Climate Change induced Temperature Rise – IMD’s 2023 report is a wake-up call

General Studies Paper – 3

Context: The article discusses how 2023 was India’s second-warmest year, causing various weather issues and affecting the economy, agriculture, and employment due to climate change.

How did the year 2023 bring a grim retrospect from the India Meteorological Department (IMD)?

• Temperature Rise: 2023 was marked as the second warmest year since 1901, with the average temperature 0.65°C above the long-term mean.
• Extreme Rainfall: December 2023 saw rainfall 60% above normal, making it an exceptionally wet month, except in the north and Northeast regions.
• Tropical Storms: The Indian Ocean experienced six tropical storms, significantly higher than usual, with three escalating to severe cyclonic storms, indicating a rise in extreme weather events.
• El Nino Contribution: The unusual weather patterns and increased global temperatures were partly attributed to El Nino, underscoring the broader impact of climate change.

How is climate change going to impact India?

• The Reserve Bank of India’s 2022-23 Report on Currency and Finance projects a potential 2% loss in GDP and a decline in living standards for half the population by 2050. It particularly emphasizes the loss in productivity in major sectors such as agriculture and construction due to increasing heat stress.
• The World Bank predicts India will face over 40% of global job losses due to heat-induced productivity decline by 2030.
• It is bad for poorest populations, as evident by skyrocketing prices of essentials like vegetables (tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chilly, and cumin) due to erratic weather impacting production.

Way forward:

• Accelerate strategies to reduce carbon intensity in GDP by 2030 due to increasing climate challenges.
• Allocate sufficient funds for both mitigation and adaptation to climate impacts.
• Prioritize renewable energy sources over thermal power to meet 2030 targets and reduce coal dependency.