sudden, unpredictable climactic events is upon the world, and it's time to work to save the planet. This is no exaggeration, says environment researcher Sunita Narayan as she discusses the threats the world faces due to climate change, intense rain, heat events, dust storms and depletion of groundwater.