The hottest year

Context: The Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) announcement that in 2024, the
country experienced its hottest year since 1901 should be sobering for policy
makers across the world. The IMD and WMO have warned that 2025 could be another
hot year. By all accounts India is on track to meet its global climate targets.
As the planet gets hotter, the challenge will be to address people’s
vulnerabilities without compromising on their developmental needs as more than
30% of the country’s GDP is generated in sectors that are highly
nature-dependent such as agriculture, forestry, water and power utilities, and
construction.

Key points

·       Overview: The world is
witnessing a concerning trend of record-breaking temperatures across the globe,
exacerbated by global warming. From the scorching 56.7°C recorded in Death
Valley, California over a century ago to the recent 52.9°C reading in Delhi,
temperature extremes are becoming more prevalent as the planet continues to
heat up.

·       Historical
High: The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 56.7°C in Death
Valley, California, in 1913. United Kingdom - Surpassed 40°C for the
first time in July 2022, China - Recorded its highest temperature of
52°C in a northwestern town last year, Europe - Sicily, Italy, reached
48.8°C in 2021, a record for the continent, India - Rajasthan's Phalodi
recorded the highest temperature of 51°C in 2016.

·       Global
Trends: An analysis shows nearly 40% of the Earth experienced its highest-ever
daily temperature between 2013 and 2023. This includes diverse regions, from
Antarctica to various parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Global average
temperatures are currently about 1.61°C higher than pre-industrial levels.

·       Global
Warming’s impact on Global Temperatures: Greenhouse Gases and
Temperatures - GHGs trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, preventing it from
escaping into space. Increased concentrations of these gasses enhance this
effect, leading to more heat being retained and higher global temperatures.

Global
Temperature Rise - The past decade has seen many of the warmest years
on record, with 2023 and 2024 showing unprecedented temperature increases. The
period from May 2023 to April 2024 was the warmest 12-month period, with global
temperatures about 1.61°C above pre-industrial levels.

Urban Heat
Islands (UHIs) - UHIs are metropolitan areas significantly warmer than surrounding
regions due to heat-absorbing surfaces and energy use. As global temperatures
rise, UHI intensity is expected to increase, amplifying heatwaves in cities.

·       Consequences
of Rising Global Temperatures: Sea Level Rise - As temperatures rise,
glaciers and ice sheets melt, adding water to the oceans and causing sea levels
to rise. This inundates coastal areas, displaces communities, and disrupts
ecosystems.

Droughts and
Heat Waves - Droughts and heat waves are expected to become more intense, while cold
waves are expected to become less intense and less frequent.

Climate change - Extreme weather
disrupts food production, leading to shortages and price hikes that harm
vulnerable populations. Rising temperatures worsen air quality, increase
heat-related illnesses, and facilitate disease spread. The economic
consequences are severe, with high costs for repairing infrastructure,
declining agricultural yields, and escalating disaster relief.

Biodiversity
Loss - Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns disrupt ecosystems and
habitats, pushing many plant and animal species towards extinction.

·       Way
Forward: Six-Sector Solution - Follow the United Nations Environment
Programme’s roadmap, which includes reducing emissions across sectors like
energy, industry, agriculture, forests, transport, and buildings.

Carbon
Offsetting - Invest in projects that draw down carbon from the atmosphere, such as
reforestation or carbon capture and storage.

Reduction in
Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Transition to renewable energy sources like Solar,
wind, geothermal, and hydro power can significantly reduce our dependence on
fossil fuels.