Climate Change Threats for India

Why in news?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of an exceptionally hot summer this year.

What is the warning about?

• According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) the temperature will be more than 1 degree Celsius above normal across half the country in the March-May period.
• The monsoon is likely to be normal, the IMD believes, in the absence of other large-scale signals during the March-May period”, the rise forecast can be attributed to global warming.

What are the expected climate change concerns for India?

• The Economic Survey 2018 pointed out that climate change will reduce agri-productivity and pull down farm-incomes by 15-18% overall and by as much as a quarter in unirrigated areas.
• The Centre for Science and Environment has pointed out that excessive rainfall unevenly spread over the monsoon period in some areas skews the overall monsoon data by offsetting the deficiency in others.
• Between June 1 and August 28, 2017, nearly 37% of the districts in India had received rainfall that was classified by IMD as a large-deficiency or deficiency.
• Thus climate change will also cause rain deficiencies in many areas as well as give rise to newer and perhaps hardier pests.

What are the global concerns on climate change?

• In 2018, a heatwave in the Arctic, during its sunless winter, has caused wild snowstorms in Europe.
• This has forced climate scientists to revise downwards even their worst forecasts of climate change.
• Scientists argue current and projected efforts like Paris accord may not be enough to stem perilous climate change.
• Given global trends in economic and population growth, there is only a 5% chance of the planet being able to stave off the 2 degree Celsius rise in temperature predicted at the end of the 21st century.

What are the measures taken by India?

• India must gear up to respond to drastically altered climate scenarios as much as focus on tackling climate change.
• India, which has made responsible commitments under the Paris accord, already recognises the various threats it faces.
• Apart from this India need to actively promote GM technology to develop drought-resistant and pest-resistant crops, India need to work on with a GM policy for this.
• Flooding and rain-deficiency are problems that can be solved with efficient water-management like creating more reservoirs.
• Linking such reservoirs to a water-stressed cities, could also curb loss of water and lessen the dependence on a rivers.
• Union government also need to pursue a mitigation strategy on war-footing, perhaps announcing a Swachh Bharat-like central scheme on responsible use and harvesting of water.

Source: Financial Express