Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) increasing heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Increasing greenhouse gas emissions from human activity act like a blanket wrapped around the earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. Examples of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane.
Effects of climate change
Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature, posing many risks to human beings and all other forms of life on Earth.
NEARLY ALL LAND AREAS ARE SEEING MORE HOT DAYS AND HEAT WAVES 2021 was one of the hottest years on record. Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and can make it more difficult to work and move around. Wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly when conditions are hotter.
Temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area often influence changes in all others. The consequences of climate change now include:
- Intense Droughts
- Water Scarcity
- Severe Fires
- Rising Sea Levels
- Flooding
- Melting Polar Ice
- Catastrophic Storms
- Declining Biodiversity
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING CLIMATE CHANGE IN DIVERSE WAYS. It affects our health, ability to grow food, housing, safety and work. Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as people living in small island developing states. Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the point where whole communities have had to relocate. In the future, the number of “climate refugees” is expected to rise dramatically.
THE ISSUES CAN SEEM DAUNTING. When you confront the devastation that climate change has done and will predictably cause, it can seem too big and too complex to get your hands around, something that hopefully the government or the UN or scientists are working on.
That’s why 2030 or Bust. We’ve developed the science, models and action scenarios that give you the power to make a real impact in reversing the emissions trend and ending the crisis. But first you have to break up the mindset that you can’t make much difference.
WE CAN, IF ENOUGH OF US TAKE THE RIGHT ACTIONS, BRIDGE THE 2030 EMISSIONS GAP. So that we can not only contain the damage already done but begin to clean it up.
Comprehending Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term fluctuations in temperature and weather patterns. Variations in the solar cycle are generally responsible for such fluctuations. But, since the 1800s human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and coal have been the drivers for such changes.
When fossil fuels are burned, it causes combustion which increases the heat and light leading to rise in the temperature of the earth, also known as Greenhouse effect. For Eg: Deforestation is one of the major reasons for increased emission of Carbon-Dioxide, Garbage landfills are primary source for methane emissions and if we look around the waste production has tremendously increased over the years. Also, Industrialization, fuel-based transportation and rampant construction are other major contributors for increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Alarming Numbers
Greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest levels in 2 million years. Emissions are continuing to rise. As a result, the Earth is presently around 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than it was in the late 1800s. The most recent decade (2011-2020) has been the warmest on record.
It is perceived that climate change mainly entails higher temperatures. However, the temperature rise is merely the beginning of the narrative. As everything is interconnected in the ecosystem. Thus, shifts in one aspect will equally impact others. Research has shown that, If the global average surface temperatures rise between 1.5-2 degrees, then world’s wealthiest countries will experience fewer changes in their local climate as well as crop yields due to well-built information systems in place whereas low income or less developed countries will suffer more in terms of food security and food safety due to climate change and lesser resilient crop infrastructure.
Recently released “Vulnerability assessment report” by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR reveals that out of 573 rural districts (excluding Andaman and Nicobar Islands) 109 districts are very high-risk districts and 201 districts are risk districts. Considering the current situation of climate change in India integrated modeling simulation studies indicated that by 2049 the mean temperature of these districts will increase by a minimum of 1.3 degrees. For a tropical country like India, Rise in temperature may affect the various crop yields affecting the production and consumption pattern of food across the year.
The Consequences of Climate Change on Food and Nutrition security
One hand increase in CO2 concentrations are good for crop growth but on the contrary CO2 emissions are resulting in frequent climatic fluctuations like intense heat, severe weather and droughts which are huge threat to In-demand crops like wheat and maize.
According to some projections, in the absence of successful adaptation, worldwide yields could fall by up to 30% by 2050.
Countries already dealing with violence, pollution, deforestation, and other issues are likely to bear the brunt of these consequences. The 2 billion people who already lack adequate food, particularly smallholder farmers and other individuals living in poverty, will be struck the hardest. Despite decades of global commitment, hunger and food insecurity continue at alarming rates.
According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, approximately 750 million people experienced extreme food insecurity in 2019.
The number of undernourished people or food insecurity is increasing, with climate shocks playing a significant role. Climate change will raise food prices, reduce food supply, and promote instability and conflict due to competition for water and arable land unless immediate action is taken.
As per a recent report by Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) “Climate crisis is a child crisis”. With an estimated 850 million children 1-3 worldwide are living in areas where environmental and climatic shocks overlap. Children will suffer more than adults and they require more food and water per unit body weight and have less resilience to hold up against extreme and harsh weather events. Also, Children are more susceptible to toxic chemicals, temperature changes and diseases. (3)
In the last three decades India has witnessed rise in mean temperature and increased frequency of extreme rainfall. According to estimation by National Innovations in climate resilient agriculture rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce marginally by <2.5% between 2050-2080, irrigated rice yields by 7%. Further, wheat yield is projected to reduce by 6-25% in 2100 and maize yields by 18-23%. It is predicted that future climatic shifts may benefit chickpea production by 54%. These figures clearly indicate the need for mitigation strategies for food and nutrition sustainability.
On the Brightside – Policy Making, Ecosystem strengthening and Advocacy
In 2021 Secretary-General of UN António Guterres organized the Food Systems Summit to inspire renewed global commitment to resilient and sustainable food systems. The summit convened governments, civil society, and the private sector to generate innovative ideas, build new partnerships, and deliver ambitious cross-sectoral actions to transform food systems to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement emission reduction targets.
Many climate change solutions have the potential to provide economic benefits while also enhancing our lives and safeguarding the environment. Global frameworks and agreements, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Paris Agreement, are also in place to steer progress. There are three basic types of action: reducing emissions, adapting to climate impacts, and financing necessary adjustments.
Switching from fossil fuels to renewables like solar and wind will lower the emissions causing climate change. But we must begin immediately. While a growing coalition of countries has committed to net zero emissions by 2050, around half of the emissions reduction must be implemented by 2030 to keep global warming below 1.5°C. Between 2020 and 2030, fossil fuel production must drop by about 6% yearly.
India’s Approach towards Climate change: Mitigation strategies and preparedness
Placing climate change at the center of its environmental policy, India made bold vows in 2021, with Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring at the critical international climate summit COP 26 that India is the only country delivering on the Paris Agreement commitments in “letter and spirit”. From vowing to become a net carbon emitter by 2070 to generating 500 gigatons of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, India led from the front on environmental problems this year, capturing the attention of people worldwide.
To meet the challenges of sustaining domestic food production in the face of changing climate, The Indian council of agricultural research (ICAR) under ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, has launched a flagship network project aims to study the impact of climate change on agriculture including crops, livestock ,horticulture and fisheries and to develop and promote climate resilient technologies in agriculture which will address vulnerable areas of the country and the output of the projects will help the districts and regions prone to climatic hazards. ICAR has developed resilient varieties in different crops tolerant to climatic stresses to improve the food grain production in the face of changing climate. Out of 2122, 1752 varieties are climatic stress resilient. Based on vulnerability assessment, climate resilient technologies are being demonstrated on farmer’s fields covering 446 villages. Agromet advisories are reaching the farmers through m-Kisan portal, whatsapp groups and SMS services etc. To deal with climate change, the government of India is implementing a National action plan on climate change which aims to evolve and implement strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate and to sustain increase in production. Per drop more crop schemes are being implemented to increase the irrigation area. Similarly, the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) scheme is being implemented to promote sustainable integrated farming systems. With the help of technological interventions GOI is preparing effectively to increase the crop produce and decrease the crop loss.
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