Global Warming, Climate Change and Shifting of Weather

Shifting of Weather in Indian Context and its Impact
As in previous article we have read about our Indian Climate, now in this article, impact of planetary crisis will be discussed.
            According to “State and Global Climate” report 2020 released by WMO (World Meteorological Organization – Specialized organization of United Nation),
·      Decade 2011-2020 was the warmest and year 2020 is among three hottest years of 2016 and 2019 despite having La-Nina condition.
           (La-Nina is phase of ENSO-El Nino Southern Oscillation, which has cooling effect on many regions of world, El-Nino is another phase of ENSO System, having Warming effect)
·      Global mean surface Temperature was 1.2 degree higher than preindustrial baseline of 1850-1900
       According to IPCC report, it will be reached up to 1.5 degree by 2050
Global Warming & climate change-
Global Warming- It is defined as the “Increasing temperature of Earth’s surface”
Climate Change- It is defined as the long-term shift or change in Climatic pattern of the region due to change in atmospheric parameters like temperature, pressure, rainfall etc.

Factors responsible of Global Warming & Climate Change-

        Although natural factors have contribution in climate change, but it takes place in a long geological period.
           Sudden Planetary crisis of Global Warming & Climate change are mainly caused due to Anthropogenic Factors (Human Activities).
          These are as follows –
·      Deforestation and habitat destruction of Wild life
·      High burning of fossil fuels to meet energy demand result emission of GHGs (Green House Gases).
§ Scientific evidence indicate that increasing temperature of Global surface are direct result of human-led global warming caused due to emission of GHGs
§ Some GHGs are – Carbon di-Oxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Sulphur hexa Fluoride (SF6), Fluoro Carbon etc.
·      Population Explosion (Increasing population) result depletion of Natural resources
·      Rapid Industrialization, Commercialization, unprecedented and unsustainable economic development
·      Unsustainable Urbanization and concretization of green space.
·      Expansion of agricultural land to increase food production and changes in agricultural methods like high and unwise use of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides etc.

Impact of Global Warming & Climate Change-
·      Melting of glaciers, ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, thawing of Permafrost etc. due to increasing global surface temperature
·      Sea level rises cause intrusion of water in coastal region – threat to many small island nations and coastal regions including Indian coastal cities
·      Increasing disasters like Urban Flood, Drought, Cloud burst and Cyclones etc.
·      Increasing biological disasters – new types of diseases due to new pathogens, emerge due to increasing temperature and melting of ice
·      Environmental degradation and ecosystem disintegration
·      Increasing events of Wildfires and Forest fires
Example – recent incidence of forest fire in Australia, Amazon Forest, and Europe etc.
·      Increase of extreme Weather Events like-
§ Heat Waves in summer (very high Temperature than normal) cause Urban Heat Islands, heat domes, Sunstroke etc.
§ Cold waves in winter (very low temperature in winter) cause chilling effect
§ Marine Heat Waves (Increase temperature of ocean surface up to depth of 300 feet by 5-7 degrees than normal) cause threat to marine ecology and ecosystem
·      A greatest impact seen on shifting of local Weather

Shifting of Weather-
        It is defined as “shifting or changes of defined weather pattern of local region”.
         Weather is different from climate as –
§ Climate is a Long-term character of season and cover a very large region
Example – winter climate, Rainy climate, summer climate, Climate of India, Europe, America etc.
§ Weather is a short-term character and cover a local region
Example – Urban weather, Cloudy weather, cold weather, hot weather etc.
Shifting of Weather in Indian Context and its Impact on Indian Society and Economy
          Recently Weather Shifting phenomenon is being observed in Indian Climate as –
Ø Hottest march have been recorded in 2022 – means unprecedented Heat Waves observed.
Ø High rainfall during month of October (period of retreating monsoon) is being observed in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana etc.
Ø Urban Flood in Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru etc. due to high rainfall, which are generally low rainfall regions.
Ø Drought in North-central and East-central part of India during Monsoon season, which generally receive high rainfall
Ø High rainfall received in central and interior part of India, which generally received low rainfall.
Ø as per recent studies, over 40% of Indian districts now show a swapping trend–
              Flood prone regions becoming drought prone and Drought prone regions becoming flood prone.
Ø in feb,2022 – very high temperature observed in northern part of India, reached up to 30degree due lack of rain caused by Western Disturbance.
               Caused loss of Wheat crops which increased prices of wheat flour recently – a threat to food security of nation.
Ø From last two years, high temperature was observed even in month of December (winter season) in northern part of India.
Ø Decreasing numbers of cold days of winter season due to global warming (observed only in Jan)
Ø increasing chilling effect of those cold days caused due to cold waves and Extreme weather
Ø It is a biggest concern of planetary crisis of Global Warming & Climate Change because it has huge negative impact at social and economic level. These impacts are as follows –
Impact of Shifting of Weather-
1.    Social Impact-
Ø Loss of Lives and property due to
ü increasing disasters like flood, drought, cyclone, lightening events, landslides
ü Increasing extreme Weather events like Heat waves (Temperature reach to 48degree in plain areas), Cold waves
Ø A recent report by the “Council on Energy, Environment and Water” found that 75% of districts in India, having more than half of population, are vulnerable to extreme Climate Change.
Ø Migration of people from coastal regions to interior part due to sea level rising –
              Lead to Social disharmony and social crimes
Ø Increasing malnutrition among children and vulnerable section of society

2.    Economic Impact –
Ø Loss of livelihood and economic opportunities of vulnerable sections
Ø Loss of GDP - high amounts of economic resources are required to combat and mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
It is estimated that during 1990 to 2020, India incurred loss of more than $100 billion due to climate risk and disasters.
Ø Loss of government resources in rescue operations and to provide humanitarian assistance to people during rehabilitation process.
Ø High inflation, Capital outflow and depreciation of rupee like scenario as Indian economy is highly based on monsoon also termed as “Monsoon Economy”
3.    Cultural Impact-
Ø Agriculture – it is a part of our Indian culture, highly impacted due to shifting of weather and increasing uneven pattern of rainfall in country.
ü In Rabi season, production of Wheat crops has been fallen due to lack of rain caused by Western Disturbance
ü In Kharif season, production of paddy crops has been fallen (up to 55%) due to lack of rain during august month
ü Destruction of pulses and other low rain crops due to high rainfall in central part of India
ü It has been created a big threat to food security of nation.
Ø Festivals – due to irregular rain fall in October month, huge impact was seen on Indian festivals which causes loss of revenues and livelihood for local sellers and artisans.
            Way Ahead-
               There is urgent need to fight the planetary crisis of Global Warming and Climate change, for this some measures and efforts should be taken -
Ø Urgent focus on adopting sustainable practices like         Afforestation and Reforestation.
       Forest act as a natural carbon sink help to reduce concentration of GHGs
Ø To shift Agricultural practices according to shift in weather, so that crop loss can be minimized.
Ø To adopt sustainable agricultural practices like Agro forestry, Crop rotation, use of organic fertilizers etc.
Ø Raise awareness among people to adopt sustainable behavior like water conservation, food conservation, energy conservation etc.
Ø To protect ecosystem, wildlife habitat, wetlands, mangroves and natural resources.
Ø Government should ensure effective and efficient implementation of policies made to combat climate change.

There is urgent need to take initiatives and measures to combat with these climate crises at all levels of governance with participation of Multi Stakeholders including Citizens, so that negative impact at Socio-Economic level can be minimized and sustainable development at individual and National level can be ensured.